I'm terrified I'll lose my £700 a month PIP, says mum with MS after Labour reveals huge changes to benefits

MUM Dawn Parker suffers from multiple sclerosis and claims £700 a month in PIP disability benefits.

She walks with a frame indoors and only ventures outside in a wheelchair.

Woman in wheelchair outdoors. — Mum Dawn Parker suffers from multiple sclerosis and claims £700 a month in PIP disability benefits – but she’s ‘terrified’ the payments will stopCredit: Richard Walker

Liz Kendall, Work and Pensions Secretary, giving a statement in the House of Commons. — Liz Kendall, above with Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmer, announcing changes to welfare paymentsCredit: PA

Woman using tablet to apply for Universal Credit. — Benefits are getting a major shake-up, with many worried they’ll end up worse off as the Government attempts to save billions from the welfare billCredit: Alamy

Diagnosed in 2008, Dawn lives in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Leeds constituency.

Dawn, 58, said: “A couple of years ago Rachel took me by both hands and told me, ‘when we get in power you won’t realise how well off you’re going to be’.

“I am terrified, despite yesterday’s assurances, that people like me will be turned down for PIP in future.

“When I initially applied for PIP somebody had to come to my house to assess me.

“The guy said I qualified.

“I believe tests should be thorough enough to protect payments for those of us who really need it.”

‘I GET £46K FOR 2HRS DAILY WORK

SINGLE mum Cheryl Lloyd used to earn £46,000 a year as a full-time teacher working 50 hours a week.

But due to the broken benefits system she gets the same amount working just two hours a day.

Cheryl, 51, of Burntwood, Staffs, gets £1,200 a month in Universal Credit and £450 a month for son Luca, 15, who is autistic and has ADHD, and daughter Scarlett, nine.

She said: “I left to become a private tutor earning £33 an hour.

“A pal told me I’d be entitled to Universal Credit. Now, I can do as little as two hours a day and end up on as much money as I did as a teacher.

“It’s crazy. There’s no incentive to work more because you lose benefits for every extra hour you work.

“I want to work not sit at home and watch Netflix.”

Labour unveils raft of benefits CUTS with PIP eligibility to take huge hit

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