Man declared fit to work despite brain tumours
AMUM has spoken of her despair after her 21-year-old son was declared fit to work despite having brain tumours since birth.
Philip Jewitt, from Porth, Rhondda, has had five major operations for tumours and is unable to leave his house on his own.
His ongoing needs have left a neurosurgeon describing him as “unable to hold down a job due to his physical and psychological disabilities”.
However, he has been refused Employment Support Allowance by the Department for Work and Pensions on the basis that he is fit to work.
Mum Rita Curtis, 47, said Philip’s tumours were first diagnosed when he was 11 years old, and since he has had three removed and two vents put in his head.
“He was getting these headaches and he had to be taken home from school and would go to bed. He would be vomiting.
“He’s had a lot of surgery. As well as the initial biopsy, he’s had three tumours removed and two vents in his head.
“There’s been five operations over the last couple of years.
“It is benign now but keeps growing.”
Rita and Philip were told his Employment Support Allowance (ESA) had been stopped after he was declared fit to work.
Yet they say Philip struggles with his sight, vertigo, headaches and weakness, and can only leave the house if his mum is with him.
He trained as a gym instructor and personal trainer but has not been able to work since his last operation in August 2016.
Rita finds it deeply distressing: “From last July when DWP stopped his money I’ve had to support him on my part-time night worker’s pay.
“I’m paying my mortgage, utilities, and looking after his needs as a carer and I’m on my own.
“It’s very stressful because in between working and caring for Philip I’ve got to help him with all the paperwork.
“I find it difficult to understand that paperwork. Filling in that initial form, they asked the same question in different ways. It is very confusing.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said the assessment was based on medical evidence.
A DWP spokesman said: “Decisions are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist.
“Claimants can appeal any decision to the Appeals Service, which operates as an independent body and sets its own timings for hearings.”
Rita said she tried to appeal against the decision with a letter from his consultant neurosurgeon, Paul Leach, at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, which said that in his opinion Philip is “unable to hold down a job due to his physical and psychological disabilities”.
But the pair were told that evidence was not good enough and now they need to get a more detailed report from their surgeon and his GP.
The appeal process is still ongoing.
Rita questions how appropriate the fitness-to-work assessment is.
She said: “They asked him things like ‘How did you get here?’ but they weren’t on the bus with the sick bags and him taking paracetamol.
“They asked him all these questions but that was in an office.
“Phil was exhausted and confused and said that it seemed they asked him the same questions but worded it differently each time.
“That was a very trying day for him and he was asleep in five minutes in the car on the way home and was wiped out for two days.
“They deemed him fit for work on that basis but they didn’t see what he was like when he got home.
“We’ve got a letter from his neurosurgeon who did his operations and said he’s not fit for work. He’s known him since he was 11.
“They say he’s fit for work but he can’t venture out alone. I won’t let him cook on the hob.”
After Rita contacted her MP, Chris Bryant, Philip was offered a basic level of ESA backdated to July.
But until an independent appeal tribunal is held that’s all he gets.
Philip said: “They didn’t really assess me properly. They need to reassess the system so that they can see what people are like.”