Lottery couple defend benefit claim (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Lottery couple defend benefit claim
7:42am Saturday 4th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011
A couple who scooped a £10.2 million lottery jackpot have defended their right to claim benefits more than six years later.
Mick and Jean O'Shea won the huge EuroMillions sum in 2005, but Mr O'Shea still receives £500 a month disability allowance because it is not means-tested, the Sun reported.
The former builder told the newspaper: "I worked for 40 years and I'm entitled to it. I've been getting it since about 1996. I declared the win to the authorities at the time, but it doesn't matter as it's not means-tested."
He said he has osteoarthritis in his legs and rheumatoid arthritis in his hands and has recently had a hip operation.
According to the newspaper, Mrs O'Shea, 72, said of the allowance: "It's for his eyesight and arthritis. We're entitled to it."
Mr O'Shea, 73, also receives a new car every three years under the Government's Motability scheme for disabled drivers, it was reported.
The couple live in Sneinton, Nottingham, but reportedly also had a house built in Co Kerry, Ireland, after their win.
Mr O'Shea said the pair give away 10 times more than they receive to good causes every year.
Under Government reforms, disability living allowance will be replaced by personal independence payments, which will involve more rigorous checks on claimants but will not be means-tested.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "We do not discuss individual cases but these specific benefits and allowances are not means-tested."
Comments(9)
Robfm
says...
8:28am Sat 4 Feb 12
jessy1
says...
8:49am Sat 4 Feb 12
AvidLondonReader
says...
8:55am Sat 4 Feb 12
penhale
says...
9:05am Sat 4 Feb 12
penhale
says...
9:05am Sat 4 Feb 12
moronslayer
says...
11:51am Sat 4 Feb 12
whataloadofbull
says...
12:28pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Morally wrong!
Service-defender
says...
2:45pm Sat 4 Feb 12
I like how their putting as much into charities but that doesn't justify it.
You do it out of the kindness of your heart and for the charity your supporting. Would that mean you'd stop sponsoring if your benefits got stopped? Your taking it out of other victims pockets who don't have the opportunity you had back in 2005.
I thought though if you had so much in the bank, the benefits policy changed???? When i was on jobseekers for a while i got asked if my savings held more than a certain amount. So i assumed it ment if you have so much you can't claim.
25414nora
says...
6:27pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Log in with us
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
Or
Log in with