A MAN from Northlew has criticised the government over benefit cutbacks after his employment support allowance was stopped.

Terence Sharp, aged 53, is on the top rate of disability living allowance due to having a degenerative disease affecting his lower spine.

The condition leaves him in a great deal of pain, taking more than 200 pills a week, including morphine, to battle the pain.

He relies on his family to help him with most everyday tasks, and can only take a few steps with walking sticks before it becomes too difficult to continue. He has also battled depression caused by the effect his disability has had on his life.

Along with his disability allowance Mr Sharp was receiving employment and support allowance. In July, he went for a government medical with Atos, which provides medical services to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

He said: 'After the medical, they said that in their opinion I was fit enough to seek employment because I could sit in my wheelchair and get a pen out of my pocket and write my name.

'Because of that I have been told they would not pay me the ESA any more, even though I had letters from hospital doctors and specialists stating my medical condition.'

Mr?Sharp lost his appeal at an independent tribunal in July, and was told to submit a new claim, including a letter from his GP and a community mental health team both supporting his claim. He was told last week that he has now to wait six months before he can make the new claim due to it relating to the same medical condition.

He has since had difficulty claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Mr Sharp said: 'Now we have no money coming in for me and my family. It also means that I can no longer afford to travel to the hospital for the help and treatment I so badly need.

'I would like nothing better than to go back to work. But I have a genuine disability that is not going to get better.

'I would love to know just who they think will employ me in my condition. The government have put my condition at a greater risk now because they won't pay me any benefits, so I can no longer afford to travel to the hospitals for treatment on my spine or with my severe depression.

'How can this government treat not just me, but all the other members of the public who have a genuine disability like this? I know that this government are putting people like me at a great risk.'

A spokesperson from the Department of Work and Pensions said: 'We are reforming the welfare system to ensure no-one is left trapped on benefits. We will continue to give unconditional support to people who are disabled or too sick to work and anyone who is able to work will get specialist help through the Work Programme.

'Anyone who disagrees with their assessment can appeal and present further evidence.'

The DWP said both they and an independent tribunal both reached the same conclusion that Mr Sharp was able to work, and that any decision taken regarding the withdrawal of employment and support allowance had been taken with the greatest of thought and consideration.