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Jose moved to Hertfordshire from Spain many years ago and has been reliant on disability living allowance for several years.
Although he speaks good English, it is obvious it is not his first language as he has a heavy accent.
He received a letter telling him that, as he had been receiving the allowance for more than three years his case would be reviewed and inviting him to attend a meeting.
Jose contacted POhWER after that meeting at which he felt he had experienced discrimination.
He said he thought that European immigrants on benefits were “the new hated minority group”.
The referral was made to POhWER advocate, Julie, who met with Jose to discuss his concerns.
He felt that the review meeting with SEETEC had treated him unfairly because he was not British and wished to appeal its decision that he was fit to return to work.
Julie helped Jose with his appeal and attended the next review meeting with him, after that meeting it was ruled that Jose’s health was too poor to allow him to return to work, that he would continue to receive disability living allowance and would be reviewed again after a further three years.
At the same time, Jose was undergoing a similar experience with CAB with his application for a Blue Badge and Julie was also able to support him with this issue.
He now has a Blue Badge.
Jose is adamant that he was experiencing discrimination and that Julie’s presence at the meetings he needed to attend prevented it and led to a successful outcome for him.
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