A COLEFORD man who has undergone a laryngectomy operation as a consequence of throat cancer has had his benefits withdrawn. Up until April last year Stephen Luther was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance but now with the change to Personal Independence Payment, Stephen, who can only talk by pressing a valve on his neck, has lost his only income. Stephen, who is also illiterate, relies heavily upon his carer to communicate on his behalf, but she has found it a struggle in getting any response from the government agencies. Stephen has been without benefits because the Capita who carry out individual assessments on each claim on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions appear to have had problems with his application.

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