HER rare condition affects just one in 250,000 people and cannot be cured. But according to the DWP, Antonia Palmer is getting better and her social security support should be cut.

The Edinburgh woman told The National: “They’ve never said exactly what aspect of my health is meant to have improved. None of my doctors have ever said it has. I just want to be treated fairly.”

Palmer worked at both Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities before worsening health forced her to give up her job as a careers adviser.

The 47-year-old was in her early 30s when she was diagnosed with Cowden disease with L’Hermitte-Duclos. The condition causes tumour growth and those who have the gene mutation responsible are at greater risk of developing cancer.

After undergoing numerous surgeries, Palmer, who has a brain tumour, suffers chronic pain and her mobility and speech are affected.

But at her most recent Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review, assessors decided to cut the amount of support she gets.

Palmer requested a mandatory reconsideration in July, but is to receive a response. She says the stress is making her health problems worse and affecting her mental health. “I’m fighting a lot of things, I’m tired of it all,” she said. “I don’t need this from the DWP. It is just not right, my condition cannot get better. I’m not a criminal, I was just born with this.”

Palmer has come forward to tell her story to “highlight what already vulnerable people are forced to do”. Accusing the assessment system of inflicting “mental cruelty”, she said: “We deserve much better. We deserve to have a life and be able to do the things other people do but an awful lot of barriers are put in our way to stop that.

“This is not right in the 21st century, it is not acceptable. The DWP needs to show people who receive benefit much more respect.”

According to the latest figures, the average wait for a PIP mandatory reconsideration decision had reached 51 days by April. In the same period last year, the duration was 37 days.

The average waiting time for a tribunal to challenge decisions is at 30 weeks from the date an appeal is lodged.

Dr Sally Witcher, head of Inclusion Scotland, is currently undergoing her own PIP assessment. She told

The National: “I wish I could say Antonia’s case is rare. But it really isn’t and the many stories in the media and the statistics both support this.

“The PIP assessment process can be long and drawn out, it is intrusive and often highly stressful. To put people through this repeatedly, when their condition is clearly never going to improve, is simply downright cruel.

“But, tough though it is, if you do get turned down first time, it is worth hanging on in there as while

successful claim rates fall, the percentage of people winning on appeal is increasing.”

As many as 74% of people appealing PIP and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) decision won their cases in the three months to the end of March.

Palmer says the uncertainty around her income is costing her the chance to have an “ordinary” life.

She hadn’t heard of her condition until she was diagnosed and although she is active in online support groups, she does not know anyone else in Scotland who has it.

On the DWP’s handling of her case, she said: “I’d like to buy furniture, I’d like to pay things up, I’d like to do things other people do but I can’t because I have no guarantee about my income. It makes it harder to have a life.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “We’re committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with health conditions get the support they’re entitled to. Our assessors, who are medical professionals, receive specialist training on a full range of conditions and decisions are made based on all the evidence provided by the claimant and their GP or medical specialist.”

But MP Deidre Brock, who has contacted the DWP on Palmer’s behalf, said: “Every MP has a constant stream of constituents who are suffering unfair treatment in getting their benefits.

“It’s a bizarre and complicated system with long, long waits to get anywhere and you really need courage and stamina to challenge the decisions. I have huge respect for Antonia who has had to be pretty strong-willed to stand up for her rights and she’s still fighting.

“I admire folk who can withstand this but they shouldn’t have to put themselves through the wringer just to get a bit of decency and the support they’re entitled to.

“I’ll keep helping people with this and other MPs will be doing the same but it’s time the UK’s DWP ministers sorted out the mess they’ve made. People are suffering right now.”