A PENSIONER with a serious disability is struggling to get by after she was denied additional benefits because of her age, even though assessors accepted her condition had worsened.

Melda Powell, 70, lives in Teynes, Cwmbran, and suffers from Cerebral Apraxia. The inherited genetic disease has similar symptoms to extreme vertigo.

It means she cannot stand up or walk unaided, and needs a wheelchair to move more than a few metres.

Before retiring, Mrs Powell spent 40 years working at Burtons biscuit factory in Cwmbran, and says she never claimed benefits once while she was healthy. Her condition, dormant for most of her life, flared up five years ago.

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She used to get £550 a month in Personal Independence Payments (PIP), but after an assessment in 2017 this dropped to £310.60.

Mrs Powell went through the appeals process but the decision was upheld because she was over the age of 65 – the bracket at which the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) cannot pay out for new mobility disorders.

A letter sent in September 2017 acknowledges that her condition had worsened, and Mrs Powell says she was unable to stand up in the assessment without the help of the doctor. But the DWP say they are tied by rules which mean they cannot pay out mobility payments to anyone who develops issues after turning 65.

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Mrs Powell survives by pooling her state pension, PIP, work pension and half her late husband’s RAF pension, but says she has to live mainly on ready meals cooked in the microwave.

Her care costs come to £188 a month, and after she pays all her bills she says she can only just manage on what’s left.

“My husband died seven years ago, before my condition really worsened,” explained Ms Powell.

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“Now I rely on his pension to get by. I just wouldn’t manage without it."

Mrs Powell’s condition confines her to her house if there is nobody to take her out, and she relies on family and friends to take her out.

“I live on ready meals and microwave meals. I’m still annoyed about it. I’ve worked all my life, and never taken benefits until my health got worse and I had to. I paid into the state for 40 years, and now when I need help most I’ve had benefits taken away from me.

"I don’t think it should be happening to people. I’m quite vulnerable and can’t get around, but they’re taking money from me."

A DWP spokesman confirmed Mrs Powell was reassessed for PIP almost two years ago, and the decision regarding the level of her entitlement was upheld.

“We are committed to ensuring that disabled people get the full support they’re entitled to," added the spokesman.

“Decisions for PIP are based on all the information available at the time, including that from a person’s GP or medical specialist. Everyone has the right to appeal a decision.”

*If you've experienced problems with the PIP or Universal Credit system and would like to share your story email sam.ferguson@gwent-wales.co.uk .