Work is 'too dangerous'
April 01, 2011
Posted by:Marilene Antoni
A 52 year old jobseeker successfully claimed that she ought to be put on incapacity benefit due to the fact that she could experience a possibly fatal anaphylactic shock due to the fact she is allergic to rubber and latex. Due to the severity of her condition, the Court of Appeal held that 'no work is safe for her'. As a ceramic artist by trade, Coralina Cattrell said that she still wanted to work but wasn't able to because rubber was everywhere, including in office equipment, garden sprays and even tarmac on roads. Ms Cattrell applied for incapacity benefit three years ago after a job centre advised her to switch from Jobseekers’ Allowance to the higher payment. The benefit means Ms Cattrell is under no obligation to look for work. Although she was granted the higher payment, the Department of Work and Pensions had tried to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, arguing that Ms Cattrell's allergy was common and that the decision could open floodgates to other similar claims. But the Court of Appeal turned down the Department of Work and Pensions appeal and backed the original tribunal decision.