REDCAR MP Anna Turley has managed thus far to claim back more than £450,000 for local people who have had their disability benefits axed.

Anna and her team deserve huge recognition for these efforts. Many sick and disabled who are fully entitled to these vital benefits slip through the net because the whole system of assessing them is rotten to the core

Whether it be the Personal Independence Payment(PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) the government make it as gruelling as possible to claim and maintain.

To claim PIP you must score at least eight points at assessment, or 12 points for the enhanced rate. With ESA it’s 15. It would appear the government routinely award zero points to everyone in the hope most will not appeal their decision.

Most don’t, thus saving the government billions of pounds each year.

Depriving the sick and disabled of their entitlement is,in my mind scandalous. Again, well done to Anna for championing the cause.

As for the Tories they care more about a spreadsheet than they do about people.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.