A BLAENAU Gwent man with early-onset dementia says he is disgusted after he was told he is fit to work.

Gavin Watkins, of Rassau in Ebbw Vale, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia five-and-a-half years ago, which means he sometimes forgets what has happened five minutes ago and can get confused with what he is doing.

However, having not worked for around 24 years due to having fibromyalgia and osteoporosis in his knees, the 59-year-old had an interview with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last month and was later told in a letter he was fit to work.

Kim Watkins, 58, who is her husband’s full-time carer, said she can’t believe this is happening to the family.

She said: “It’s a bit of a nightmare at the moment for us,.

“After Gavin had the meeting the letter from the DWP came on December 7 but it was dated December 2. It said he was fit to work and that his Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had been cut off.

“It’s affected the family quite a lot, I can’t really work because I can only leave him a short while, and that’s if he is having a good day. “

The couple are currently appealing against the DWP’s decision, and say Mr Watkins has been given a sick notice from their local GP for the next two months which he will hand in to the local job centre.

Mr Watkins said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous, it’s like they’re just bending the truth. I’ve got quite bad osteoporosis in my knees and can’t stand for long at all, I have a stick. They [the DWP] asked me how long I could stand up for and I said not long at all but they marked it down that I could stand for an hour, which isn’t true at all.”

The family are currently stuck for money as they both relied mainly on the ESA benefits, and Mrs Watkins said that as a full-time carer for her husband, she doesn’t earn enough for all the bills.

“It’s just an awful thing for us,” said Mrs Watkins.

“We don’t want to be worrying about money at this time of year.”

A DWP spokesman said: “The decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken following a thorough independent assessment, and after consideration of all the supporting evidence from the claimant’s GP or medical specialist. Anyone who disagrees with the outcome of their assessment can ask for the decision to be reviewed.”

George McNamara, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are very aware of serious flaws in the Personal Independent Payments assessment process when it comes to people with dementia. This includes a poor understanding of the needs of younger people with dementia and limited recognition of the types of dementia that affect younger people “