SIR – After watching the Paralympics and the effort athletes made both physically and mentally to overcome their disabilities, I am somewhat perplexed by the views that Government ministers have towards such members of society now that the media attention has lapsed.

When one has a disability, life can be very hard. Things which are taken for granted by the fit and healthy need to be tackled by the vulnerable by any way they can devise.

True, Government ministers may praise the achievements of Paralympic athletes and that praise is worthwhile, but out of the limelight such disabled people are now being penalised and discriminated against with the process of the Employment and Support Allowance Benefit system.

In its administration the legislation seems to be manipulated to the extent that everyone with a disability is having the disablement allowance disallowed purely on the context of carrying out daily tasks required for existence and well-being.

This is causing unnecessary worry and anxiety to many members of society who have enough to contend with. I have no doubt that some people claim such benefits illegally and should be prevented from doing so but is it not time for ministers to recognise this and not go for the quick-fix scenario of disallowing such benefits for all vulnerable applicants just to reduce the welfare bill.

The structure of the questions on the application form imply that only the clinically dead will qualify for payment of benefit.

Others seem to be required to undergo a ‘post-mortem’ to prove a disabling condition.

Can politicians not do something properly for lawabiding members of society for it seems that it is always these members that are targeted first where money is concerned on the pretext of weeding out the benefit cheats.

There will be no faith in politics and politicians unless they are seen to provide justice for those who require it and penalties for those who do not.

R L FARMER Worcester