What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

For 31 years, Fred Williamson worked as an NHS paramedic. Now, at 62, he has terminal leukemia and needs help himself.

But the benefits assessor who saw him scored him zero points – so he is not eligible for the Government ’s flagship Personal Independence Payment.

“I’ve worked hard all my life but I’m having to fight for help when I need it,” he says.

“I know I’m going to die, I’m OK with that, but I don’t think I should be treated like this.”

Peter Grice, 58, a former lorry driver living in the same area of Staffordshire, who has prostate cancer was also turned down after being assessed.

(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

He had to fight through a tribunal for help. He is now facing a second tribunal after a repeat assessment.

Meanwhile, Diane Siegertsz, 57, from Stoke, who has twice had mouth cancer, was also knocked back for PIP despite the fact she has severe difficulties communicating and swallowing, and weighs just six stone.

Seriously ill patients like these are the very people Damian Green , newly appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, says he wants to help.

His first welcome move as DWP boss has been to end the retesting of people with “severe” conditions for Employment Support Allowance, saying he wants to “sweep away any unnecessary stress and bureaucracy”.

But his reforms will do nothing to help any of these three cancerpatients.

Fred, Peter and Diane all get ESA but they have struggled to get PIP – a critical additional benefit.

(Image: REUTERS)

Without PIP, they don’t just lose financial support, their families also lose Carers’ Allowance, a ­disabled badge, power wheelchairs and motability, the scheme that helps them buy specialised cars.

The result is that hundreds of vehicles are being taken from disabled people every week.

Charity Macmillan has previously criticised severe delays in PIP reaching cancer patients.

Benefit advisers in Stoke are now questioning the quality of ­Capita’s assessments as well as DWP decision making over cancer patients.

“We are seeing people with stage four lung cancer being awarded zero points,” says Duncan Walker, a Unite community adviser based in Stoke.

“They need eight to qualify for help and 12 to get enhanced help. These people are critically ill and some won’t live long enough to fight through the tribunal system.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

“In one case, I submitted a claim for a patient with liver cancer which had spread.

"The DWP informed me their new guidance ­indicated patients with this condition were living much longer. The claimant died 11 days later.”

Meanwhile, he says if the terminally ill person dies before the claim is resolved, the claim “dies with them” – so their family is unable to pay any debts.

I met Peter Grice at ­Disability ­Solutions, a charity in Stoke. Less than two years ago, he won at tribunal supported by the charity.

He has since been reassessed and had his PIP stopped again. At tribunal, Diane went from six points to more than 20.

“Personal ­Independence Payment is awarded on the basis of how someone’s condition affects them day-to-day rather than simply on the condition itself,” the DWP says.

(Image: Getty)

“Decisions on eligibility are made after consideration of all evidence, including an assessment and information provided by the claimant and their GP.”

Capita adds: “All our assessments are completed according to DWP ­requirements and we are not involved in the decision-making process or informed of claimants’ outcomes.”

Disability Solutions chief executive Mandy Rollins says her charity wins 96% of cases at tribunal.

But, recently, the Government has taken action to stop it losing so many cases.

Rather than amend the system to make it more humane and competent, they have spent millions that could have gone to disabled people on funding extra government lawyers.

In George Osborne’s last budget, in May, he smuggled in £22million of spending on “presenting officers” – 180 lawyers who will represent the DWP case in tribunals.

(Image: SWNS)

Yet help available to claimants has been decimated by legal aid cuts.

“You’ve got cancer, you’re unsupported and you are facing a ­professional lawyer,” Duncan says. “Is that a fair fight?”

It’s the fight faced by Fred, who is waiting for his tribunal date.

As well as battling against the physical damage caused by cancer and ­chemo, he must fight through the courts.

Fred has a unique tissue type meaning he can’t have a bone marrow transplant.

He has long-term health problems, and the only treatment he will be able to have if the leukemia returns will be palliative.

“I get out of breath when I walk and I’m shattered most of the time,” he says.

“I have regular blood transfusions. My wife Marianne has to help me shower.

"When I tell people I’m not entitled to help they can’t believe it. Words can’t describe to you how I feel.”

Up and down the country you will hear that if Damian Green wants to end “pointless” and cruel testing, he has a long way to go.