HOUSEBOUND Daryl Major is concerned he will be left penniless if the Department for Work and Pensions continues to demand he attends an assessment centre.

The 26-year-old, of Park South, has been receiving ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) for about two years after an injury to his knee left him unable to work.

Despite making numerous phone calls to the department to explain his condition, and being continually told just to send through medical evidence from his doctor, he has also received several letters over the past six months threatening to take action and stop his benefit.

He says the stress of the situation has made his anxiety disorder worse, making it even more difficult for him to leave his home.

“They keep refusing, despite the amount of evidence stating that I need a home assessment, but they keep ignoring it,” he said.

“Even though I’ve tried, it just makes no difference. I just feel like I’m not being listened to.

“It’s making the anxiety worse, which just makes it more difficult for me to get out of the house.”

Daryl started claiming ESA after his left knee cap gave out at work, which he believes was associated with an injury he sustained at school.

“I was working in Boots at Oxford at the time,” he said.

“I was kneeling on the floor stacking shelves about two years ago and I felt my knee give out.

“I can walk around a bit but it’s painful. It crunches and clicks and then catches.

“I have to use crutches to get about, and even then it’s painful.

“About a year ago I then slipped on the crutches and fell on my shoulder, so that’s another problem I have as well.”

Despite being referred to doctors and consultants, Daryl was signed on to ESA shortly after. But he didn’t receive a letter requesting he attend an assessment until about six months ago.

“It gets to me so much now that my dad now has to deal with them,” he said. “He called up to explain I couldn’t attend an assessment because I’m housebound, and they said they would sort it, all I needed to do was send medical evidence.

“I did that but a few weeks later they sent another letter saying again I had to attend an appointment, and my benefits could be stopped if I didn’t attend.”

Since then Daryl has received four or five letters requesting his attendance.

A spokesman for the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments apologised for the confusion.

He said: “We sincerely apologise to Mr Major for any stress this has caused him.

“We will be arranging for him to receive a home visit as soon as we can.”