A MAN left unable to walk or communicate properly following a stroke has been forced to sell his home after being told he was no longer eligible for Government help.

Anna Hewison’s father, who does not want to be named, suffered a stroke in July 2012, forcing him to leave his job of more than 16 years at Mech Tool Engineering, in Darlington.

The previously fit and healthy 59-year-old now needs constant help from his daughter, who is his full-time carer, as he cannot walk or speak properly, and suffers from memory loss.

Following the stroke, he had been receiving Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and was given a blue disabled badge, as well as the use of a mobility scooter.

However, after the Government began the switch from awarding DLA to offering Personal Independence Payment (PIP), he has been told he is no longer eligible for disability benefits, leading to his income being more than halved.

He has also been stripped of his blue disabled badge and scooter.

Although he still receives ESA, the money is not enough to pay the household bills, food and mortgage and, as a result, he has been forced to sell his Darlington home to move in with his daughter, Mrs Hewison, and her family.

The 32-year-old said: “It has made me so angry. He has worked his whole life and has never claimed benefits before.

“It is as if they have picked him out and said we are going to strip him of everything he has got.

“It is hard to see somebody who has been financially independent and who has worked their whole life have everything stripped away."

The decision to not award Mrs Hewison’s father PIP was made following a 45-minute assessment. The family is in the process of appealing the result.

“This will be happening all over the country to people who haven’t got anyone to fight for them,” she said.

“If we hadn’t been here for him, they would have effectively been leaving him homeless.

“I feel a bit frightened about my future. I always thought you would be looked after as long as you paid in, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

A spokesman from the Department for Work and Pensions said: “This Government is absolutely committed to supporting disabled people and we continue to spend around £50bn a year on disabled people and their services.

“A decision on whether someone is entitled to PIP is based on a thorough assessment and consideration of any medical evidence including from a claimant’s GP.

“People have the right to appeal if they disagree with a decision.”