An injured war veteran, left disabled after a grenade attack in Iraq in 2003, feels he’s being accused of “faking” his injuries after having his benefits cut.
Adam Douglas, from Fearnville, has had 38 operations since the incident, which left him with severe spinal injuries, but a years on the Department for Work and Pensions stopped his disability carer’s allowance and demanded a repayment of £351.
The wife of the 45-year-old wheelchair user, who was also hurt in an accident in Basra in 2006, was receiving £70 a month to help with his “bathing and toileting difficulties”.
Mr Douglas’s benefit was reportedly revoked for failing to inform the DWP that his circumstances had changed.
He will attempt to overturn the decision at a tribunal hearing in Leeds today.
Mr Douglas, who founded the Forgotten Heroes charity that aids the carers of injured war veterans, said: “I don’t want to sit at home and be one of these claimants claiming for everything and draining the state. I have a full time job and contribute and for that I’m being penalised.”
He said he still warrants the allowance because of his difficulties controlling his bladder and bowel, although improved by a £20,000 bionic implant in his spine put in place two years ago.
The DWP cut the benefit after his life insurance provider carried out a covert investigation when he tried to cash in a policy that would pay off his mortgage.
It was adjudged that he did not meet their total permanent disability claim criteria and a joint police and DWP fraud investigation was opened before being discontinued last March.
A DWP spokesman said: “We owe the men and women who have served their country a huge debt of gratitude and will do everything we can to help them to find work and make sure they get all the benefits they are entitled to if they are injured.”
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