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A blind and epileptic woman deemed 'fit for work' by the government despite not being able to make herself a cup of tea has won her appeal.

Hazel Macrae is unable to leave home alone because she's afraid of falling and would be unable to 'move safely in a workplace'.

Her fight made headlines across the country after she was classed as fit for work despite being blind since birth and suffering with epilepsy, Type 2 Diabetes and osteo arthritis .

The 62-year-old received good news today after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) performed a u-turn when their initial decision prompted UK-wide anger.

Hazel, of Walker, Newcastle, could not be happier after the decision was reversed, Chronicle Live reports.

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She said: “The support I have been getting is fantastic.”

Hazel, who was claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA), was told she’d have to undertake a back to work assessment.

After filling in a questionnaire and completing a face-to-face assessment the DWP decided she could work.

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Two years ago the DWP said Hazel could go back to work and, after losing an appeal, she was forced to take them to a tribunal which she later won.

Facing a lengthy appeals process and the possibility of having to go to a tribunal for a second time, Hazel went to our sister title the Chronicle for help.

They told her story and hundreds of readers expressed their outrage and came out in support of her.

Hazel heard back from the DWP today and they have said she will be moving back into the Support Group, which means she won’t have to work.

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She said: “I’m really, really pleased. I thought I was going to be told I would need to go to a tribunal but she said no I was going to be put back in to the Support Group.

“When they told me I would have to go back to work it broke my heart - I cried for the first time in years.

“I couldn’t stand the thought of having to go through it all again.”

Hazel said the decision was a weight off her mind.

She added: “It has been such a stress and worry.”

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Hazel, who has artificial eyes, thanked everyone for their support.

She said: “I was the cafe with my son and the waitress told us she was supporting me and hoped it worked out.

“My son and friends have been telling me that there were hundreds of comments from people on Facebook.

“But, I didn’t just do this for myself. I wanted to do this for everyone with disabilities who is going through this - it just isn’t right.”

Hazel, who can’t make a cup of tea, said it was time for the process of assessing benefits to be reviewed.

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Her story has echoes of Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake – which was shot in Newcastle – after Hazel was initially told she had “limited capability for work” and her ESA was moved from the Support Group to Work Related Activity Group, and reduced by £15 per fortnight.

This was despite filling in a questionnaire explaining she was unable to leave her home without the help of her partner or son because she’s afraid of falling, can’t use a pen or pencil, telephone, and would be unable to “move safely” in a workplace.

Hazel was also required to meet with a health professional in Gosforth and was asked a series of questions about her daily activities.

“The system is unfair and it needs to be looked at,” she said. “I was told I would have to go back to work but they didn’t tell me what I could do. There is no job I would’ve been able to do.”

A DWP spokesman said: “After reviewing Ms Macrae’s case and considering new evidence that was not initially provided, she has now been placed in the Support Group.”