Disabled mother told she can"t attend her own disability tribunal because her WHEELCHAIR is a "health and safety risk"
A disabled woman was barred from a tribunal to decide whether she was entitled to benefits – because she was in a wheelchair.
Sylvia Middleton, 65, was turned away by security staff in case a fire broke out in the five-storey building.
It later emerged that wheelchair users have been denied entry to Acorn House in Basildon, Essex, for three months over the misplaced health and safety concerns.
They included others attending disability tribunals and workers attempting to visit offices in the mixed-use block.
and Pensions to be reassessed for Disability Living Allowance.
December 2011 when they were suspended after an 'administration error'.
this time 12 miles away in Southend.
The mother of two developed crippling arthritis in her knees, neck and back after a 30-year career as a factory worker.
'What angers me is that I am not one of those people who wants to sponge off the state,' she said.
'I have been working since the age of 15 – I had my two children and went straight back to work.
Other wheelchair-bound people who have been banned from the building include office worker Paul Peterson, 33.
He said: 'I was a bit taken aback because I've worked here for 11 years and spent at least eight of them on the first floor.
'I thought that was a bit odd because they always tell you not to use lifts if there's a fire.
'We've actually got an evacuation chair right next to my desk in case there's a fire,' he added.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service yesterday admitted there had been a mistake.
mobility issues have wrongly been refused entry.
'We have taken immediate action to ensure that this does not happen again and we apologise to those affected.
appointment had not been changed.
since the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.