REGARDING your reader's experience in 'Fear for benefits' (Letters, February 10), after 30 years full-time employment with the GPO, I suffered a stroke, ending what I thought was my job for life.

For the last nine years I have constantly seen doctors, all of whom found me unfit for work. I have been receiving incapacity benefit for this time, along with my reduced pension from the GPO, which I manage to survive on.

Recently, I received a questionnaire to fill, asking such things as whether I could tie my shoe laces or pick up a bottle of milk. I answered the questions truthfully and sent it back without delay.

To my astonishment, I was informed I had been given three points and because 15 were needed to gain incapacity benefit, I would, therefore, lose my allowance.

I appealed against this decision and was seen by non-medically qualified people who spent 30 minutes looking through the questionnaire and informed me I was fit for work.

I failed three full medicals, one of which was with a DSS doctor. My own GP, who knows my condition, tells me I am not fit for work. But unfortunately, I failed a piece of paper because the system has now changed.

I am in my sixties, suffer black-outs and have high blood pressure. I cannot sit for long, nor can I stand for long. I have difficulty breathing. Please, tell me who will give me a job? The doctors say I am not fit for work but the questionnaire says I am.

My benefit has been withdrawn; my standard of living is declining. I know I am not alone with this problem. Surely, something can be done.

ALAN GILL, Whitehead Street, Blackburn.

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