Anger as woman with terminal cancer is called to benefit re-assessment

Krissy Johnson from Clitheroe was diagnosed with incurable metastatic Breast Cancer in September 2015.

Nearly three years later, the 48-year-old has been called to a meeting by the Department for Work and Pensions to determine if she is capable of returning to work.

The mother-of-one shared a letter she had been sent last week by the Independent Assessment Services on behalf of the DWP in a post on Facebook which has been shared more than 6,000 times.

The letter 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."

The former mental health worker said it was the third time she had been called to such a review where she would be expected to prove her condition was terminal.

She said: "When I first applied in 2015 I received a call to say they had received my terminal certificate so I would be fast tracked.

"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.

"One woman said I had not filled the forms out, but I had on the 6th of January, then I was put through to a manager who said I had not put my long term diagnoses on my application.

"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."

Mrs Johnson said she now faces having her payments cut or revoked totally should the DWP find her fit to return to work.

She said: "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.

"I am not sure of anything, yet I am expected go to this review and explain why I can't work.

"I'm scared that my last time on this earth will be spent claiming or struggling to find money.

"I'm scared that we will no longer be able to afford for Mark to care for me.

"Not only will I lose the full time care I need, but we will miss out on the precious time we have left together, which is totally irreplaceable."

She said:"I'm a very positive person, this is not a sob story, my aim is to get the word out and show everyone that it is not a fabrication.

"I want people to take note and pay attention to what is happening to us because it is shocking.

"It is so upsetting to think of the people who don't have the support network I have.

"I have a lot of friends and people around me who I can rely on for help or just to put their arm round me, not to mention my MacMillan nurse who is an angle on earth.

"The forms are so ridiculously complicated, it's almost impossible for someone who is terminally ill or has a chronic illness to handle on their own.

"I can see why their has such a spike in suicides among claimants of PIP."

Mrs Johnson said she contacted her local MP Nigel Evans, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Prime Minister Theresa May several months ago but had received no response. 

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."

Mrs Johnson said did not believe there had been a mistake,

She said: "This is the third time I have been called in to be assessed.

"This is not a mistake it is a deliberate thing, they are relying on people in my situation just lying down and accepting their fate.

"They just want us to lie down and die, but I have a voice and I still have the strength to fight it so I will.

"There needs to be a system put in place to help people in this situation and stop them being take advantage of."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "Why are we re-assessing people who have terminal and degenerative illnesses?

"It's a waste of public money and it's causing these people further stress, it is inhumane to put them through this trauma.

"We need to ensure there is a change in procedure so people will no longer have to experience this."