Disabled man to pay back £20k benefits
A DISABLED Spalding man was handed a £680 court bill on top of the £20,883.35 he must repay to the Department for Work and Pensions for failing to tell them his condition had improved.
James Cropley (54), of Algers Walk, originally made a claim for the then ‘mobility allowance’ in 1990 when he could walk no more than 50 yards.
But he carried on claiming when doing “heavy manual work” for poultry company Bernard Matthews and while working as a lorry driver for transport company Gist, Spalding magistrates heard.
Solicitor Beris Brickles, prosecuting for the DWP, said there was no suggestion Cropley’s claim was fraudulent when it began.
But he failed to declare an improvement in his condition.
Mr Brickles read statements from managers at Bernard Matthews and Gist who revealed they had made no concessions or changes to the jobs because of his disability.
The manager for Bernard Matthews said Cropley was undertaking heavy manual work, wading through chickens, feeding them and carrying heavy loads.
Mr Brickles said it was estimated Cropley owed £20,883.35 going back to 2002 and he is repaying that to the DWP.
Cropley was walking with a heavily pronounced limp in court – holding on to the back of a chair when he stood for magistrates and holding on to the dock’s wooden surround as he arrived and left for the hearing.
He pleaded guilty at Wednesday’s hearing to failing to notify a change of circumstances.
Solicitor Daven Naghen, mitigating, said Cropley takes 18 painkillers a day.
When first awarded the allowance, he was told it would be for an indefinite period.
Mr Naghen said: “His doctors have always told him ‘you will never get better, you will only get worse, but you will get worse quicker if you sit and do nothing’.”
He said Cropley found his own ways to make each of his jobs easier to do and to avoid lifting where he could.
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Comments
There are 20 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
hadenough
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:53 AMI personally think that DLA should be means tested, surely if you actually required the benefit you would not mind. There are too many poeple out there after what they can from the government, its a vicous circle mentality, try and get as much as you can out of them as you pay or have paid lots of taxes, but if people didnt try to screw the system the government wouldnt have to tax as much. Unfortunately i do know people who have cars from DLA because they are entitled to it, but certainly dont deserveor should have one.
Winchester Carbine
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:53 PM@ Jonty - Yes, it's me. Just back locally to finish up some work, clear my desk and then back home. I have to say, life is somewhat more civilised over there ;-)
Winchester Carbine
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:50 PM@ Holly; MP answer 'this is an individual case'...but how many more 'individual cases' are out there? Well about 3% of all benefits claims are false, ether change of circumstances or a direct flase claim. To keep this in perportion, more money is lost each year through Government employees stealing pens, pencils, paper, photocopying etc and running their own post through the system. The National Fraud Authority (NFA) estimates that public sector fraud cost £17.6 billion6 in its Annual Fraud Indicator published in January 2010. This figure is derived from an exercise which asked constituent parts of the public sector (or those auditing them) for their views on the extent of losses
Winchester Carbine
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:40 PMI was commenting on your rather silly remark ' take a look at the lavish cars parked in disabled bays at Sainsburys...its obvious the DLA is being topped up to get a better car, well if people can afford to top up they dont need that benefit!!' It not only stinks of some kind of misplaced envy, but I suspect if you questions all the drives in disabled spaces none would be on DLA. As I said, many people have a disabled badge and park in those spots, but are not on DLA. The blue badge scheme has no relationship with DLA. Meeting the basic criteria for a Blue Badge is a long way from being so disabled and unwell that you pass a Government medical enabling payment of DLA . I had what you might call a lavish brand new large vehicle a while ago and a blue badge to go with it. I was never on DLA or any benefit - I WAS WORKING.
HollygoLula
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:04 PM@9 Winchester...if, in your words...'take it from me, you do have to be quite ill or disabled to get DLA'...why are we commenting on this story? Im sure you will come back with the usual MP answer 'this is an individual case'...but how many more 'individual cases' are out there?
Mr Angry of Tonbridge
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:09 PM@marshy. Fences are barriers. We should be knocking them down, not hiding behind or relying on them. Is dirreah some sort of curry?
FenBoy1
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:00 PMWok Smuggler. I agree with the need to pay it back. That has to be the best deterrent. No ifs, buts or maybes, pay it back, every penny. After all, it's our taxes that they are robbing from. And if any person on DLA is in ANY doubt about whether they still qualify for it. They can ask. Simples!
marshy
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:44 AMMr Angry and holly seem to have developed verbal dirreah, I would gladly swap places with you if you want to try it from the other side of the fence!
jonty
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 01:11 PM@winchester carbine, is that you woody?
Mr Angry of Tonbridge
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:53 PMDifferent people deal with disabilities in different ways. I can not do the physical work that I could when younger. But, over the course of time I have developed other skills and knowledge to compensate. Those who fiddle the system deserve to be punished as well as paying back their ill gotten gains. Everybody should be able to train themselves up to find some sort of useful employment and not rely on state handouts. That sounds harsh but many people do just give up. I do not begrudge anybody benefits required to help them through tough times but they should be trying to help themselves too. When made redundant I went and looked for employment and would accept work anywhere, not just in the area I had previously worked in. A relative of mine lives in Holland. When he was made redundant he had to take Dutch lessons and retrain in order to get his state benefits. One should never just give up. http:bit.lyz4XiuV
choppy
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:57 AMCalm down @Winchester Carbine & @HollygoLula. Hand bags at the ready.
Winchester Carbine
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:47 AM@ Holly - I read the Telegraph Holly. DLA is designed to assist those who have greater needs in life due to their illness and take it from me, you do have to be quite ill or disabled to get DLA it isn't means tested and never will be because of its nature. The fact that someone has a lot of money, whatever a lot is supposed to be in the UK. One third of the population earn or earn close to poverty wages according to Government stats. Most countries in the world have a similar payment schemes for such people, even in the USA. Being disabled is expensive, getting to work, DIY,special diets, equipment - These all cost a lot of money. You don't get DLA just because you are disabled by the way - the criteria and procedure is long and difficult. Again, as for Sainsbury car park - you would find most of them to be OAP, or generally disabled but not on DLA because the numbers on DLA are much lower than those actually disabled veryfew people qualifiy for DLA in the disabled group.
marshy
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:05 AMHolly, I would suggest you remove your head from whereever it is stuck at the moment and get your facts right!
HollygoLula
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 09:36 AM@5 Winchester...and you sound like the type of person that has got this country into the mess its in. Your comment is typical of a person who does not like the truth, and regarding your comments on me keying cars...i have never, nor would ever break the law. I suppose you think its ok that DLA can be claimed by millioniares then? I think the recent statistics showing a high percentage of DLA claimants are fit to work backs my case. Also the point of benefits is to support someone if they cant support themselves, which i totally agree with.....well if someone has the finances to top up their DLA for a better car do they really need that benefit? BTW...you, sir, sound like you have been reading the Guardian or the latest liebour party pamphlet.
Winchester Carbine
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:59 PMLet us hope that Holly never becomes ill or disabled. A new car doesn't mean someone is rich or even well off. Fistly go and look at the disability scheme for cars and the costs involved. Second, many disabled are OAP's and they have paid for their own car and indeed many disabled people do. Many disabled badge holders are not on DLA.... Cancer patients for example get a Blue Badge while in treatment to name but one group. Your remarks smell of uninformed and misplaced envy. No doubt we will find Holly 'keying' cars next in the Sainsbury's car park out of frustration that sick and disabled people get something she doesn't get. Be very carful what you wish for Holly- There but for the grace of god go you or I. As for topping up - Been reading the Daily Mail or Sun rags again have we?
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