A despairing mother says she "can't catch a break" as her Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim has been rejected - even though she's bedbound with a rare heart condition.
Rachael Occleshaw, 43, "struggles to do anything" and her sister has become her carer, cooking and doing the school run for her nephews.
Rachael has a type of Cardiomyopathy, a group of diseases of the heart muscle which can lead to heart failure. It gets progressively worse over time, and can cause an irregular heartbeat and blood clots.
But Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) assessed the mum who, despite being bedbound, was told she was ineligible to claim PIP, which is designed for those with illnesses, disabilities and mental health conditions to help pay for everyday life.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Rachael said: "That's really upsetting because obviously I am struggling - and my sister should not care for me.
"There is no support at all. We cannot catch a break.
"There is no hope out there. I have probably tried everything we can."
DWP says Rachael was assessed by a qualified health professional, and its decision was upheld at both the Mandatory Reconsideration stage and a tribunal.
But the woman can't even get out of her home in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, to do her grocery shopping.
"I pass out quite a bit and I cannot get out to do shopping," she said.
"I am having to order it online which is costing me a fortune."
The situation has also put pressure on Sally Bates, also from Arnold, who said she had lost three stone while caring for her sister. It has all started in 2020, she added, when their dad died of cancer.
Sally explained: "With all the stress that has caused, she [Ms Occleshaw] fell very, very poorly. We took her to A&E where we discovered that she had got a heart failure.
"It had been there before but obviously the stress of losing my dad has made it a lot worse. The following year, our mum died from coronavirus - she had Covid pneumonia.
"It was a massive, massive shock - it was only 14 months after losing my dad. It put a massive strain on all of us, dealing with a funeral.
"Again, it had an impact on my sister's health and she has gone downhill quite a lot. Me and my husband - we have pretty much been doing everything for her."
They started the process of applying for PIP around 18 months ago, she claims.
"I have been struggling with my own health a lot too", Sally added.
"I have lost three stone and my blood pressure has gone up the roof. I love my sister to bits but it has just been such a struggling time."
Sally dropped her job as a delivery driver in 2018, when she started to look after her dad. She has since applied to carer's allowance as she has been unable to return to work full-time. Her husband works full-time.
"I have not gone back to work because I have been looking after my sister", Ms Bates added. "I have got a weekend job at the moment and something to get by - but it is not enough. We are having seven people living in the house."
People can get PIP even if they’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We support millions of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions each year and our priority is they get the benefits they are entitled to promptly and receive a supportive, compassionate service.
“Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the level of needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself. Ms Occleshaw was assessed by a qualified health professional using all the information available to us at the time, and their decision was upheld at both the Mandatory Reconsideration stage and a tribunal.”
