Benefits staff short-changed a woman and then took a fortnight to calculate how much extra she was owed: One penny.

Elaine Holmer of St Michael's Road, Portslade, was forced to miss one of her income support payments while staff spent two weeks making the alterations to her benefits book - from £43.15 to £43.16.

She had to live on the money she had left until staff admitted the mistake and sent her an emergency cheque.

The error was made three months after social security cut her incapacity benefit, saying she was fit to work following long-term depression.

Mrs Holmer's illness began after her marriage broke up nine years ago. She had been claiming incapacity benefit since then.

However, she went to see a doctor in October when she said she was having a "good day" and later received a letter telling her she was no longer considered ill and would not be entitled to £70 a week incapacity benefit.

She was told she could claim income support, which she did until two weeks ago, when staff said they needed to take her benefits book back to increase her payments.

A mistake had led to her being issued with the wrong rate of benefit.

She sent her book back but it was not returned in time for her next claim.

Mrs Holmer, 50, who was in tears as she explained her ordeal, said: "They said there had been a change in my circumstances and I was entitled to an increase.

"I would like the depression to go away but if you're depressed, people don't give you a job. I just can't tell you how I have felt. I can't do anything and I am having difficulty eating."

Mrs Holmer, a former nursing home administration officer, said she still suffered from depression.

She said: "When I am well I am fine but I have no idea when the depression is going to hit."

Mrs Holmer's daughter, Amanda Salter, who is helping her mother appeal against the decision to stop incapacity benefit said: "It seems a doctor who sees her for ten minutes and has never seen her before can decide her life.

"For someone who is depressed, it is a nightmare having to fill out forms and appeal."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions apologised for recalling Mrs Holmer's book for so long to work out the rise.

He said: "Due to an error inputting information into our computer, Mrs Holmer's income support book was issued with the incorrect rate of benefit. We apologise for any convenience this may have caused her and are in the process of rectifying this matter."