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People suffering from severe disabilities are being forced to travel for hours to be assessed for an important state benefit.

Assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in Gwynedd and Anglesey were carried out at Ty Menai on the Parc Menai business park, Bangor until it closed suddenly four months ago.

The contract between the DWP and assessment provider Capita, states that claimants should not have to travel for more than ninety minutes by public transport for an assessment. Capita are advising claimants that the nearest alternative assessment centres are in Rhyl and Aberystwyth.

Some claimants living on the Llŷn Peninsula are said to have been told by Capita that in order to receive a PIP review, they’d have to make the 140-mile round trip to Rhyl, whilst also being denied a home visit.

The move has prompted Arfon MP Hywel Williams to call on the private company to re-open the centre in Bangor or find other suitable premises.

He said travelling to the alternative centres is quite an undertaking for someone with a severe disability.

Mr Williams said: "The closure of the assessment centre in Parc Menai, Bangor without providing a suitable alternative location will have a severe impact on sick and disabled people in my constituency who will now have to travel outside of the area to attend assessments.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

"Like most people, I find it astonishing that the centre closed its doors without any prior public notice. Whatever the circumstances, this smacks of government cuts by stealth, adding to the pervasive culture of mistrust which already exacerbates claimant anxiety.

"Capita are contractually obliged to consider the specific needs of claimants when undertaking assessments. This includes locating assessment centres as local and as convenient as possible to those in receipt of benefits.

"The assessment process is not fit for purpose as it is, and instead of supporting vulnerable people, the process is often dehumanising, erroneous and worsens existing health conditions for vulnerable people.

" Capita have had four months to find an alternative location in Bangor. This situation is a serious cause of concern for me and my constituents and the government must urgently clarify what efforts are being made to establish new assessment centres to meet the needs of local claimants."

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been contacted for comment.