Carer Condemns Humiliating Disability Benefit Death

The partner of an OAP who died while fighting to get his disability benefits reinstated has condemned the ‘humiliating’ assessment system.

Geoffrey Elwell suffered with limb, back and respiratory problems and was denied personal independence payments (PIP) following an assessment in December – despite previously receiving disability living allowance (DLA).

Image: Carol Acton with her partner Geoffrey Elwell, who died while fighting for disability benefits.

The 68-year-old, from Bentilee, died of cancer on June 21 – two days before a tribunal overturned the original decision and awarded him the higher rate of PIP, backdated to January.

His partner and carer Carol Acton says missing out on PIP – worth more than £100 a week – and having to go through the appeal process made Geoffrey’s final few months much harder.

His MP Gareth Snell challenged Theresa May over the way the pensioner was treated by the Government during this week's Prime Minister's questions (PMQs) in Parliament.

Image: MP Gareth Snell. 

Now Carol hopes Geoffrey’s story will highlight the problems with the PIP assessment system, which critics have condemned as arbitrary and unfair.

The 68-year-old, of Paisley Close, Bentilee, said: “I’m glad Geoff’s case was raised in Parliament. The public should be made aware of what people are having to go through.

“When the assessor came in December we tried to tell her about Geoff’s condition and what his doctor had said, but she did not appear interested in any of that. All she did was read off her tablet and ask questions.

“Some of the things they ask about, like your toilet movements, are quite humiliating.

“After the assessor went Geoff turned to me and said he wouldn’t get anything. Just before Christmas he got a letter saying he’d got zero points.”

PIP, like DLA, is a benefit which is meant to cover the additional expenses incurred due to a person’s disability, in terms of care and mobility.

Applicants are assessed on their ability to carry out certain tasks and awarded points, with the standard PIP rate awarded for eight points, and the enhanced rate for 12 points.

Geoffrey had previously received the higher rate of DLA for mobility, and the standard rate for care.

Carol added: “I don’t know how they could give him zero points. He couldn’t do any of the exercises they asked him to do.

“We told them he couldn’t cook for himself as he couldn’t stand for long periods. He needed help washing and dressing himself. He was getting really bad dizzy spells as well.

"When he was receiving DLA he was told that he would be entitled to it for the rest of his life."

Geoffrey was diagnosed with terminal small cell cancer while he waited for his appeal to be heard. This change in diagnosis resulted in Geoffrey being awarded some PIP for mobility. But he continued his appeal, and at the tribunal, the panel awarded him the enhanced rate for both care and mobility.

Following Geoffrey’s death, Carol is entitled to receive his backdated PIP, but is still waiting for the payments from the DWP.

She said: “I wish Geoff could have survived long enough to know he had won the appeal. The money would have made things easier for him in his last months, it could have paid for a carer, and we could have gone out and made some memories.”

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mr Snell raised Geoffrey’s case during Wednesday's PMQs and asked Mrs May what message he should take back to Carol about the way the Government had treated her partner.

Image: Prime Minister Theresa May challenged at PMQs

He said: “I’m afraid her answer of warm words of condolence won’t change a failing system which is penalising some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“In this case, it won’t take away the appalling stress placed upon Geoffrey and Carol when they should have been cherishing their final months together.

“Geoffrey deserved so much better from this Government. When he needed help, compassion and support, they abandoned him.”

The DWP says only four per cent of PIP decisions are overturned at an appeal hearing, but that work to ‘drive continuous improvement’ in the assessment process is ongoing.

A DWP spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Elwell’s family. In this instance new evidence was submitted alongside the appeal which changed the outcome of the case.”

Image: Carole Acton