A BLIND man who was forced to take early retirement 12 years ago was left in shock when he was told he is now fit to return to work.
Richard Alcock, of Craven Street, Bury, attended an assessment which ruled he was no longer entitled to employment support allowance.
The 62-year-old has been registered blind from being 18-months-old, and is originally from the West Midlands, moving to Bury two and a half years ago.
Mr Alcock lives with his wife Rachel, aged 64, who is also blind.
He said: “I had to wait for a support worker to come and read the letter out to me. I can read braille so, as far as they are concerned, I can read.”
After working in local government for 30 years, Mr Alcock was forced to take early retirement when he could not adapt to the increased use of computers in the workplace, and was not provided with the appropriate equipment to enable him to continue his work.
Mr Alcock has received incapacity benefit for the past 10 years, but faces the prospect of this being removed unless an appeal is successful.
Full Story – The Bury Times
