Hero to have benefit cut rethought

Private Aron Shelton, who had both legs shattered by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, had payments to run a specially-adapted car snatched away because he steeled himself to walk a painful 400 metres with the help of a prosthetic limb.

The 26-year-old, of Bridlington, had his left leg amputated in December 2008 after he was injured in an explosion in Helmand Province a year earlier while serving with 2 Mercian – the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment .

He had been out on patrol in a Land Rover in Afghanistan in 2007 when it was blown up by a roadside bomb – killing his friend Drummer Thomas Wright, 21, and badly wounding three comrades.

Private Shelton also suffered agonising injuries. Apart from losing his left leg below the knee, his right leg is so full of pins and plates that he describes it as "virtually a metal limb".

Yesterday a major row broke after he revealed his "reward" for learning to walk again was to lose his 180-a-month Disability Living Allowance which paid for a specially-adapted car.

He said: "I managed to walk 400 metres off my own back. It took sheer guts and determination. Because I can walk that distance and was honest enough to tell them, the benefit is being taken away from me and with it my means of getting around."

Private Shelton, an engaged father-of-one, said the benefit would end in September and he would have to hand back the adapted Vauxhall Astra. He added: "It's like a slap in the face.

"I can't describe how I felt when I got the letter and realised they would be taking my car off me. I have lost a leg, is that not disabled enough?

"I would like to go to Number 10, show them my prosthetic limb, and ask them face to face whether I am disabled or not."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said yesterday: "Aron Shelton's case is under review, and we recognise his brave service to his country.

"This case is a stark reminder why we need a new assessment to decide if someone is eligible for Disability Living Allowance.

"Under the current system we ask customers to supply us with the relevant information and, unless further information is requested, our staff will make a decision based on this.

"Eligibility to DLA, like all our benefits, is based on a set of criteria set out in legislation and is not discretionary. DLA is not the only support that may be available to injured personnel.

"All personnel injured in service are entitled to payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, a no-fault scheme that pays a lump sum of up to 570,000 and, in serious cases, a monthly tax-free guaranteed income payment for life."

The scheme had been recently reviewed with the help of service charities and medical experts and work was in hand to implement all recommendations as soon as possible.

The original official letter said because Private Shelton did not need assistance in a series of tasks such as cooking and washing and was able to walk 400 metres unaided, he was not entitled to the disability benefit.

"Issues such as this one are why we are making changes to the way we assess eligibility to DLA.

"We want to introduce a new, more objective assessment," the spokesman added.

"Disability Living Allowance isn't paid based on the condition someone has, but on the extra costs they may have because of their specific needs."