Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Terminally ill woman ‘not poorly enough’ for mobility car
A TERMINALLY ill woman had her mobility car taken away because she does not qualify for one under new rules.
Tracey Mills, 53, has stage three brain cancer, a nose tumour, renal failure, arthralgia and hypertension.
She relies on crutches and walking frames and has special rails placed around her house.
She was getting around using a Ford Focus provided under Disability Living Allowance – until an assessment under the new Personal Independence Payment scheme found she was not eligible for the car.
Tracey, from Mossley, Gtr Manchester, is appealing the decision and currently relies on lifts from friends and family.
She said: “I am stuck in the house with no car. I am relying on neighbours to get out.
“I had to walk to the surgery when they said I needed an emergency blood test. I am housebound but I don’t want to be. I don’t understand why they took the car because I am now a lot less mobile. I have never done anything wrong to the benefits system.
“My ambition is to see Blackpool lights one last time.”
The Department for Work and Pensions said it did not comment on individual cases.
But a spokesman added: “If someone is terminally ill they can apply to get their claim fast-tracked, giving them guaranteed entitlement to benefit without the need for a face-to-face assessment.”