A British war hero wounded in the Falklands had his monthly £340 disability benefit for PTSD withdrawn because his wife is Dutch.
And heartless DWP officials says if Jim Peters, 59, wants the Personal Independence Payment he must get it from Holland despite his service to Britain.
Mr Peters said: “I was devastated. That really got to me because I risked my life for my country when I was 19 and served five years in the Army.”
It comes as the DWP admitted last week it has dismissed 117 PIP assessors for poor performance so far this year. That compares to 100 last year.
The DWP told Mr Peters the UK is no longer the “competent state” for the benefit after wife Sylvia, 67, began receiving a pension of £600 a month from her native country.
Mr Peters of Charlton, London was a private in the Scots Guards during the vicious battle for Mount Tumbledown in 1982 in which nine Brits were killed and 35 hurt.
He was carrying wounded off the mountain when he was hit by shrapnel from an Argentine mortar round and still limps from his multiple injuries. He now also has arthritis.
Although he was deeply traumatised by his experiences and had attempted suicide he did not realise he had PTSD until forced to go to his GP after a shock in 2012 at a Scots Guards reunion.
He ran into the brother of an old comrade who had been killed in the battle.
Jim said: “He looked just like him. I had a flashback and just collapsed.
“It brought the whole thing back. I couldn’t leave my hotel room and that’s why I went to the doctor because I didn’t understand what was happening.”
Mr Peters was referred to mental health experts who diagnosed PTSD.
He claimed Personal Independence Payment in 2017 for physical and mental war wounds but it was withdrawn last year when Sylvia received her Dutch pension.
The DWP told him: “The UK is not responsible for paying sickness benefits to you. Details of your claim have been sent to the Dutch authorities.
“When considering PIP it has to be decided whether or not the UK is the competent state for payment.”
They argued that as Mr Peters was not working and paying national insurance or in receipt of a state pension he did not qualify for help any longer. That decision was upheld by a tribunal in September.
Mr Peters said: “This was a unique benefit to the UK. It had nothing to do with the Dutch so there was no way they were going to give me anything.”
He could not build up NI contributions because he has been in and out of work since leaving the Army because of his PTSD.
He now lives on a war pension and employment support of £250 a week.
Mrs Peters appealed for help to the 3million organisation which champions the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and they have taken up the case.
The 3million’s Andreea Dumitrache said: “It is shameful that someone who has put their life on the line for this country should be treated with such disregard.
“Jim’s case shows how pervasive the culture of hostility towards migrants is, affecting even those who dare to fall in love with someone from another country.”
A DWP spokesperson said rules had been followed adding: “As the competent state for Mr Peters’ wife is the Netherlands then by extension it is the competent state for Mr Peters as a family member."
