A COUPLE who suffer from epilepsy and have faced six months of hardship after one of their benefits was stopped are celebrating after a tribunal agreed it should be reinstated.

The Daily Echo highlighted the plight of Katherine Dillon, 36, and Christopher Turner last September as they scrimped to eke out their money when Katherine's disability living allowance was unexpectedly stopped.

She had put a brave face on her condition when she filled out a self-assessment form and it was that which led to the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) deciding she no longer needed the living benefit.

It meant she and Christopher, 48, of South Road, Poole, had to live off only one income while she battled to get her benefit restored.

Advisers at the Citizens' Advice Bureau told Katherine that she needed to seek guidance when completing the form and offered her help as she appealed against the withdrawal of her money.

She has now been told that her disability living allowance is being restored and she will receive the benefits she has missed out on.

"It is a massive relief that they have given us this decision. But why do they put us through something like that and make us go through a tribunal?" said Katherine.

She said the DWP had confirmed that she was having her benefits returned for another five years.

A DWP spokeperson said: "It is appropriate for people to exercise their right of appeal if they're dissatisfied with any decision taken about their benefit.

"A tribunal will consider all the evidence and any conclusion it reaches will be binding on the department."

First published: February 8