Janet Wright said she "couldn't cope" with not being believed
A woman who took medical retirement due to multiple health issues has said she was made to feel she was "telling lies" and ended up suffering from poor mental health after being turned down for a key disability payment a number of times.
Janet Wright had the decision to deny her Personal Independent Payment (Pip) overturned at appeal through a tribunal process.
Recent figures from the Department for Communities (DfC) show that about two out of three cases – or 64% in 2025/26 – that progress to appeal are found in favour of the claimant.
It said it was committed to "treating everyone with dignity, respect and empathy throughout their claim journey".
Pip is a payment for people under state pension age who need help with daily activities or getting around, due to a long-term illness or disability.
More than 230,000 people currently claim Pip in Northern Ireland as of 31 May, according to the department.
It can be claimed by people who are in work as well as those out of work.
It has two components, one for daily living and one for mobility. The maximum weekly payment is £194.60.
Janet, from Portadown, County Armagh, told BBC Radio Ulster's Consumer Fight Back programme that she worked for the NHS for many years before a deterioration in her health meant she had to medically retire.
In recent years, she's had operations on her neck and hands and lists off a long list of health conditions – arthritis, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia and allodynia, a painful nerve condition which she says results in "constant pain" when it flares up.
She said she was refused Personal Independence Payment after following the process of filling in an application form and then having a telephone interview, a process she described as "horrible".
She added that she found the form long and difficult to fill in and the telephone call as "really cold".
"It's hard to talk about your health in a point-scoring system," Janet said.
Capita, who carry out the assessment but do not make the overall decision, said its staff "receive comprehensive training and support as part of their role and are committed to delivering a caring, professional service and ensuring individuals are treated with dignity and respect throughout the assessment process".
