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A benefits assessor asked a blind woman: "How many fingers am I holding up?" before declaring her fit to work.

Natasha Pogson, 28, says she was made to feel "stupid" by a female ATOS worker who carried out her disability assessment.

As well as holding up her fingers, the woman also made Natasha try and touch her toes and lifted both arms before asking Natasha to do the same.

Natasha and her dad Karl, who also attended the assessment, say it was made "crystal clear" beforehand that she had been left "completely blind" because she was born so prematurely.

But Natasha, of Billingham, Cleveland, has now had her weekly income slashed and been told to get a job - because she can cross the road with her guide dog.

She said she was left "humiliated" by the assessment and is appealing against the decision from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Atos Healthcare said a full investigation had been launched into the case, and stressed no complaint had been made. But a spokeswoman apologised if any distress had been caused.

Despite her obvious disability, Natasha was asked:

"How many fingers am I holding up"

"Can you see my hand?' as the assessor put her hand in front of her face

"How long do you spend reading each week?"

"Can you touch your toes?"

"Repeat my arm actions" as the assessor made arm actions without describing them

Natasha said: "There are so many people receiving benefits that they don't really deserve, people who don't want to work.

"And yet people like me who have genuine disabilities, many much worse than mine, are being forced to do humiliating tests like this.

"Benefits Street is being filmed a couple of miles away in Stockton and programmes like that give people the impression benefits are being handed out to everyone."

(Image: Evening Gazette)

"I listened to the first series and there was someone on there with 11 kids who didn't seem to want to work.

"And yet I'm told I have to find a job based on tests I am still struggling to understand.

"My dad was in the room with me and he had to repeatedly point out that I couldn't see.

"If their test for visual impairment is to asked how many fingers they are holding up it makes a mockery of the system. What does it actually prove?

"And when my only reason for claiming benefits is my blindness why was I made to touch my toes?

"It was upsetting and humiliating and the way these things are assessed needs to be changed."

She was made to feel "so small".

"It was almost suggesting I was making my disability up," added Natasha.

"The reason for me not qualifying is apparently because I can cross a road with a guide dog in a place I am familiar with, but that isn't always the case.

"There have been times when I have fallen over in the street and been unable to get my bearings even when I have my dog with me.

"During the test the assessors ask questions such as how many fingers they are holding up or they would lift their arms and ask if I could do the same without telling me what they were doing. I felt stupid."

poll loading Should Natasha's case be re-assessed? 2000+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

Natasha was born after arriving prematurely at 26 weeks weighing 1lb 11 oz. Her benefits previously amounted to £163 a week under the benefits allowance scheme.

This will now fall to £72 a week under the Job Seekers Allowance.

She is one of thousands of people who have been forced to undergo tests carried out on behalf of the DWP to find out whether claimants are still eligible for support under disability allowances or incapacity benefit.

Those tested must score 15 points to be declared unfit for work, whereas Natasha scored nine and was told was "no longer assessed as having limited capability for work."

Dad Karl, 47, her main carer, said: "Natasha has enough problems without people questioning her ability and her intention. I understand the Government is trying to get people off benefits but you have to live in the life of a blind person to know what they go through."

An Atos Healthcare spokesperson said: "Our fully trained and registered doctors, nurses and physiotherapists carefully follow the guidelines and criteria laid down by Government when completing Work Capability Assessments.

"We do ask people questions to ascertain the level of their functional ability and that includes asking for detail around any visual impairment and how it impacts on a person’s life.

“We understand that applying for benefit can be a difficult experience which is why we endeavour to make the process as easy as possible for people.

"If anyone is unhappy with their assessment they can contact us directly to make a complaint which will be thoroughly investigated.”

The DWP confirmed the assessment was carried out by Atos, the firm which has lost the Government contract to do the medical checks on benefits claimants after a flood of complaints.

The contract is due to end early next year with the services transferred to another provider.

The Department for Work and Pensions claimed the assessment was designed to look at what work someone can do "with the right support rather than just writing people off on sickness benefits as happened in the past."

The spokesman added: "The decision on entitlement is made after considering all the evidence from a claimant's GP and people have the right to submit extra evidence or appeal as part of the process."