Carer’s anger

A disabled man from Auchtermuchty claims he has been declared fit enough to work because he cares for his elderly mother.

A DISA BLED Fife man claims he has been declared fit enough to work because he cares for his elderly mother.

Kenneth Hill, from Auchtermuchty, suffers from sleep apnoea and has a machine beside his bed to keep him breathing at night.

The 52-year-old also has diabetes, chronic migraines and has had two heart attacks.

However, because he sees to the needs of his 76-year-old mother Euphemia, his incapacity benefit has been stopped and he has been told to get a job.

“They’re saying if you can look after your mum, you can get a job,” he said.

A lthough Mr Hill is appealing the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), he has not received a penny since May 31 and fears for his own and his mother’s health if he is forced to work.

Mrs Hill, a former nursing sister, has cancer, has suffered a brain haemorrhage and can no longer walk and also has the onset of dementia.

“My mother is in A damson Hospital in Cupar at the moment waiting for a care package which would allow her to come home,” he said.

“She needs six to eight carers a day but if you want an overnight carer, you have to supply that yourself at a cost of £600 per week, which I can’t afford.

“She is up six to seven times a night and there is nobody else there to help but me.

“None of that is being taken into account and I was told by the DWP that my caring role doesn’t come into it.”

He added: “I spoke to a senior social worker at Fife Council, who said that if I go into hospital, my mum will have to go into respite because there will be no-one there for her at night.

“If, on the one hand, the local authority is treating me as prime carer, then why are the Government saying to me I’m not?”

Mr Hill, who runs a cafe in an auction room in Dunshalt six hours a week when he is fit enough, claimed carers were being discriminated against and persecuted.

“I’ve now applied for carers’ allowance but that’s a lower amount of money than incapacity benefit,” he said.

“They’re trying to save £30 per week and they’re trying to squeeze me into a box that I don’t fit into.

“When there’s a relative to care, everyone else pulls away and says let him do it.

“But they’re saying, if he’s fit enough to look after his mum, he’s fit enough to work.

“I’m not fit enough to work and mum isn’t fit enough to be left, so I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t.

“People talk about carers’ rights but we don’t have any rights really.”

The DWP said it could not comment on individual cases, adding that being a carer did not rule out eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA ).

A DWP spokesman said: “The old incapacity benefits system condemned too many people to a life on benefits, with little hope of moving back to work. Now, people who can work will be given help to find a job, while those who need unconditional support will get it.

“Since 2010, we have considerably improved the Work Capability Assessment (WCA ) process. The percentage of people entitled to ESA is now at its highest level, with over half of people completing a WCA eligible for the benefit but everyone has the right to appeal a decision if they disagree with it.”