Postal worker wins £100,000 to support disabled brother

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postal worker wins £100,000 to support disabled brother after eleven year battle with council

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z22lnq1yOx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


A postal worker has won a £100,000 reimbursement from Bradford council after fighting for 11 years to get his disabled brother the support payments he was wrongly denied.

David Hyde, 44, spent years trying to prove that Bradford council was at fault for an error that meant his disabled brother Antony didn't receive the financial help from the independent living fund (IFL) that he was entitled to.

Antony Hyde, 42, has severe learning disabilities and received £180 a week from the fund when he lived with his parents.
Bradford Council, pictured, has been ordered to reimburse Antony Hyde more than £100,000

Bradford Council, pictured, has been ordered to reimburse Antony Hyde more than £100,000

But when he moved into supported living accommodation provided by Bradford council in 2001 , the funding stopped.

More...

Labour blasts coalition plans to cut council tax benefit and warn of 'Poll Tax' style suffering
Christians banned by council from handing out leaflets at Bible day celebration win apology
Dozens of councils opt to cut pest control services in bid to reduce costs

His brother discovered that the ILF believed Antony had gone into residential care, which would have made him ineligible for funding.
Disabled Antony Hyde was entitled to financial help from the independent living fund (IFL)

Disabled Antony Hyde was entitled to financial help from the independent living fund (IFL)

But Antony was actually just a tenant and the council was claiming housing benefit on his behalf.

The council did not admit any error until 2008 after Mr Hyde took the case to the government's care watchdog.

The local government ombudsman, Anne Seex, praised the 'extraordinary lengths' Mr Hyde went to.

The ombudsman has now ruled that the council provided incorrect information to the ILF and should itself pay Antony Hyde just over £100,000 and his brother £5,000.

Mr Hyde told the Guardian: 'From day one the council were breaking the law, full stop. They did absolutely nothing and treated my brother and my family in a disgraceful way.'

Bradford council has accepted the ombudsman's recommendations but said it would not comment before her report had been considered fully.