A man who had a portion of his head removed after suffering from stroke has complained and hit out at authorities, after his £195 per week benefits as a disabled person was slashed to £117 after he was told to go find a job as he is 'mentally capable' of working.
Kenny Bailey, 50, has been receiving £195 a week since his stroke in 2014 meant he was unable to work.
The pressure on Kenny's brain was so intense following his stroke that surgeons had to remove part of his skull to relieve it.
He hopes to get a titanium plate inserted in a future operation to rebuild his head back to its original shape.
He still suffers from paralysis in the left side of his body, memory loss and walks with a severe limp.
He’s now accused the DWP of ‘picking on the disabled’ after his employment and support benefits was stopped.
‘I’m so angry. There are people out there who are getting allowances and they are fit for work. But people like me who need it can’t get it.' Bailey said to The SunUk.
‘I use the money to pay my bills – gas, electric, water, council tax and whatever – and whatever is left over I use to buy food.But because I can use my right side they are saying I’m fit for work. I can’t use my arm, I’ve got a bad limp and I can’t concentrate on things.’
‘If someone asks me something that happened a few years ago I can’t remember. I have to write all my doctor’s appointments down because I can’t remember them.It is not fair what they are doing. They are picking on the disabled.’
Mr Bailey, who suffered a stroke in 2014 while working at Greggs also said:
'I hate how I look. I’m so self conscious. I feel as though people are always staring at me.I would feel uncomfortable going back to work because I can’t use my left side. But because I can use my right side, they’re saying I’m fit for work.’
From next week Kenny will only get his £117-a-week Personal Independent Payment, paid to help with the costs of long-term ill health or disability.
A DWP spokesman said:
‘Work Capability Assessments help ensure that people get the level of support they need rather than just writing them off on sickness benefits as happened in the past.
‘The decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken following a thorough independent assessment and after consideration of all the supporting evidence from the claimant’s GP or medical specialist. A claimant who disagrees with the outcome of their assessment can appeal."
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Source: TheSunUk