Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) in her Spring Statement, but Dominic is worried about how it affects armed service personnel
An army veteran who was blown up by the IRA urged Rachel Reeves to protect the most vulnerable in society from benefits cuts. Dominic Felton, 61, told how fellow heroes are fearful of the Chancellor’s changes.
To adhere to her fiscal rules, she announced changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs). It is unclear how they will work, and Dominic, who has severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being caught in the 1,000kg bomb attack, warned that only adds to the anxiety of those in need. He is calling for the Government to show compassion to former armed service personnel in any changes that may be made to the benefits system.
The bomb killed fellow 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment Fusilier Andrew Grundy and injured six comrades in Northern Ireland in 1992. He suffered bilateral and shrapnel injuries, and had blood coming out of his ears. Crowds, public transport, and stress all trigger flashbacks for Dom; he cannot face busy job centres for benefit assessments. Now the dad-of-one, who served from 1989 to 1994, is speaking out in a bid to protect anyone with PTSD.
“There are protected groups who cannot look for work,” said Dom, of Blyth, Northumberland. “I have spoken to other lads with severe and complex PTSD. They faced the IRA.
But they are worried about what Rachel Reeves is going to do.” He added: “It is unclear what changes are going to be made. That in itself adds to the anxiety. It is uncontrollable, and I am worried.”
Bolton-Born Dominic lives with partner Leslie Scott. He gets by on an army pension of £500-a-month and PIP of £187.45 per week; he does not receive any other benefits. It took him years to get his PTSD properly diagnosed.
“I am a shadow of the person I used to be,” he added. “Wes Streeting said that mental health issues are ‘over diagnosed. It causes a great deal of distress, it is not a nice place to be right now.”
Detonation of a huge device, sent into the Cloghoge checkpoint near Newry in a van loaded onto a railway line, showered concrete and debris on Dominic’s post back in 1992, leaving a scene of devastation. Dominic had to be dragged through a window of the steel armoured sentry post known as a ‘Sanga’ where he was on duty at 2am.
Dominic was left with shrapnel injuries and blood coming from his ears, and it took years to come to terms with the impact of that experience.
He had swapped places with Andrew, who died, and for years suffered ‘survivor’s guilt’. He remains in touch with colleagues, and looks to help others going through a similar experience to his own.
The Office for Budget Responsibility found that steps to cut welfare spending set out earlier in March would save £4.8 billion after “final adjustments” made by the Government.That was slightly short of the £5billion originally envisaged by ministers. Rachel Reeves vowed to find extra cuts to meet the shortfall. It remains unclear exactly what they are likely to be. But Dominic warns the uncertainty is in itself stressful for some of his fellow PTSD sufferers.
