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A long-term benefit claimant who has endured a lifetime of health problems is now £346 worse off a month after the Department of Work and Pensions put an end to his claim after more than 20 years.

Ben Douglas-Wilson, 44, from Clinton Road, Redruth, was just a young child when he was diagnosed with salaam epilepsy and so begun a lifetime of health problems.

When he was a baby doctors told Ben’s parents that due to the severity of the fits he was suffering, which could potentially have killed him or left him severely brain damaged, steroids would be needed to stop them.

After 24 hours the drugs eventually took effect but Ben was so weakened he contracted pneumococcal meningitis, a consultant later admitting that Ben had been given a higher dosage of steroids than usually use with infants as doctors had been so pleased with the first results of the drugs.

During that stay in hospital Ben also developed hydrocephalus, caused by a build-up of fluid inside the skull which can increase pressure and cause damage to the brain, and was treated at Great Ormond Street after operations to fit a Spitz-Holter shunt inside his skull to drain fluid from his brain to his heart.

Ben’s parents were then told by a consultant that he would never lead a normal life and was unlikely to live past the age of three.

Today, his eyesight is poor, he is weak on his right side and walks with a stick. Because the right side of his body has atrophied Ben walks unsteadily with a limp, is in permanent pain and, due to his unsteadiness, often falls over.

Also, due to the damage done to his body from the extraordinarily high dose of steroids he received as a baby, he regularly picks up common illnesses and, in recent years, has had a recurrence of epilepsy.

Despite Ben’s past problems and the ongoing difficulties he faces, he was recently told by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that he will no longer receive financial assistance.

He said: “For many years now (more than 20) I have been receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

“Back in June I needed to contact the DWP due to the fact that to inform them I now require someone to come and help me with housework on a weekly basis as my condition is worsening.

“They told me that due to this I now need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as it replaced DLA. This I did and filled in the relevant forms once I had received them.

"On July 27 I had the necessary face to face consultation which I felt went very well and got the impression that I’d make the smooth transition from DLA to PIP.

“However this was not to be as on August 12 they wrote to me saying that my claim had been rejected. I am now in the process of challenging this decision as it will leave me £346 a month worse off.

"Recently I went for a scan on my right ankle, which is causing me discomfort, so much so that I am having to take anti-inflammatories and pain killers. Before and after the scan the nurse had to help me on and off the steps I had to climb for the scan to take place.

“It’s a massive blow and has left me with a huge shortfall. It’s absolutely crazy because my disability means I have to take five tablets at least twice a day as I’m in constant pain.

"The maximum I can stand for is 30 seconds without being in absolute agony. It’s a nightmare to be honest and I hope they rethink before they take somebody else’s payments away.”

Due to his health issues Ben achieved a BTEC National Diploma in HND in Business and Finance but other than an 18-month stint at MTV, has never been able to hold down a full time job. He occasionally picks up little earners working as a DJ and runs an online radio station from his home.

Ben has lodged an appeal over the PIP decision and launched a legal case.

A DWP spokesman said: "Decisions for PIP are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist.



“Anyone that disagrees with a decision can appeal."