Sad unemployment benefit total reduced (7)
I believe the answer is:
doleful
'sad' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'unemployment benefit total reduced' is the wordplay.
'unemployment benefit' becomes 'dole' (dole can mean government benefits).
'total' becomes 'full' (synonyms).
'reduced' means to remove the last letter.
'full' with its final letter taken off is 'ful'.
'dole'+'ful'='DOLEFUL'
(Other definitions for doleful that I've seen before include "Melancholic" , "Mournful" , "Dismal" , "Causing grief; sorrowful" , "Cheerless" .)