Marie Moloney (Labour)

I wish to raise an issue which the Minister for Social Protection must address. A regulation was passed in the 2008 budget whereby disability benefit can only be claimed for the period of two years. The ramifications of this decision are now coming home to roost because people are being taken off their disability benefit and being told to apply for invalidity pension, which is very long-term, or disability allowance, which is a means-tested payment. Two years may seem a long time to be on a disability benefit but it applies in the case of cancer sufferers and those with ongoing serious illness. A man in my constituency has undergone surgery over a period of two years and he is awaiting further surgery. His disability benefit has been discontinued. He was told to apply for an invalidity pension but his application has been refused. While I appreciate the system may be open to abuse, surely it is preferable for the medical personnel to decide whether applicants are genuinely sick. I would welcome a debate in the House on this issue which the Minister must address as people are suffering. This man has paid contributions for 40 years and now he has nowhere to turn to get money.