Thomas has epilepsy, depression, arthritis and memory loss, yet has had to wait eight months to receive Personal Independence Payment, to cover the additional costs of impairment. His MP says, “The months went on without him getting an assessment, and he fell into real financial difficulty. He was struggling to pay his rent, and he couldn’t afford his bills. By the time he came to me, Thomas was suicidal. Eight months on, and he was still waiting for a decision. His epilepsy was causing him to have daily, violent fits, and he was surviving on just £30 per week. He didn’t have cooking or washing facilities in his home, and he didn’t have any food.” By the time his PIP was awarded, his doctor confirmed he had malnutrition.