A VICTIM of assault who suffers with chronic pain and fatigue is "distraught" that his benefits have stopped.

Andrew Clark from Worcester says he is often in "agony" due to nerve damage in his back and neck, and a brain injury which he says he acquired during a serious assault in 2016. “I was left with life changing injuries. Doctors have said part of my brain has moved ” he said.

Mr Clark, aged 35, said pains in his limbs can be “extremely painful."

"I have been through stages where I have been suicidal" he added.

Mr Clark has been unable to work since the assault and has been receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). He was recently told both payments have stopped.

A member of staff from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) told the Worcester News it has stopped Mr Clark's ESA payments, benefits for people deemed medically unfit for work, because after an assessment process including a medical assessment, it has determined that he is fit for work.

Mr Clark feels the decision is unfair and that him returning to work would not be safe. “It would be a health and safety hazard. If I go out and do a job, I could have a blackout. How am I meant to get a job when I have got dizziness, when I get fatigue, I get memory loss? Who will employ me? I have a whole list of symptoms.”

Mr Clark said he is often disorientated with regular dizzy spells: "My concentration isn’t right. I would describe it as feeling like I have fallen off a cliff."

The PIP payment is a benefit for people with disabilities who need services or equipment that require extra funds. The DWP said that they do not believe Mr Clark requires this so have stopped his PIP payments also.

A DWP spokesman said: “We’re committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they’re entitled to.

Decisions for PIP and ESA are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist.

Anyone who is unhappy with a decision has the right to a mandatory reconsideration and can further take their case to a free independent tribunal.”

Now his benefits have stopped, Mr Clark, who says he struggles with walking, eating and many every-day tasks, currently has no income.

“The people who are meant to be caring for me, these benefits people are putting so much more pressure on me.

"I don't know what I'm going to do."