Benefit Cuts Force Incontinent Cancer Survivor To "Re-Use Baby Nappies After Being Left Penniless"

A Wirral woman left incontinent by cancer was forced to re-use babies’ nappies after benefit cuts left her penniless, an MP claimed.

The Birkenhead woman, in her 50s, could not even afford adult nappies - and was too ashamed to ask for new ones from a local charity, according to Labour MP Frank Field.

Image: Labour MP Frank Field.

She was reportedly stripped of disability benefit a few weeks ago after assessors said she was not sick enough to receive it in a controversial welfare test.

A government minister admitted “clearly something went wrong” in her assessment after the harrowing story was raised in Parliament, and she has appealed the decision.

Frank Field claimed such serious flaws in the Conservatives’ shakeup of welfare rules, including the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP), were driving many to food banks.

The PIP benefit she lost entitles people to up to £141 a week to cover the extra costs of being disabled - but almost half of those transferred from the old disability benefit have their payments cut.

Mr Field, a Wirral MP who launched the Feeding Birkenhead initiative, said: “A woman in Wirral made doubly incontinent by cancer, although there are now no external signs of her cancer, has been refused PIP. She has no money. Feeding Birkenhead gave her amongst other things babies’ nappies so she could get out of the house.

“We then found on making contact that she was cleaning the babies’ nappies and reusing them as she was so ashamed to ask for new ones, and couldn’t afford to buy anything else.

“Thanks to Feeding Birkenhead she now has new ones, as well as some food and Christmas gifts for her grandchildren, while she awaits her Mandatory Reconsideration.”

“This awful, awful case alone shows that PIP is in need of root and branch reform. Worse still, though, is that this is not an isolated incident. We have heard literally thousands of accounts of the stress and suffering caused by the assessment process for PIP and employment and support allowance (ESA).

“The human misery being caused is on an industrial scale. Feeding Birkenhead reports that the wrongful deduction of PIP and ESA, thanks to inaccurate assessments, is fast becoming a main driver of food bank use in the town.”

Ministers promised to reform the controversial benefit tests this week after a review said they were inconsistent, confusing and stressful for disabled people.

The review by Paul Gray said high numbers of claimants who appealed had decisions against them overturned, and claimed this was “clearly eroding trust”.

Welfare minister Sarah Newton told Frank Field in Parliament yesterday: “I thank the right honourable Gentleman for raising this very sad case.

“Clearly something went wrong in that individual case. I look forward to answering questions and spending time with his Select Committee ​later this week.

“I point him to the response to Paul Gray’s evaluation of PIP that I published today. I am sure we will have more time to look at that in detail, but we remain utterly committed to making sure that we continue to improve PIP.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman added: “Decisions for PIP are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist.

“Anyone who is unhappy with a decision can appeal, and may submit additional evidence.”

ABC Comment: Feeding Birkenhead is a coalition of churches, community groups, and other organisations working together to eliminate hunger in Birkenhead. Its programme centres on three main projects, each of which is now being extended across the country by Feeding Britain.