TWO thirds of people with epilepsy who claim benefit have been denied payments or had them downgraded under the new benefit system with campaigners warning that their lives are being put at risk.

Epilepsy Action says some claimants have been left feeling suicidal after going through the process of switching over from disability living allowance (DLA), which was introduced in 2013, to personal independence payment (PIP).

New figures show that more people with the condition have been refused the disability benefit than those with any other health condition.

The figures released by Parliament reveal that nearly two thirds of people with epilepsy who previously received DLA had their award withdrawn or downgraded following reassessment.

Some 15,000 people with epilepsy as their primary condition were assessed between October 2013 and October 2016.

Of these, 2,300 people had their payments lowered and 7,300 lost them entirely.

The charity’s chief executive Philip Lee said: “PIP is supposed to be helping people with disabilities to live more independent lives and yet ironically they are being denied the very independence they deserve.

“We are hearing increasingly concerning stories from people who say their safety and day-to-day living are being negatively impacted.”

Sinead Webber, who has epilepsy, described the PIP process as “one of the most harrowing, degrading, intrusive and disheartening experiences I have ever had.”

She was rejected for PIP, but a tribunal resulted in her being awarded the enhanced rate for both elements of PIP.

Ms Webber has drop attacks, which can last up to 15 minutes and leave her unable to speak for two hours, and has previously fallen on a knife and had a seizure while holding a pan of boiling water.

She said: “When I came out of the court room, my mum said I made a noise she could only describe as howling.

“I was tired and broken by fighting to justify my disability and limitations.”

The Department for Work and Pensions insists PIP takes a wider look at a claimant’s condition and is better than the previous system, however the switch has resulted in thousands of wrong decisions with as many as 80 per cent of claimants successfully overturning refusals on appeal.