麻豆约拍

An East Yorkshire man who won a tribunal to claim a benefit allowance which helps him live with his epilepsy says the system needs to change. Chris Palmer-Nash, from Hessle, tells our Political Reporter Sarah Sanderson how an original decision to turn him down for Personal Independence Payment left him without the allowance for six months and he says this led him and his husband Sam, who helps support Chris, into financial difficulties. It was only after winning a tribunal that they had this decision overturned. They would now like to see a change in the way claimants are assessed. Chris says "It made me quite frustrated and worried. It would also make me more stressed which I think can increase my epileptic seizures." Philip Lee, Chief Executive of the charity Epilepsy Action, adds "When we have spoken to people who have had problems obtaining PIP, nine out of ten of the people that we speak to tell us that the assessment process really isn't fair to them and as far as they're aware the people carrying out the assessment appear to be unfamiliar with their condition." Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, says she intends to raise these concerns with the Department for Work and Pensions. A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions told us "Decisions are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist. Since PIP was introduced, 2.2 million decisions have been made, and of these 8% have been appealed and 3% have been overturned. In the majority of successful appeals, decisions are overturned because people have submitted more oral or written evidence."