Thanks :). It's important people know that. Situation sucks...

We're in the UK, same as the article. They changed the tests for the disability benefit a few years ago (from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payments). It opened up these payments to more people, but administering these tests is done by a private company and the decision made within the DWP (department of work and pensions). There's this weird diffusion of responsibility going on plus rumoured targets to get people off benefits. PIP is not means tested either, in that it's supposed to offset the cost of living with a disability regardless of your income. Employment support allowance is a secondary benefit for people who can't work.

My partner was awarded a lifetime DLA award. Over a decade later he's only got worse but when they retested him to know what band to put him on for PIP they said he should get nothing and not even the badge. Which would mean he wouldn't be able to work or get out the house reliably, which would lead to a decline in health if he had to rely on public transport as he'd have dangerously low oxygen just getting to the bus stop, costing the NHS more and him going on ESA or job seekers allowance. At the mo he's working and paying taxes.