Exclusive by Alan Quick

A CREDITON mother says she is unhappy that her daughter’s Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has been stopped.

Pat Williams (70), of Queen Elizabeth Drive, explained that her daughter, Lynsey Richards, has a disability and had been receiving support in the most recent and previous forms for many years but was told in a telephone call just before Christmas from the ESA office in Wolverhampton that her allowance had been stopped with immediate effect.

The caller said that her daughter should seek employment but Pat explained that the problems her daughter has means she is unable to communicate unless it is on a one-to-one basis, but added her other health issues mean she is just unable to work.

Pat explained: "I think it is disgusting.

"I am 70 and have been looking after my daughter for many years, I am her sole carer.

"The guy from Wolverhampton made me really upset and annoyed. The Conservative government is cutting benefits for disabled people and it is wrong.

"I feel very strongly about it, it is the wrong thing to do."

Mrs Williams said that her daughter suffers with eczema and is prone to severe asthma attacks which can occur at any time. She said she has an eye condition and other disabilities which mean she is unable to sustain a job.

She added that when her then husband had come out of the Army many years ago she was told that she and her daughter would be cared for for life.

Mrs Williams continued: "I will look after my daughter all I can but it is being made more difficult."

On Tuesday (January 2), Mrs Williams said that she had contacted the ESA office and had now arranged an appointment for her daughter to have a meeting at the Exeter Job Centre.

She added: "I just hope that at that meeting the ESA will see that Lynsey is just unable to work and re-instate the payment."

HOW TO CHECK ESA ELIGIBILITY

The ESA website: https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance has a benefits calculator where people can check if they can get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit before applying.

The website says: “If you are ill or disabled, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) offers you:

• financial support if you’re unable to work

• personalised help so that you can work if you’re able to

“You can apply for ESA if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

“You might be transferred to ESA if you’ve been claiming other benefits like Income Support or Incapacity Benefit.”

WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

The website adds that applicants must have a Work Capability Assessment while their ESA claim is being assessed.

It says that this is to see to what extent an illness or disability may affect a person’s ability to work.

It adds: “You’ll then be placed in one of two groups if you’re entitled to ESA:

• work-related activity group, where you’ll have regular interviews with an adviser

• support group, where you don’t have interviews”.

It adds that how much ESA a person will get depends on:

“• your circumstances, such as income

• the type of ESA you qualify for

• where you are in the assessment process”.