Campaign’s goal is in tribute to dad Bill, 78
Yvonne supporting motor neurone disease patients
A Hamilton woman has backed Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Scotland after she lost her father to the illness.
Yvonne Nee (53) is backing the charity in their bid to convince the Scottish Government that people with the condition should be able to access certain benefits without assessment for the rest of their lives.
The Burnbank woman lost her father, Bill Lavery, to MND in 2014 when he was 78 and he only received his benefits the day before he passed away.
She said: “I speak as the broken-hearted daughter of a great man who was taken from me by this cruel illness. My dad was diagnosed in July 2014 and passed away in September 2014.
“I was involved in applying for benefits for my dad during this short time and he worried about the outcome of the application every day. This was horrible to watch, and financially a terrible time as we tried to get dad all he needed.
“MND sufferers have enough to deal with, without constant fear of benefit review. Their condition will not improve.
“The day before he died he was awarded his benefits. That is why I’m backing this campaign, to take the worry and stress away from other families.”
The Scottish Government are asking for views about the future of social security. One of the questions is if some people should be ‘automatically entitled’ to benefits. This could mean that people with certain conditions would receive benefits without having to go through a standard application or assessment.
MND Scotland have submitted a response to the consultation and last week launched their Let’s Get Benefits Right campaign.
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina Mckelvie said: “I have seen first- hand the devastating impact MND has on people with the illness, their families and friends.
“I applaud the strong commitment from the Scottish Government to treating people with dignity and respect. It is evident throughout the consultation, and I know it will be a central plank of the new system going forward.
“MND Scotland’s Let’s Get Benefits Right campaign outlines why giving people with MND some benefits, without assessment, and for the rest of their lives, is the best way to embed the principles of dignity and respect into the new system and I am happy to support their campaign aims.”
Visit www.mndscotland.org.uk for more information about the charity and their new campaign.