Amputee cricketer Shaun Rigby has told GB News he has "lost everything" after his disability benefits were scrapped by the Department for Work & Pensions.
The DWP claimed a video taken of Rigby playing for his local cricket club showed that he was "not disabled enough".
Speaking to GB News host Martin Daubney, Rigby recalled receiving a letter in the post from the DWP telling him of an anonymous complaint.
Rigby explained: "I've played cricket since the age of seven. Back in 2012, I went on the first England physical disability tour to Dubai.
Shaun Rigby has hit out at the 'shameful' DWP system after losing his disability benefits
GB News
"But back in August last year, I received a letter from the DWP to say that there was a report against me, and I had to go for an interview under caution. Somebody reported me for playing cricket and taking my family to Disneyland Paris on holiday."
As Martin recounted how Rigby lost his leg aged two following a severe leg injury, the GB News host highlighted how the cricketer is legally registered as disabled, takes medication for his disability and wears a prosthetic limb.
Outlining the benefits he was claiming before they were taken away, Rigby said: "From 2016 I had standard rate daily living allowance. Three years later, I had a face to face interview with an examiner, and his exact words were, 'why am I here? Your leg's never gonna grow back, you'll get this for life'.
"He said to just let the DWP know when circumstances are changing, and then it will come to a point where you might be entitled to the mobility car, which I got back in late 2022. And then they took everything away and said I'm not entitled to any of it."
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Rigby, an amputee cricketer, has lost his benefits after being anonymously reported
GB News
Hitting out at the DWP system, Rigby said it is an "embarrassing" move on their behalf: "I've worked full time since I was 16. It's embarrassing, and I'm embarrassed to be part of this country. I don't know what more proof I have to give.
"I've got arthritis in the knee because of the prosthetic limb, they don't class an artificial leg as an aid for some unknown reason, but crutches are classed as an aid, an artificial limb is not. I've got bulges in my lower spine, which I'm having spinal surgery for, all because of the prosthetic limb."
Asked by Martin how he can appeal the process, Rigby revealed that an appeal in the case can take up to "16 weeks" to be seen to.
He told GB News: " I called yesterday for the mandatory reconsideration, I did that over the phone. That can take up to 16 weeks. I've got a month to send as much evidence back to them again, to prove, for some unknown reason, why I feel that I'm entitled to it. And then if it goes negatively again, then I have the right to appeal again."
Rigby told GB News that appeals can take up to 16 weeks to process
GB News
Sending a direct message to the Prime Minister, Rigby told Sir Keir Starmer that it is "shameful" that he is having to "gather evidence" to prove his disability to the DWP.
He concluded: "It's shameful. People like myself who've obviously got a physical disability, it can't be faked.
"I don't know why I'm having to go backwards and forwards to GP's to get evidence, to say that I've got an artificial leg and the stress that I have to go through to live with that, it's a bit of a joke, to be honest."
The Department for Work & Pensions declined to comment on an "ongoing investigation" when approached by GB News.
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