Disabled Grimsby man will have benefits stopped if he can't prove how poorly he is
A DISABLED man – who suffers up to 10 seizures a day following an accident – has told of his shock at having to prove he is ill.
Graham Blakey, 52, of Grimsby, suffers from a variety of conditions linked to his fits, which have occurred all of his life, but became more severe after an accident in the 1980s.
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Forms: Graham Blakey is shocked at the way he has been asked to prove his disability to the Government. Picture: Jon Corken
He has now been told by the Government to "prove" his problems as part of a nationwide disability benefits review.
He contacted the Grimsby Telegraph to highlight what he claims is a "stressful" process for poorly people to go through.
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"I have had fits all of my life, but they got worse when I fell down four sets of stairs at my then place of work in 1986," he said.
"I left work that year, and have been on long-term sick pay and disability benefits ever since.
"Now, I suffer from arthritis and spinal problems, caused by my thrashing when I fit.
"I get no warning that it's going to happen and can lose up to 24 hours of my memory after having one.
"I have to be accompanied at all times. I have nearly been run over many times after fitting in the street.
"I am not capable of working – who is going to employ someone who is so at risk?
"Recently, I received a telephone call saying I had four weeks to prove my disabilities, that they would send me paperwork through the post and that I had to go to a physical examination.
"When I went for the examination, I had a seizure in the waiting room and then a small epileptic fit, known as a Petit Mal, during the actual appointment.
"I also had to get written proof from my numerous consultants to prove my conditions, some of whom I could not get an appointment with until this month.
"The Government has told me that if I fail to get proof within the deadline they set, I will have my benefits – my only source of income – stopped and I will have to sign on for Jobseeker's Allowance.
"This situation has put myself and my wife, who is my main carer and has health problems herself, under a lot of stress.
"There will be a lot of other people who will be in the same position as me and could be really struggling.
"There should be a fairer system that doesn't put claimants under this level of stress – a few weeks isn't long enough."
Comments
by TheWrangler
Friday, January 11 2013, 8:07AM
“BriggDave, clearly my last post was simply Trolling.
I have been a shiftworker too and have had my fair share of Christmas nights.
If you actually read any of my other posts, my view are actually not dissimilar to yours!”
by BriggDave
Friday, January 11 2013, 1:15AM
“'Wrangler' I'm a taxpayer and worker who has just completed a 12 hour day. (Disabled people also pay taxes too by the way). Society should be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable members, and if some of my taxes go to support someone who is being placed in poverty through no fault of their own, fine. The government recently made 1000 disabled workers unemployed when it shut down Remploy factories. Only 35 have been able to find new jobs. That's the reality. The Condems trick is to turn the victims of their policies against each other, then sit back and enjoy their millionaire lifestyles. The actual amount of welfare money lost to fraud is 0.7%”
by TheWrangler
Thursday, January 10 2013, 6:39PM
“LOL, I like the fact that this morning my last comment was running +7 whilst the tax payers were up and active.
Now after the 'others' have eventually dragged themselves out of their pits in time for Jeremy Kyle and loose women, I have negative rating - Yeah!”
by williewonky
Thursday, January 10 2013, 5:21PM
“So I guess it's all over then as he'll of had 10 seizures already, maybe more! So he'll have a letter and proof ready. Nothing for him to worry about, I presume.”
by lildog
Thursday, January 10 2013, 8:28AM
“Why do we all assume the worst in people.
Most of the comments I have read here, are people having a moan about politicians, peoples perception of stated facts, even facts before your own eyes. Moans about inconvenience, moans about how systems work.
Truth is we all like a good moan, but instead of moaning all the time, fit or unfit, we all seem to have access to computers, so get onto your MP, the government and relevant ministers and departments and tell them to take cognisance of what the public is actually saying and GET THE RULES AND SYSTEMS SORTED!
Get rid of loopholes in all systems and the right results would follow!”
by TheWrangler
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:43AM
“I can only assume that the majority of people in support of this ridiculous story are also people of leisure!
If you think its HARD to get FREE money and live for FREE,
You really should try, for example, try getting up at 05:30 every day, working 50+ hours a week and then watch as nearly half of the money you earn is robbed from you to pay for someone else not to bother.
As I have said many times before, I don't mind supporting the NEEDS but not the GIME GIME's.
This is the right think to do, its a review, as any business would do to ensure that contracts in place are correct and represent good value.
Roll on the reds from you GIME GIME's!”
by Watcher1983
Thursday, January 10 2013, 1:23AM
“If you all think that BENEFIT scams is the only problem to solving Britain's problems then you are all disillusioned people!brainwashed successfully I may add by a Govt whose sole purpose is to control a nation..Now what greedy human species wouldn't want to do that ay?..The system is corrupt to the core and its NO different to anywhere else in the world...just like the Bush administrations Iraq war was built on LIES! Wake up and smell the coffee and research into where YOUR hard money goes..Taxes you never see in your purse or wallet!...Stealth taxes may be a good idea to start your research and also where the rest goes abroad!..... The rich are the ones who pull the strings and we blue white collar workers are the ones who are slaves to the system! Life wont get better its set to get worse so don't expect future bargains as they will NEVER happen!”
by DRDAVIDATOS
Thursday, January 10 2013, 12:00AM
“http://tinyurl.com/be6pxde Look it up 0-o¬”
by DRDAVIDATOS
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 11:55PM
“This is so wrong, most people don't understand the pressure You are put through at these medical/interrogations or appeals.
Andi62, You probably don't get any fits, because You still take the medication ;-)”
by stecof
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 11:14PM
“Sorry, wrong link, the actual link for the episode itself is: http://tinyurl.com/c4xh2fv”