Phillip Balderson, 46, had worked at a Lake District hotel, but was diagnosed with deadly oesophageal cancer in 2013
A father with terminal cancer died before he was able to appeal a ruling by the Department for Work and Pensions that he was ‘fit to work’
Phillip Balderson, 46, had worked at a Lake District hotel, but was diagnosed with deadly oesophageal cancer in 2013.
He also struggled with psoriatic arthritis, anxiety, OCD and a number of mental health problems.
Despite his difficulties the DWP summoned him to a health assessment in February and ruled he was no longer eligible for Employment Support Allowance.
They told him he had to look for work.
Mr Balderson, originally from Burnley, began appealing the decision but died on June 5 before he could see the process through.
His heartbroken family will now challenge that decision at a tribunal.
His daughter Chloe Balderson, 23, said: ‘He had terminal cancer and they were trying to send him to work. The people at the job centre were disgusted.’
Despite his difficulties the DWP summoned him to a health assessment in February and ruled he was no longer eligible for Employment Support Allowance. His heartbroken family, including his daughter, Chloe Balderson, and partner, Rachel Stockley, will appeal
The family, supported by Citizens Advice, will appeal the decision at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Barrow, on Thursday, December 14.
If it rules in their favour, any benefit payments will go towards the funeral.
A spokesman for the DWP said: ‘Our thoughts are with Mr Balderson’s family at this time.
‘We are contacting Mr Balderson next of kin to ensure they’re paid any benefits owed at the time of his death.
Miss Stockley(pictured with Mr Balderson) was also diagnosed with cancer back in 2010
‘The amount paid will be dependent on the result of the Work Capability appeal that is currently at tribunal.’
Mr Balderson’s partner Rachel Stockley, 49, said: ‘He was getting Employment Support Allowance, that was all fine, but then his dad died and his mental health got worse. Phillip just went downhill from there.
‘Then he got a letter to say he had to go for an assessment and he was worried.
‘He was being judged by someone who was meeting him for the first time and that was that.
‘He was complaining about pains in his liver before he had to go to his job centre appointment, and got worse before his assessment.
‘I’m doing this for Phillip really because he was gutted. I think it’s disgusting, it’s terrible the way they treat people.’
The family, who live at Maychells Orchard in Allithwaite, Cumbria, have suffered a number of blows as Miss Stockley was also diagnosed with cancer back in 2010.
Miss Stockley said her partner of 25 years never talked about his diagnosis and was ‘frightened’ by it.
Mr Balderson’s daughter, Chloe, and partner, Rachel, were devastated by the outcome of the fit to work assessment
‘He loved the quiet and loved walking, even when he was really ill we’d take him driving and he’d fall asleep in the car,’ she said.
‘The authorities need to show more concern towards people’s needs and not judge them by how they look but you see it all the time.
‘You just can’t prepare yourself for it, even though you know it’s going to happen it’s no different from someone dying suddenly.’