Ombudsman Rob Behrens is calling on the Government to urgently rectify the injustice, something which it is so far refusing to do.

The call comes after a PHSO investigation revealed a seriously ill woman had her benefits payments severely cut by around £80 a week due to a government blunder, leaving her unable to heat her home and buy food. The same error has affected over 118,000 people with disabilities and health problems but they are being denied the opportunity to claim compensation for the same mistake.

62-year-old Ms U, who lives alone, should have received her Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) payments in full when she was moved from Incapacity Benefit. But like thousands of others her benefits payments were mistakenly cut.