by Graham Tutthillgtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Problems caused by cut-backs in funding, difficulties in trying to find which agency provides support and the emotional pain of having to fill out a new application form for someone who is permanently disabled were all issues raised with deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman during her visit to Dover on Tuesday.

She had been invited by Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate Clair Hawkins (pictured with her) to meet local people and hear their concerns about the cuts being made to benefits.

And by the end of her 90 minutes at the Age UK Riverside Centre in Dover, Ms Harman was left in no doubt about the real problems people are facing.

Among them was Sue Clarke, who runs the Pegasus Playscheme and whose son Jamie, now 21, has Downs Syndrome, as well as various medical problems.

Mrs Clarke said Jamie’s conditions would never improve, yet she had just had to fill out a new 32-page application for his Disability Living Allowance to continue.

“In between doing all the fund-raising for Pegasus, it took me six weeks to fill in that form, answering all the questions about what Jamie could and couldn’t do,” she said, revealing that she cried after she had completed the form. “I wrote on it: ‘Thank you for making me write it all down again, negative, negative, negative.’”

Sharon Maddon, who suffers from epilepsy, said she thought she had also been awarded DLA for life, but had had to submit a new application.

“It’s not about people any more," she said. "It’s all about the money. People should come first, but we are having stuff taken away from us.”

Riverside Centre manager Karen Tranter said the people really appreciated the services that are provided. “We are currently open six days a week and we also want to open on Sundays,” she said. “We couldn’t do without our volunteers.”

Jan Perfect, from Case Kent, spoke about the effect cuts in the county council budget for adult services and changes to council tax, benefits and the bedroom tax were all having on people.

“We are referring people to local charities, but even those charities are vulnerable and threatened with closure,” she said.

For the full story and more photos see this week's Dover Mercury and East Kent Mercury.