A one-legged father has been ordered to pay back £36,000 of benefits after he was caught playing cricket.
Shaun Rigby, 37, lost his leg below the knee in a tractor accident aged just two and took up the sport as a seven-year-old boy.
He played twice a week for Allscott Heath CC in Shropshire with the help of a runner and an umpire holding his crutch.
The sheet metal worker, from telford, Shropshire, had been in receipt of a personal independence payment (PIP) as 2016 and three years ago he was given a Motability car.
But the married parent, who formerly played for the England disabled cricket team, was stunned to be told by the Department for Work and pensions (DWP) they had launched an investigation into his disability claim.
Investigators filmed him and used it as evidence to take away his car and axe his benefits – around £500 a month.
The DWP has now ordered he pay back £36,000 after finding his ‘daily needs’ did not require the car or enhanced PIP payment.
Mr Rigby said on Friday: ‘I got a letter this morning.
‘They are saying my daily needs are not what I said they were and have said I’ve got to pay back £36,000.’
He said the letter followed an appeal, which came after he was interviewed under caution.
disabled Cricketer Loses Appeal for Motability Car Despite Representing England
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A disabled cricketer who played for the England disabled team has lost his appeal for a Motability car, with an autonomous tribunal upholding the Department for work and Pensions’ (DWP) decision. The case highlights the complexities of assessing eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and how participation in sports doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from receiving support.
The Case of Mr. Rigby
The individual, identified as Mr. Rigby, has been receiving medication for pain management – including co-codamol, amitriptyline, and naproxen – prescribed by his GP. He explained that while he enjoys playing cricket and participates in the sport, his physical condition has deteriorated considerably over the past 15-20 years. He relies on medication to manage pain both during and after matches.
“I’ve worked since I left school and played cricket since I was seven but the things I could do now are a lot less than 15 to 20 years ago as I’ve deteriorated quite a lot,” Mr. Rigby stated. He further explained that on match days, he requires additional medication and often uses a runner while batting, with limited movement in the field and assistance from the umpire with his crutch. despite the enjoyment he derives from the sport, he acknowledges the physical toll it takes, stating, “The days after I played cricket are quite bad… I played for the social side of things, and my attitude to life is to try doing things I enjoy whilst I still can.”
Mr. Rigby felt the DWP’s decision was unfair,arguing,”but they have said I should not have any of it as I play cricket; they have footage of me playing but just because I play cricket doesn’t meen my leg has grown back. I still need help getting around.”
DWP and Tribunal decision
The DWP defended its decision, stating that personal Independence Payments are awarded based on how a condition impacts an individual’s day-to-day needs, rather than the condition itself. A DWP spokesman confirmed, “Following Mr Rigby’s appeal, an independent tribunal agreed with DWP’s decision.”
This ruling underscores the importance of demonstrating how a disability affects daily living and mobility, even if the individual is able to participate in certain activities, such as sports. The tribunal’s decision suggests that the evidence presented indicated Mr. Rigby’s ability to participate in cricket did not outweigh the assessed limitations in his day-to-day life as it relates to PIP eligibility criteria.
Understanding Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
PIP is designed to help with extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or disability. It has two components: a daily living component and a mobility component. eligibility is not based on a specific medical condition, but rather on how the condition affects the claimant’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. The PIP assessment considers a range of factors, including preparing food, washing and bathing, dressing, reading, communicating, managing medication, and planning and following journeys.
The DWP provides detailed guidance on PIP eligibility and the assessment process on its website: https://www.gov.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip.Claimants who disagree with a PIP decision have the right to appeal, as Mr. Rigby did in this case.
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