It's been three years this month since Universal Credit was fully rolled out in East Lothian.

Residents who were unemployed or on low incomes were the guinea pigs for the new system, which was designed to be a simpler all-in-one payment to replace six 'legacy' benefits.

However, STV News has spoken to some claimants in Dunbar who say it has been difficult to adjust to - and the way it is calculated, the online application process and delays have made them worse off.

Mark Brown, who spent time in prison, was claiming Employment Support Allowance before he was moved on to Universal Credit.

He works part-time at The Ridge's Backlands conservation project near Dunbar's High Street - but says he'd be better off not working.

"I got put on Universal Credit and the money I was getting through my Employment Support Allowance I was no longer entitled to, because I was doing two days of permitted work," he said.

"I'm getting nothing now. Due to my mental health, I've been doing this gradually over the last three years."

Former shop worker Paul Gordon believes the design of the new online benefits system leaves a lot to be desired.

He said: "After being made unemployed, you apply for Universal Credit, and they make you wait five weeks for your first payment, so you're more or less forced to take the advance that they give you, and then they take it back off you at £66 a month.

"So the benefit is disappearing before you even get it."

Mr Gordon said that community projects in Dunbar - including the food bank and services run by social enterprise The Ridge - have kept him and many others afloat.

Local doctor John Hardman told STV News there are concerns some benefit claimants are being assessed as fit for work, despite conflicting medical advice.

Dr Hardman said: "It's not unusual for myself or one of my colleagues to write a letter saying that a patient is, or never will be, fit for any kind of meaningful work, or even vocational or voluntary work, and yet often that is ignored."

And as mirrored in other locations around the country, Dunbar's food bank has been inundated with requests.

"It's an ongoing catastrophe and it's very punitive for a lot of families," volunteer Margaret Croft told STV News.

"[The food] comes at a cost, and it comes at a psychological and emotional cost to the people who apply."

The nearest Job Centre is in Musselburgh - two bus rides away - but staff hold weekly drop-in sessions in Dunbar to try to solve Universal Credit issues.

Gill Last, a support manager at social enterprise The Ridge, said: "Life isn't black or white - their lives aren't black or white.

"Just don't make it so difficult for people who need a bit of help.

"Everyone I help wants to get back into work or wants to give something back, or they come and volunteer. I fight for them but I'm tired of fighting."

Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd has acknowledged delays to payments has led to a growth in food bank use - and just last week admitted that it was difficult to live on the core payment.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Universal Credit is a force for good, helping people into work faster, but we will continue to make improvements where needed.

"Already we have introduced 100% advance payments, budgeting support, direct rent payments to landlords and an extra two weeks' housing benefit payment for people moving from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit.

"We are delivering flexibilities in Universal Credit payments on behalf of the Scottish Government and Scotland has the power to top-up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments and create entirely new benefits altogether."