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Leyland student denied financial support
A Leyland student who needs a power pack to keep his heart beating has been told he's not disabled enough to qualify for financial support because he can cook a meal for himself.
Toby Snape, 17, has just resumed his A-levels at Runshaw College after earlier this year being just hours from death. The teenager suffers from cardiomyopathy and is awaiting a life-saving transplant.
He had to put his studies at Runshaw College on hold when he became gravely ill but he resumed his A-levels in biology, chemistry, physics and maths on Monday.
He has the same condition that killed his teenage brother Shaun in 2006 and now Toby is being kept alive by a mechanical pump that was sewn into his heart that is connected to a powerpack via a cord that comes through his abdomen.
Without it he would be unconscious within five minutes and his family applied to the Department for Work and Pensions for a Disability Living Allowance so he could pay for a taxi to take him to Runshaw College,
However in a four-page letter from the DWP his request was rejected because he can walk 500 metres; he can prepare a cooked meal for one and doesn't need any help using the bath.
Toby said: "When I got turned down I was gobsmacked. It just doesn't seem fair.
* What do you think? Email christopher.maguire@lep.co.uk
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Weather for Leyland
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: West
