Disabled Couple See Income Cut After Atos Tests – Daily Record

A DISABLED couple are facing a bleak Christmas after having their income slashed in the Tories' blitz on benefits.

Neil McCabe, 42, who has mental health problems, has been put through the wringer by Department of Work and Pensions assessments of his ability to work.

In one year, Neil, of Inverness, has been examined four times and seen his points assessment go from 15 to zero to 27 and back down to six.

Neil has been unable to work for years because of problems, including depression and anxiety. He also has irritable bowel syndrome.

On top of that, he is full-time carer for his wheelchair-bound wife Janella, 47, who has spina bifida.

Last night, Neil said he was on the verge of a breakdown.

He added: "I've just about had enough. Disabled people are made out to be scroungers but I can assure you we haven't chosen to be like this."

And Janella, who used to work for the old Benefits Agency, vowed to fight the assessments, adding: "These medicals are finding people fit for work who clearly aren't.

"It's really awful. They called Neil in for a medical last year and awarded him zero points. I feel he has been victimised.

"Why pick on him? He's had mental health issues for 20 years and is on medication.

"They are asking questions and picking out what they want to put down, and disregarding information they want to disregard."

Neil added: "The Chancellor George Osborne said in his autumn statement the Tory Government were looking after the disabled and the elderly. But we're having to look after ourselves.

"Every penny counts in our house but we still try to pay our way."

Neil said the couple get £1000 a month in benefits but have to pay full rent, council tax and heating on their housing association home in the city's Kinmylies.

But after his latest assessment by Atos - the medical testing firm used by DWP boss Iain Duncan Smith - Neil has had his benefits cut again.

The ex-hospital domestic said: "All the stress makes my depression and anxiety worse.

"A year past October I was called in for one of these interviews where I had the 15 points that kept me on incapacity benefit.

"But after the medical, I went down to zero points because they found I was fit for work. I appealed in April and was awarded 27 points after they found in my favour.

"But two months ago I was told I had to undergo another assessment. Now they have put me back to six points. I'm going to have to appeal again.

"They cut my money last Christmas and now they've done it again.

"They can't see why I can't work. They know I look after Janella but I also have my own health issues.

"And the community psychiatric nurse service is stretched so my wife is my unofficial nurse.

"My wife doesn't have a motability vehicle but she's paying off a loan for a car which is her lifeline."

Neil said Janella gets a small works pension, higher rate mobility and middle rate care.

He added: "I get lower rate disabled living allowance for care and a lower rate for mobility and I was on contribution-based employment support allowance.

"But they've now taken away my ESA which was £99.20 a fortnight."

Atos said: "The assessment we carry out is a DWP assessment.

"It is they who make a decision on benefit entitlement.

"The re-assessment process was something set up as part of employment support allowance so people are regularly seen to see whether their condition has got worse or better."