Father and Amputee Faces £36,000 Benefits Repayment After Cricket Activity
A father who had his leg amputated as a toddler is now facing a devastating financial demand from the government. Shaun Rigby, 37, from Telford, Shropshire, has been ordered to repay £36,000 in disability benefits after investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) filmed him playing cricket.
The Accident and Lifelong Passion
Mr Rigby's life changed forever when he was just two years old, losing his leg below the knee in a tragic tractor accident. He discovered cricket as a seven-year-old boy, a sport that would become a lifelong passion and a source of social connection. Despite his mobility issues, he played twice weekly for Allscott Heath CC in Shropshire, using a runner when batting and having an umpire hold his crutch while fielding.
The sheet metal worker had been in receipt of a personal independence payment (PIP) since 2016. Three years ago, his eligibility for the benefit also granted him a Motability car, a vital resource for his daily life and work. However, the DWP launched an investigation into his claim, using footage of his cricket participation as evidence.
DWP Investigation and Consequences
The investigation led to the immediate removal of his Motability car and the cessation of his PIP, which amounted to approximately £500 per month. The DWP's decision was based on their assessment that his 'daily needs' did not require the car or the enhanced payment level. Mr Rigby received the crushing news in a letter, informing him of the £36,000 repayment demand.
Despite Mr Rigby's mobility deteriorating over the years, the DWP maintained its position. He explained that he relies on daily painkillers, including co-codamol, amitriptyline, and naproxen, prescribed by his GP to manage constant pain. He emphasised that on cricket days, he takes additional medication in the morning to make the activity tolerable, and often suffers increased pain afterwards.
'I don't know what we are going to do,' Mr Rigby said. 'I suppose I'll just have to do more work to pay it off. It has been going on since August last year and the stress has not been doing me any good.'
Appeal and Independent Tribunal
After being interviewed under caution in August of the previous year, Mr Rigby appealed the decision. However, an independent tribunal ultimately sided with the DWP's ruling. He now faces a difficult choice: wait up to 18 months for a tribunal to hear his case or find a way to repay the enormous sum.
Following the loss of his Motability car, his mother and sister pooled their resources to buy him a vehicle, without which he says he would be unable to work. He finds the decision profoundly unfair, pointing out that individuals with less debilitating conditions often retain their Motability cars.
A DWP spokesman stated: 'Following Mr Rigby's appeal, an independent tribunal agreed with DWP's decision. Personal Independence Payments are awarded based on how a condition impacts a person's day-to-day needs, as opposed to the condition itself.'
Mr Rigby, a former player for the England disabled cricket team, remains resolute that his sporting activity does not negate his disability. 'Just because I play cricket doesn't mean my leg has grown back,' he said. 'I still need help getting around.'
