A 33-stone woman from Wirral who can only walk a few yards said she will become "bed-bound” when the DWP strips her mobility chair from her.

Annette Towey, 34, from Tranmere has been in hospital since July 2018 due to a personality disorder.

Initially, she was admitted to Clatterbridge Hospital, but was moved to Bowmere Hospital in Chester – which specialises in mental health services, in February last year.

As well as a personality disorder, Ms Towey is physically disabled and needs a powerchair – a type of motorised wheelchair, to get around.

While in hospital, she has been able to pay for the use of a powerchair with her PIP (Personal Independence Payment) money.

But in September, she was stripped of the benefit by the government.

Five months later, she says she has run out of money and will have her powerchair taken away tomorrow.

Ms Towey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Without a powerchair, my mental health condition could get a lot worse.

"I will be bed-bound.

"I won't be able to get around and go to the supermarket [accompanied by staff], like I do now.

"I would have no chance of getting out at all."

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said: "PIP stops when someone has been in hospital for over 28 days as their needs are being met by the NHS."

Ms Towey said it is this policy which will see her lose the powerchair and become "bed-bound" tomorrow.

Ms Towey is in the recovery phase of her treatment, meaning she should be able to leave the hospital and live independently within the next few months.

But the loss of her PIP will turn what should be positive news, into yet another source of worry.

With no powerchair, Ms Towey feels she will not be able to live independently.

And there's more bad news.

Because Ms Towey failed to inform the authorities of her admission to hospital for over a year, she may not get her PIP back when she leaves Bowmere Hospital.

Normally, PIP automatically resumes when a patient who is eligible leaves hospital, but Ms Towey might have to reapply for the payment due to her failing to declare hospital admission on time.

Applying for PIP can take a long time.

The DWP’s aim is to begin payments within 16 weeks of a successful PIP application, but this can vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

A DWP spokesperson said: "We are committed to ensuring that disabled people get all the support they are entitled to.

"Once discharged, Ms Towey should get in touch to discuss her claim."

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust was approached for comment, but said it would not give information on individual cases.