Kerry Waters who lost leg in bike crash in Brays Lane, Canewdon, is told she can?t ge

[super jumbe]

A WOMAN who lost her leg in a horrific motorbike accident has been told she’s not entitled to disability benefits because she only returned from working abroad 18 months ago.

Kerry Waters, 29, a dental nurse, lost part of her right leg after losing control of her bike in Brays Lane, Canewdon.

Kerry, who lives with her mum, Lisa, in Alexandra Road, Ashingdon, is currently undergoing intense rehabilitation at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, to prepare her for wearing a prosthetic leg.

But she has now been told she does not qualify for disability allowance because she only came back from working in Australia 18 months ago.

Kerry said: “I’m so upset about this news. I have asked my nan, Angie, to write a letter to the local MP to try to get the rules changed.

“I have a lot going on at the moment. In a year’s time it will be a different story and I’ll have a job again, but right now I need some support. It seems when you need it most, the support is not there. I have always paid my taxes and worked hard, I can’t believe I don’t qualify.”

Kerry, who grew up in Ashingdon, applied for Personal Independence Payment, which replaced Disability Living Allowance from last year, but was told she had been declined because she had been in the country for less than two years.

She added: “You cannot choose when you are ill, can you? It is not like I wanted this to happen to me. I worked in Australia for two years and came back 18 months ago. I had no idea this meant I didn’t qualify for any support.

“I know lots of people who work abroad in Commonwealth countries like Australia, I doubt any of them realise this effectively prevents them from being ill and needing support when they return home.”

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11416442.Woman_who_lost_leg_in_bike_crash_is_told_she_can___t_get_benefits/?ref=rss

[super jumbe]

I feel sorry for her, I knew the immigration laws will one day affect all of us.

It?s always when rules applied to immigrants coming from abroad and claiming benefits this affects those born in UK as well.

The government cannot target immigrants directly, because rules have to apply equally to UK citizens under European laws, so they have to use this lax definition of person being resident for 2 out of 3 years.

[Snowy79]

Hasn't she heard of crutches? Some people try to get benefits for anything these days. Having suffered a broken leg, snapped achilies tendon and various other leg injuries I managed to get about on one leg with the use of crutches. I never got DLA whilst I waited on my leg to heal and she has a similar thing. Waiting on a prosthetic leg. I could understand her getting something if she was a postwomen etc and couldn't deliver mail but where do we stop? I know it sounds harsh but to me a disability should be something that prevents you from doing something that we all take for granted. There's plenty of people with no legs etc that hold down good jobs and get around pretty well. Just look at the recent Paralympics and on a personnel side I've a few friends from the Armed Forces in a lot worse state than her who get off their backsides (excuse the pun) and prove they are as good if not better than a fully bodied person.

[GastonJ]

I have always paid my taxes and worked hard

Perhaps the country she was paying her taxes in , Australia, would like to chip in - after all she paid her taxes there? She should also be mindful that she was injured in a motorcycle accident, therefore must have had insurance and as such the insurance company should be paying the costs. After all isn't that what you take insurance out for or was that part forgotten? Yeah ok I'm a heartless bassed who doesn't see why my tax should pay for things her insurance company will, unless her insurance company is going to pay back the benefits plus interest?

[leotheloin]

Hasn't she heard of crutches? Some people try to get benefits for anything these days. Having suffered a broken leg, snapped achilies tendon and various other leg injuries I managed to get about on one leg with the use of crutches. I never got DLA whilst I waited on my leg to heal and she has a similar thing. Waiting on a prosthetic leg. I could understand her getting something if she was a postwomen etc and couldn't deliver mail but where do we stop? I know it sounds harsh but to me a disability should be something that prevents you from doing something that we all take for granted. There's plenty of people with no legs etc that hold down good jobs and get around pretty well. Just look at the recent Paralympics and on a personnel side I've a few friends from the Armed Forces in a lot worse state than her who get off their backsides (excuse the pun) and prove they are as good if not better than a fully bodied person.

You can understand one getting something but not the other. Tell us what the difference between a postal worker and a dental nurse lets say both were involved in the same type of accident true there own fault don't see where your coming from with that quote. Like yourself got my leg smashed up badly witch finished a very promising career in football as for crutches ok in rehab but useless on the outside.

[leotheloin]

Perhaps the country she was paying her taxes in , Australia, would like to chip in - after all she paid her taxes there? She should also be mindful that she was injured in a motorcycle accident, therefore must have had insurance and as such the insurance company should be paying the costs. After all isn't that what you take insurance out for or was that part forgotten? Yeah ok I'm a heartless bassed who doesn't see why my tax should pay for things her insurance company will, unless her insurance company is going to pay back the benefits plus interest?

Don't know how your insurance works but mine if your involved in a accident you will be covered for hospital bills no matter who's fault it is.. but if it was my fault i would not be covered for been not able to work,, and been self employed paying all my taxes to our government and every thing else that goes with it.. i wouldn't qualify for disability benefit because im self employed. As Kerry says she hopes to be back in work in the near future so wears the harm in giving her a dig out till shes back in work. Your country like mine paying out millions of tax payers money to people who will never want to work.

[Meat-Head]

Yeah Gail long (iShit Failiure)

yeah valid point Leo.

ON TOPIC:-

Would it not have made sense to have not left the defence (iShit Failiure) scence of the accident without taking her leg

Some bloke I know, he had an accident on his motor bike, he did the right thing and stayed at the accident spot untill the ambulance came. He was unable to walk because his left leg fell off (over steer on bend hit road sign).
his head also came off, but that was easily found along with his helmit.