Afghanistan veteran amputee’s disgust after Government withdraws disability benefit
Aron Shelton lost his leg for his country but loses his disability pension
This is Hull and East Riding – A soldier has spoken of his disgust after his disability benefit was axed despite losing a leg fighting for his country.
Private Aron Shelton, 26, had his left leg amputated in December 2008 after he was injured in an explosion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, a year earlier.
After an 18-month struggle, the Bridlington soldier has learned to walk a few hundred metres with the help of a prosthetic limb.
But as a result of his efforts, the Department for Work and Pensions has ruled this means he no longer needs his £180-a-month Disability Living Allowance.
From September, he will lose his allowance, which he traded in each month in return for the use of a specially-adapted car.
Pte Shelton said that without a car, his dream of rebuilding his life as a taxi driver was in tatters.
He said: “I’m disgusted, shocked and mortified.
“I risked my life and now I feel let down by the Government.
“It took a lot of hard work to get where I am today – I’m still in excruciating agony when I walk – and this is the thanks for being honest. So many people aren’t and cheat the system.
“I feel like my independence is being taken away.”
Pte Shelton had served in the Army for nine years, completing two tours of Afghanistan, in 2005 and 2007.
His injuries were so severe it took six months before he could take a single step unaided.
Now, he is able to walk up to 400 metres, but he relies on his automatic Vauxhall Astra to get around.
He said: “It’s my lifeline to the outside world. I need the car to keep in touch with my family, including my nephews, and my friends.
“Without the car I’m lost. I can’t afford a new automatic car, costing £10,000 to £15,000.
“I want to become a taxi driver, but I will now have to hire an automatic car, which will be expensive.”
East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the case.
He said: “I was surprised to hear of his benefits being withdrawn and contacted the department straight away and am currently waiting to hear back from them for an explanation as to why this has happened.
“On the face of it, it does seem unreasonable and unfair.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “Aron Shelton’s case is under review and we recognise his brave service to his country.
“This case is a stark reminder why we need a new assessment to decide if someone is eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
“Eligibility to DLA, like all our benefits, is based on a set of criteria set out in legislation and is not discretionary.”
Leo
I think this is terrible.
But first lets get something clear. All this talk about soildiers and millitary people being ehros and fighting for their country is starting to get ridiculous.
These people are getting paid to be slodiers not to mention they all joined up freely.
This Idea that these vetreans are like selfless heros is just sickening.
People today and for the last 50 or more years have joined the millitary freely in many caes because it was good job and the fact is many of these people could do nothing else. So here was the millitary to offer them agood job and benefits and likely free education all in return for fighting for their country should the need ever arise.
These people are in the Millitary…odds are at some point in amillitary persons career they might just have to go to war. They may get killed or injured yes. They desrve benefits.
But in no w3ay are they somekind of heros because they were doing their jobs.
Now a hero would be someone who selflessly puts themselves in harms way with no thought of their own safety. Not because they are getting a pay cheque and it is their job.
A hero would be the guy who sees abad car accident and a car is on fire and people are trapped and he selflessly goes into the flames and rescuses the trapped and injured people. Now This is hero. If he was firemen whop responed to the accident and done the same thing andwas gettinga pay cheque than NO he wouldn’t be a hero. he would be just doing his job like the sloiders are doing theirs. They NOt heros they are workers like the rest of us.
Of Course this guy should get a disbility pension same as the rest of us. But only because he was injured at work. not because he si some kind of natioanl hero whowas injured while doing the job he gets paid for doing.
Stephen Pate
Interesting reaction to the story. The word “hero” or the term “selfless hero” is not in the story nor is it implied.
People in the military are doing a job but it’s one of the more dangerous ones.