South Woodford resident Simone Roach explains her frustration and desperation following the rejection of her disability benefit application, which has left her feeling abandoned
My name is Simone Roach. I’m 21 years old and was born with a disability called severe progressive axonal polyneuropathy. My condition caused me to lose the ability to walk, so I’m now a permanent wheelchair user. It also removed all of the movement from my fingers and wrists, so I can’t grab or hold objects with my hands either (I’m typing this article with a pen in my mouth). Despite all this, my claim to receive PIP, a disability benefit, was dismissed.
This has put me in an impossible situation. I currently have no funds despite having bills to pay. I have nothing I can use to pay the extra costs my disability causes me, and I don’t have a wheelchair taxi card (because I can’t claim PIP), so I’m stuck indoors. I’ve been applying to jobs nonstop and going through countless job interviews only to be rejected time and time again. There aren’t that many jobs I can apply for based on my skills and qualifications. I can’t just do a standard cleaning, waitressing or retail job because of my disability.
I tried going to Citizens Advice Redbridge because things are getting quite desperate, but they don’t do in-person appointments. I phoned them but was on hold for over two hours. I emailed them, but they said they’re so busy working on cases that they might not be able to help anyone new at the moment. I desperately need help and I don’t know where else to turn.
My PIP claim is supposedly being dismissed because I recently lived in the Netherlands. I was born in London and I used to live here when I was younger (my parents and sisters are British citizens too). However, when I was a child, my family moved to the Netherlands. I moved back to the UK in April 2023. I contacted both Citizens Advice and a PIP adviser and they both assured me that if I moved here, I’d be able to claim PIP. I knew I wouldn’t be able to move to London without that extra financial support.
Upon my return, I filled out the PIP application form. To my surprise, after months of waiting, my PIP claim was dismissed. Apparently, because I haven’t lived in England for two of the last three years, I can’t claim PIP, even though on PIP’s official website it says: “If you’ve recently returned from living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you might be able to get PIP sooner.” In fact, it says that you are even able to claim PIP while living abroad if you’re a British citizen. I tried to appeal the decision but the answer was the same – I have to wait two years before I can claim.
This is deeply disturbing to me. It means if you have a disability and you leave the UK for two years, you can never return because how is one supposed to function here for two years until eligible to claim benefits again? I feel as if I’m being abandoned by the government.
For more information and to contact Simone, visit thewheelchairteen.com
