Benefit Victory For Fred Hazle, Father Who Took Son James To Downing Street
I know that many of you will be very pleased to read this. As always, your comments are very welcome.
A father has won a victory for his severely disabled son by going to Downing Street to demand the Prime Minister hire his boy if the government thinks he is fit to work.
Fred Hazle, 46, from Grafton Road, Dagenham, was protesting a string of “bullying” letters sent to his 19-year-old son James, who has the mental age of a five-year-old, threatening to stop his £71.95 a week in benefits unless he could “prove” he cannot work.
James needs round-the-clock care and has autism, blindness, epilepsy and severe learning difficulties.
Speaking exclusively to the Post, Fred said he has now secured a promise that the letters will stop, and that James will receive benefits “indefinitely”.
Fred, who works as a bus driver, said: “First they put me on to some call centre. I told them I would go back down there to Downing Street, and about 20 minutes later they got me on to the manager of the Employment and Support Allowance.
“I told them, ‘All you people want to do is fob me off, leave it a year and send more letters. I’m not having it.’”
The manager apologised and said James would receive financial support “for the rest of his life”, and promised to send written confirmation of this to Fred.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “It was never about the money for me.
“No-one with a disability should have to be humiliated in front of people to prove they cannot work.”
Fred hopes to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith, the minister for Work and Pensions, to seek an apology and make them change the benefits system to protect disabled people from this treatment.
He added: “I want an apology from Iain Duncan Smith and Mr Cameron, not to me, not to my wife, but to James.”
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said there had been a “misunderstanding” over the Hazles’ case but confirmed it was resolved and no money would be stopped.
Same Difference 
Good for you……….. 🙂
Don’t let the B***ards grind you down……………………..
Congratulations to you an your Son,,,,,,,,,,,
Although Congratulations should not be needed!!!…….. BUT JUSTIFIED!!!!!………….. X
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Parenting level = Heroic. Seriously well done Sir.
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Misunderstanding?! Why do I not believe that.
Good on Fred for fighting for James, a true and dedicated parent.
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This man’s son should not be receiving just £71 a week. Someone with his son’s needs should be in the Support Group for ESA and he should have been entitled to Disabilty Living Allowance indefinitely, which means it should be being paid before new applications for DLA closed in June throughout the UK. If he isn’t receiving DLA care (and possibly mobility) at least or PIP care (and possibly the mobility element) then the family need his benefits re-checking. There is also the possibility that someone could be claiming Carers’ Allowance while caring for him. No parent should have to take such measures for their loved one for them to receive disability benefits.
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You’d think that with all the ‘misunderstandings’ the DWP and ATOS have, the Government would find a company who actually understands?
Congratulations to you guys 🙂
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Pleased to read some positive news. I hope you get all that James is entitled to and soon.
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yes they were wrong to do so yes they were wrong to threaten but this is ids way takeaway your benefit also not informing you there is others to top up your benefits yet now he gets into papers and tv all is now right appoligising to him ,whot its many many more like them out there getting this abuse daily do they get threatning letters and money stopped yet on this show goes not until we all dead it seems ids is camerooons goat jeff3
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