Traumatised Mum Who Endured Terrible Loss of Two Children Fears Being Made Homeless After Cruel Benefits Blow

A mother who suffered two of her children being murdered by her husband fears losing her home after her disability benefits were stopped.

June Thomson has already been stripped of £55.10 a week disability payment after an assessment ordered by the Department of Work and Pensions. Now the mum, who has admitted to suicidal feelings, has been ordered to a “back to work” meeting and warned if she fails to attend, all her benefits will be stopped.

June, 58, who now uses her maiden name Martin, said: “I’d do anything to turn back the clock. But I can’t. I can’t suddenly be ‘normal’ and go back to work. I’m not fit to hold down a job. I’m a mess.

“It takes me all my time to get dressed most days never mind face the world and go to work.

“I don’t know where to turn to next. I’m left with just a few pounds a week to feed myself, and if it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be here.”

Yesterday, the decision to remove her benefits was criticised by politicians, campaigners and care experts.

They called for a review of her case after a Department for Work and Pensions tribunal on Wednesday upheld the assessment of the Independent Assessment Service – formerly Atos Healthcare – that June is fit to work.

They said: “Whilst the tribunal accepts Ms Martin has mental health problems and balance problems, the nature and extent of the resulting limitations are insufficient to score the required number of points.

“As a result Ms Martin does not qualify for either component of personal independent payment.”

Image: Michelle Thomson

June, who has two surviving sons, Shaun, 37 and Ross, 30, had previously been awarded a total of 12 points for help with living and mobility which meant she received £55.10 a week.

She was contacted for a benefits assessment just before Christmas but, June said, the assessor only “wanted to know if I could spell ‘world’ backwards and hold my arms above my head”.

“Neither the assessor or the tribunal last week seemed to want to know about the trauma I suffer daily reliving finding my children posed as if they were asleep in their beds or pulling back the covers to find them stabbed to death,” said June.

“I’ve battled so very hard to try and go on, but I’ve had to accept I’ll never get over finding my babies murdered, their blood on the walls and over their toys and teddy bears.

“My disabilities are invisible. They cannot be tested by spelling a word backwards or holding my arms above my head.

“Questions were thrown at me, one after the other. I couldn’t think straight to and June, who is being supported by her MP Patricia Gibson, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after finding son Ryan, seven, and disabled daughter Michelle, 27, at the family’s home in Buckhaven, Fife, in 2008.

The children were murdered on their first court ordered home visit to their father Rab after June plucked up the courage to leave after years of beatings and rape.

Now known as the Independent Assessment Service, an nurse from private firm ATOS, who have the contract to do DWP appraisals, reported June’s mental state as “unremarkable” even though she spends days in bed unable to face the world.

A letter from the DWP calling June to meet next week with a “work coach”.

It warned her: “If you don’t attend…your Employment and Support Allowance will be reduced.”

The DWP said: “Our thoughts remain with Ms Martin and we will continue to ensure she is receiving all the benefits she is entitled to as well as offering the support she needs.”

It warned her: “If you don’t attend…your Employment and Support Allowance will be reduced.”

The DWP said:“Our thoughts remain with Ms Martin and we will continue to ensure she is receiving all the benefits she is entitled to as well as offering the support she needs.”

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