Jo's relief at PIP U-turn - but she's lost faith in Government

GRAN WAS SCARED BY PLANS FOR WIDESPREAD BENEFIT CUTS

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

A GRANDMOTHER who feared major changes to disability benefits has welcomed a U-turn - but says she has now lost trust in the Labour Government.

Jo Butlin, 54, feared the prospect of losing her care-related daily living allowance under the changes which she says would have left her unable to leave the house or to regularly see her family and grandchildren.

The measures, which would have tightened eligibility for Personal Independent Payments (PIP), were criticised by campaigners and charities, who said some of the most vulnerable people would be hit.

Jo, from Hucknall, suffered a major asthma attack in 2012 while training to become a nurse, leading to a number of health conditions which left her unable to work or cope on her own.

Her enhanced daily PIP living component pays for carers to go to her house twice a day - and, with limited energy, she was scared she'd be left housebound without the help.

A mum of three, and grandmother to three grandsons, Ms Butlin has had to take more than 52 tablets a day, three insulin injections and multiple other types of treatment to keep her stable. She has been told there is no chance that she could ever get better, and she relies on care paid for by her enhanced PIP.

Disability benefits are no longer set to be cut - but the Government says it is still planning to reconsider the benefits, with a review set to take place next year.

"I'm glad at the moment they aren't changing the rules but I don't trust them not to introduce it at a later date," Jo said.