A woman living with severe mental health conditions and in constant pain said she’s been left “absolutely devastated” by a decision to take away her Motability vehicle after her personal independence payments (PIP) were reduced.
Helena Lovel, 53, from Sheffield, who works as an expert by experience, collaborating with charities and organisations that benefit from her own experience, has been on PIP for 10 years.
She has severe depression and anxiety, as well as physical pain and mobility issues after being involved in several car accidents.
Ms Lovel had been receiving the enhanced rate of PIP for both daily living and mobility, £114.60 and £80 respectively, reduced to £76.70 and £30.30 when a review in 2024 concluded she was no longer eligible for the higher rate of the in-work benefit.
“I’m still on three different anti-depressants, and two of them I’m on the highest dose of, and there hadn’t been any change in any of my conditions or how my conditions affected my life, and yet for some reason they just dropped me down to standard on both, and that meant the removal of my car and obviously a drop in my income,” she told The i Paper.
