It was reported on Tuesday by the Daily Mirror that Shaun Rigby, a one-legged amputee, lost his disability benefits after being filmed by the DWP whilst playing at his local cricket club.
Shaun took up cricket after becoming an amputee and even played internationally as a member of the England Disabled cricket team.
Whilst playing at his local club in Shropshire, he was followed and filmed by DWP investigators, who used the video footage as evidence he ‘wasn’t Disabled enough’. This has led to his PIP benefits and mobility car being taken away, as well as the threat of having to repay the benefits he has received over the last few years, which could amount to between £40,000 and £50,000.
Shaun says:
“I play cricket – it doesn’t mean my leg has suddenly grown back. I was reviewed in 2016 via a home visit. The assessor said ‘What am I doing here? Your leg will never grow back. You will get this for life’
“On a cricket day I take more medication in the morning to help me through the day and make the pain more tolerable. I am still in pain but felt that some sort of activity and interaction with friends was good for my own wellbeing. I played for the social side of things. Just because I play cricket doesn’t mean my leg has grown back. I still need help getting around.”
At Get Yourself Active, we campaign for Disabled people’s right to access physical activity, something that benefits our general wellbeing and supports us in our local communities. With 83% of Disabled people wanting to be more active, almost half don’t engage in sport for fear of losing their benefits if they are seen to be active. This is something known as the Activity Trap. Disability benefits are simultaneously one of the main ways Disabled people can access sport and physical activity, whilst also the fear of having them removed being the main preventor of active involvement.
At Get Yourself Active, we are deeply concerned at the news that Disabled individuals continue to face surveillance from the DWP for being physically active. Physical activity is a right to all, including Disabled people, and should be encouraged as opposed to punished by the social security system. The overwhelming evidence suggests physical activity improves Disabled people’s quality of life, access to community, mobility and wellbeing. However, it does not stop us from being Disabled.
News stories like this undoubtedly feed the justified fear that being physically active as a Disabled person can lead to retribution from the DWP, which will have a detrimental impact on Disabled communities and the tireless campaigning to include us in the sport and physical activity sector.
