Disabled woman's wheelchair dismay

Lynn Boyd’s benefits were stopped after a form she sent the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) as part of its reassessment from her Disability Living Allowance to the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was lost.

Lynn, 49, of Priors Walk, Three Bridges, said she became “upset and very distressed” after Charterwood Mobility said it was due to repossess her chair today (Wednesday February 24) as a result.

Lynn has received disability benefits and used a motorised wheelchair for more than 20 years.

She can only walk for short distances because of disabilities in her feet and other health problems which have worsened over the last year.

She said she sent the completed form to the DWP before Christmas.

She thought it was received after seeing a statement which said her benefits had been paid into her account.

However, she was shocked when she was told by Charterwood, the company from which her wheelchair was paid for using her DLA, that they had been stopped.

She said: “I really need my chair, it’s my lifeline for the outside world.

“I’m quite an independent person and they are going to be taking that away from me.

“I’ve been very depressed over the last few days about this because there’s nothing I can do.

“It’s appalling and I think it needs to be known that this is happening to people.”

Lynn, who suffers from ‘clubfoot’ and depression, said Charterwood told her that the chair would be picked up today.

She said: “I need it to go out and about, paying bills, visiting friends, doing my own shopping and going to the hospital for blood tests.

“It’s not doing my mental health any good, I’ve been getting very upset and very distressed.”

A DWP spokesman said: “We never received it [the form] so either she didn’t send it or it was lost in the post.

“We can only make decisions on eligibility for PIP once we have received an application. In this case we didn’t receive the required paper work in time, however, while it is being completed, Ms Boyd will continue to have access to her Motability vehicle and any payments awarded will be backdated.”

*Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.