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Fit For Work
‘Let down by the system’: Six-stone emaciated man deemed fit for work by DWP dies
A severely ill man who was deemed “fit for work” even though he weighed 6st and was unable to walk for 20 metres without collapsing with pain and exhaustion has died, prompting claims that he was “let down” by the welfare system.
Stephen Smith, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoarthritis, made headlines earlier this year when photographs emerged of him emaciated in hospital after pneumonia left him unable to walk.
The 64-year-old Liverpudlian, who worked all his adult working life, had never claimed benefits prior to falling ill.
But he had his employment support allowance (ESA) payments stopped after a work capability assessment in 2017 found him “fit for work”.
Mr Smith – who owned a small business repairing washing machines for a living – was told to sign on to receive a £67 a week jobseeker’s allowance. He was also required to visit the jobcentre once a week and prove that he was looking for work.
Repeated calls to reverse the decision were denied by officials, despite written evidence from doctors stating that Mr Smith could not walk for 20 metres without collapsing with pain and exhaustion.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/apos-let-down-system-apos-112137334.html