A WOMAN who struggles with severe osteoarthritis and a brain tumour has hit out at the Government after her blue badge – and motability car – were taken away, leaving her struggling to get to work.

Jo Cole, who works as a disability advocate, was reassessed for the Government’s new Personal Independent Payment (PIP) earlier this year, which replaces the former Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Despite having a degenerative condition which leaves her unable to walk more than a few hundred metres, it was ruled she no longer needs a motability car, which will be repossessed next month. She has also lost points which means she is ineligible for a blue badge.

Ms Cole, from Thornaby, is appealing the decision, saying it will make work almost impossible.

“I had two medical assessments for the DLA five years apart that said I had a recognised disability and I needed the enhanced mobility award.

“Now they have decided I’m capable of walking. I also have a brain tumour which meant I had to have part of my ear removed, and I can’t wear a hearing aid because of that, and they marked down on the form that I didn’t require a hearing aid, when I am completely deaf on that side.

“Without my blue badge and the car I don’t know how I’m going to manage.”

She criticised the PIP system, saying it assumes all disabled people are fraudsters rather than just a tiny percentage.

She also said she believed the system was “flawed” and illegal under the Equality Act, the Care Act, and the Human Rights Act.

A DWP spokesman said: “Decisions on eligibility for Personal Independence Payment are made after consideration of all the evidence, including an assessment and information provided by the claimant and their GP. Most people leaving the Motability scheme are eligible for a one-off payment of £2,000 to help meet their mobility needs.”

Ms Cole has set up a petition arguing that the PIP system is illegal, with hundreds of signatures already.

To sign, visit www.change.org/p/uk-government-personal-independence-payment-breaches-un-convention-on-disability-rights