Thalidomide Mother Told by DWP You Are Fit to Work

Monday, March 18, 2013

THALIDOMIDE MOTHER TOLD BY DWP YOU ARE FIT TO WORK – Martine White, of Burnley, Lancaster, is not only Thalidomide but she is also blind in one eye.  If that wasn’t bad enough she is currently waiting for spinal surgery and is wheelchair bound.

Despite all her ailments the Departments of Works and Pensions (DWP) has suspended all her benefits as they claim she is fit and able to work.  Martine’s appeal is now waiting for the DWP to decide her fate, which is no doubt going to be a long and drawn out process.

Martine does have a number of other problems, including being partially deaf and can barely walk and she is, quite rightly, astonished how the DWP came to the conclusion that she is fit and able to work.

Martine, due to her worsening condition, now requires a carer to help out with even the simplest of tasks, such as getting dressed or even combing her hair and to any reasonable thinking individual it is apparently obvious that she does require financial help and is, without question, entitled to her benefits.

It seems incredulous that the DWP would actually waste its time penning a letter to Martine informing her that she stands to lose her £110 a week Employment and Support Allowance as she cannot prove she is unfit to work.

Martine has now received a letter from the DWP informing her to appear before a tribunal in order to prove her disabilities to a judge.

“Just take a look at me and it is plain to see for anyone to determine that working is not an option.” Martine White

Martine went on to say that even going to the toilet requires assistance and therefore, even if work were remotely possible, it would require a full-time carer to assist me at all times in whatever occupation the DWP thinks that I am capable of.

One of the crippling side effects facing anyone with Thalidomide is that many suffer with arthritis; which is yet another dilapidating ailment that Martine suffers.

Martine is very confident, and so she should be, that once she faces a judge, he or she, is going to be more that surprised at why the DWP would think Martine is fit for work.

Martine, did in fact, in her earlier days work, but then in 2004 doctors discovered a brain tumor for which she required surgery.  Since then Martine’s health has steadily declined and even menial daily tasks can be an enormous strain.

It will come as no surprise that Martine feels disgusted at the treatment received by the DWP.  Considering the huge amount of false claims being made every day by perfectly able bodied people, who appear immune from prosecution for fraud, it beggars belief why someone in the DWP simply did not get off their backside and pay Martine a visit; which frankly would have negated the need to initiate any type of enquiry or indeed suspension of her rightful allowance.

While it is vital that the Government crack down on disability benefits, which is expected to gain momentum in April 2013, it is plain to see that the system has visible cracks which could easily be amended if officers at the DWP simply undertook a little more due diligence and dare we say, ‘common sense.’

The UK is facing real issues with the rising cost of welfare, which isn’t getting any better with the increasing flow of migrants who flock to our shores due to the lax way in which our Government hands out welfare.  On the other side is the massive number of fraudulent claims that the Press report with ever increasing frequency and these must be stopped if the Welfare System is to continue helping those who are really in needs, such as Martine White.

Currently the Disability Living Allowance that is soon to be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment in an attempt to significantly reduce the amount of money spent by the Government has increased by almost a third than 2012.  The taxpayer currently forks out a staggering £13billion a year and almost three quarters of this bill is provided without the DWP carrying out any real checks to see if those applying are in fact eligible.

Come the day of Martine’s tribunal it is hoped that the judge will ask the DWP to explain why such as case needed to be brought which is just another waste of the taxpayers’ money.