MARK’S STORY

Mark Fiddy was refused PIP and underwent an “aggressive interrogation” during an appeal, which he won.

The 49-year-old who lives in Glasgow’s south side with wife Rita has Stickler’s Syndrome, which has left him partially sighted. He also has hearing loss and osteoarthritis.

When he went for the initial assessment he was still employed in the banking sector and believes he was penalised because he didn’t have a “long white stick”.

He had applied for the mobility tool but hadn’t received it when he was assessed in Glasgow.

Mr Fiddy was asked to read letters on a wall chart even though he could not see it, then perform squats, which he refused to do.

“Just because I didn’t look disabled, it was assessed that I was not disabled,” he said. “They mentioned on the rejection form I had a job and I had managed to get from my office to the assessment centre on my own.

“They also said that I was observed walking something like 70 metres from the waiting room to the assessment room. I felt I was fighting a losing battle from the moment I went in.”

Mr Fiddy said the appeal was so “traumatic” he wished he hadn’t gone through it.

“I have never experienced such an aggressive interrogation in my life, and I worked in banking for 30 years,” he said.

“I was asked if I can cut my own toenails. I said I can’t see them and they asked why not, even though I am registered partially sighted.

“I came out of that appeal, mentally exhausted, upset and very angry. I was awarded £20 a week.

“The whole system is set up to prevent people getting PIP.”

Asked if I could cut my nails, I said I couldn’t see them. They asked why not?