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As the fractious national debate about benefit reform rolls on, a disabled political journalist admits he doesn't draw what he knows he's entitled to.

Sean Dilley, a freelance parliamentary lobby journalist for Talk Sport and others, says he chooses not to receive Disability Living Allowance - a non means tested benefit which covers those extra daily costs you have as a disabled person.

He is blind and uses a guide dog. In Sean's case, he may be turning his back on over Β£400 per month.

Speaking on January's talk show from Ouch! he explains that refusing benefits is a "very personal" thing for him and bashfully adds: "This is my own pride and my own sort of ego."

Though Sean has chosen to stay out of the disability benefits system, he tells how he almost returned to claiming DLA again fairly recently: "About three or four years ago, I was thinking, well, crikey, I'm spending a heck of a lot of money on taxis and everything else - I'll do them. And I did the form."

The form is said by many to be long, and difficult to fill in.

Sean says it asks very personal questions: "I got my references, I got my medical stuff all together and, on the day that I actually went to post it, I thought well do I really want to put myself back in that system?"

As well as not wanting to "beg" or feel beholden to the state, he believes that staying financially independent simplifies his position as a journalist.

He speaks to politicians for a living and has to ask them difficult questions, sometimes on this subject.

Sean says: "I just like the fact when I'm interviewing be it the prime minister or anybody else, I can, if you'll forgive the expression, 'look them in the eye and say: 'If I'm quizzing you now about welfare it's not out of self-interest.'"

Sean does, however, take advantage of the Blind Person's Tax Allowance - an income tax concession on his earnings.

Three million people in the UK claim Disability Living Allowance though the Citizen's Advice Bureau note that there are 11 million disabled people so up to a potential eight million more are entitled but don't claim. This year, the much-loved DLA is due to be replaced by PIP, Personal Independence Payments, in order to save taxpayer money and target those who need help most.

Though he chooses to remain outside the benefits system, Sean doesn't encourage others to follow his example: "everybody, no matter what you earn, is entitled to those benefits. We do have extra costs with taxis and stuff so do claim it, don't do what I do, because I'm an idiot."

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