Saturday, July 24, 2010

British vet amputee loses benefits after he can walk 400 meters

From BBC News:

A soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan will lose his disability allowance after he learnt to walk 400m.

Pte Aron Shelton was told in a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions his £180-a-month benefit, would stop because he was able to walk 400 metres unaided.

He told Anita Anand on BBC Radio 5 live's Victoria Derbyshire programme "I felt like I had been let down by my own government".

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Issues such as this one are why we are making changes to the way we assess eligibility to DLA.

"We want to introduce a new, more objective assessment to ensure the system is fairer and targets those most in need."