A CWMCARN man who was declared fit to work despite being registered blind and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis will appeal against the decision next week.

The Argus reported how Tony Harris, of Tribute Avenue, had his incapacity benefit of £199 every fortnight stopped in December after a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reassessment considered him fit to work.

Mr Harris, who has been registered blind since he was 16, will now appeal against the decision on May 15.

The case will be heard at Columbus House, Langstone Business Park.

Mr Harris suffers fromhereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa which has caused his sight to deteriorate during his adult life. He has used a guide dog for the past nine years.

He was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the beginning of last year.

Mr Harris started claiming incapacity benefit in 2000 when he had to take medical retirement from his job with telecoms factory Nortel in Cwmcarn, a job he held for 21 years. Since retiring, he retrained as a masseur but arthritis means he is unable to do the job.

Mr Harris said he is currently only able to claim £67 a week on emergency job seekers allowance which requires him to submit a sick note every 14 weeks.

He said: “All I want to do is to go back to what I was on before.

“These past few months have been very hard.”

The Argus previously reported how a DWP spokeswoman said the Government is committed to supporting more people with health conditions back in to work.

She said: “People who are found fit for work will now be supported through the new work programme which provides tailored support for people to get into sustained employment.

“People who are found too sick or disabled to work will continue to receive unconditional support and a higher rate of benefit.”