A disabled woman from Thamesmead has started a petition to stop people on benefits having to travel so far for assessments.

Claudette Lawrence, 49, is an activist and campaigner who also suffers with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which can cause extreme mental and physical exhaustion.

She has set up the petition because she has recently come into contact with a lot of people who are having problems when it comes to their benefits.

The petition calls for the minister for disabled people, health and work, Sarah Newton, to work with the government to stop people with mental and physical disabilities attending medical assessments a long way from where they live.

You can sign Claudette’s petition here.

Claudette told News Shopper: “I know someone on Personal Independence Payment who lives in Charlton and was told to travel all the way to Southend for their assessment.

“I want to know who is making these decisions because someone has to be responsible.”

Claudette wants to make it clear that it isn’t fair to ask people who suffer with mental health issues, high anxiety, and or physical disabilities to travel so unreasonably.

The only way to get an at-home assessment is to pay your local GP £38 to write a letter to say you cannot physically travel.

However, Claudette says if you are not getting many benefits a week, this one-off fee could have a damaging effect on the rest of the week.

She continued: “We are being discriminated and it’s not ok. There are so many people out there who are on their own with no support.”