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‘YOU APPEAL – THIS LETTER SAYS ’ YOU RE DEAD’ Ex-wife of partially-sighted benefit claimant told he is now ‘deceased’ BY ALEX CAMPBELL alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
DISABLED Tim Green has been declared fit enough to work by the Government – a week after officials said he was dead. Civil servants wrote to the 58-year-old’s relatives to say he would no longer have to attend an appeal against a decision to take away his benefits because he ‘had died’. The letter was sent to Tim’s shocked ex-wife Jane, who helps him fill out paperwork because he is partially blind. Tim, of Rowley Avenue, Chesterton, said: “My family were worried sick. They knew I had been feeling unwell – and then my ex-wife received a letter saying I was dead. “She was straight on the phone to my mother. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard what was in the letter – I’m certainly not dead.” He added: “I haven’t been able to work since a piece of
Benefits rise capped at 1% THOUSANDS of working age residents across Stoke-onTrent will see benefit increases capped at one per cent for three years. The Government won its crucial vote on the proposals by 328 to 262 after five hours of heated debate in Parliament. A handful of Lib Dems rebelled. Labour claims millions of low-income working families will be hit hardest by the cap, but ministers say benefits should not be rising faster than wages. Public sector pay rises have already been capped at one per cent. Benefits historically rise in line with inflation and, before the vote, were due to go up by 2.2 per cent in April. Affected handouts include: jobseeker’s allowance, employment support allowance, income support, housing benefit, maternity allowance, patenity pay, adoption pay, sick pay, child tax credit and elements of working tax credit. Rob Flello, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, said: “The reality is that working people will be hit hardest by this. It is an attack on the working poor.”
SHOCK: The letter sent to Tim Green’s ex-wife Jane. metal went through my eye when I was bricklaying in 2004.” The father-of-one – who also suffers with hip, leg and shoulder problems – has been told he is fit enough to seek work and faces losing £40-aweek employment support allowance benefit. He appealed against the Department for Work and Pensions’ decision. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which was due to decide on his appeal, announced his death in a letter. The letter stated: “The appeal was delayed as the appellant had died. I have now abated the appeal, which will not go forward to a tribunal hearing.”
But a week later the service ruled Tim is in fact alive and well enough to seek employment. Self-employed accountant Jane, aged 55, of Madeley, said: “It was pretty horrible to receive the letter. We can laugh about it now but when it happened I started shaking and wondering how I’d tell our daughter.” HMCTS officials have now issued a formal apology, adding: “This letter was sent in error. We are taking steps to ensure that proper procedures are followed in future.”
Are you challenging a DWP ruling? Email us at letters@ thesentinel.co.uk
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DISBELIEF: Tim Green. Picture: Malcolm Hart
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