DWP "Apologise" After Assessment to Work Given To Woman With Mental Age Of A Three-Year-Old

A mum said she has received an apology from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), after her severely disabled daughter had her benefits stopped.

Georgina Ball, 26, has Aicardi syndrome and has the mental age of a three-year-old.

However, despite her disability, which means she is unable to read, write, speak or walk, she was called to be assessed for work.

Government officials stopped Georgina’s benefit after they claimed she had “missed an appointment”.

Her mother Paula, of Huyton, said she did not receive any letters from the DWP, apart from one on December 23, to say she had missed an appointment and subsequently her daughter’s ESA benefit had been stopped, as well as a letter scheduling a medical assessment of Georgina for February 15.

After speaking to the DWP she had her daughter’s ESA benefit back-paid, but was still told Georgina would have to go to the appointment or risk having the money stopped once again.

However, since the ECHO published Georgina’s story Mrs Ball said the DWP have cancelled the appointment and “profusely apologised”.

She said: “I accept their apology but at the end of the day, this hasn’t just happened to Georgina, it is happening to other vulnerable people out there.

“And you have to be prepared to fight back, because it is totally wrong.

 “The opportunity of a home visit is very hard to get as well.”

Mrs Ball said that the DWP claimed it had the wrong address on file for Georgina, which is why she had not received the first appointment.

In an earlier statement the DWP said Mrs Ball had not filled out an ESA50 questionnaire form and the appointment was a three-year review of Georgina’s case.

The form allows the DWP to determine whether a face to face appointment is required.

Mrs Ball said she will have to fill in the form every three years and Georgina will not have to be assessed.