Yahoo News Woman asked to prove she has terminal cancer three times to keep benefits
A woman diagnosed with terminal cancer was left shocked after being asked to attend a ‘consultation’ to discuss if she could return to work.
Krissy Johnson, 48, was diagnosed with incurable metastatic Breast Cancer in September 2015 and given less than a year to live.
But while she is still alive almost three years later, she was called to a meeting by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to determine if she is capable of returning to work.
Posting on Facebook, the mother-of-one shared a letter she had been sent last week by the Independent Assessment Services.
The letter, which has since been shared more than 6000 times, stated: ‘Our job is to help the DWP understand how you health conditions or disability affects your daily life.
‘One of our health professionals has looked at the information you sent to the DWP.
‘After doing this we have decided that we need to see you for a face-to-face consultation to discuss you health condition or disability further.’
Former mental health worker Krissy says it was the third time she had been called to such a review where she would be expected to prove her condition was terminal.
‘When I first applied in 2015 I received a call to say they had received my terminal certificate so I would be fast tracked’, she said.
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‘I was receiving my payments then after six months I was sent more forms to fill out and asked to attend a review which I could not go to because I was in hospital.
‘I then received another review appointment which I refused to go to.
‘Last Thursday I received the third review letter, and when I spoke to them on the phone they acted like I had done everything wrong.’
Krissy added: ‘Two people in two minutes had called me a liar, I wish I was lying, I wish none of this was happening to me but it is.
‘I sent them everything, even my confidential medical report, my God I sent them stuff I didn’t even want to read it myself.’
Krissy, from Clitheroe, Lancs, faced the prospect of having her payments cut or revoked if the DWP deemed her fit to return to work.
‘At the moment I am doing well, I look after myself, I take my pills but I am not sure how long until I get symptoms’, she said.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: ‘We apologise for the letters that Ms Johnson has received.
‘We have reviewed the case and she is now being paid under the special circumstances with no break in her claim.
‘We can confirm that she does not have to attend any appointments and a letter will be sent to Ms Johnson confirming this.
‘Anyone having any problems with PIP should contact their local office whose staff will be able to help.’
