Call for UK Government to ease restriction on benefits for stroke sufferers

Stroke victims in Scotland are demanding the UK Government eases restrictions on the benefits they can claim because they say the conditon costs them thousands of pounds.

Sufferers say those who cannot work after a stroke are struggling to pay for rapidly rising household bills.

Most are worried about their future, especially if they have been judged to be fit for work but are unable to hold down a job.

Brian Jardine, a stroke sufferer, said: "I started work when I was 18 years old. I've never signed on the dole for a single day since then and now, nearly 40 years later, when I need a bit of help, it's just not there.

He added: "I see other people that have never worked a day in their lives the same age as me and they get all the benefits that are going."

Maddy Halliday, from the Stroke Association, said: "We're talking about minimum wage type of income, but it's actually worse than that, because many stroke survivors have carers who may be their partner or another close relative, who often has to give up their job or reduce their hours of work, and so total household income can collapse, sometimes as low as 70% of the income they had before their stroke."

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