Chilling pictures of a 64-year-old man who barely weighed more than six stone have gone viral. The severely malnourished man could barely get up on his feet yet he was forced to leave the hospital to fight a decision by the Department of Work and Pensions to deny him retirement benefits.

Stephen Smith from Liverpool felt constant pain and was incredibly weak that he was left exhausted after only taking a few steps. Mr. Smith has had a history of long-term serious health problems that warranted frequent hospital stays yet a tribunal concluded that he was fit for work. A decision that he overturned.

Shocking pictures of Liverpool man Stephen Smith were taken when he was in hospital over Christmas when he was unable to stand

Mr. Smith’s monthly benefit payments were overturned after a two-year battle which forced him to sign up for a 67 pound a week jobseeker’s allowance provided he visited the job center once a week to prove he was actively looking for work.

Speaking about his predicament, he said; 'I could only make it to the kitchen to make food once a day.

'I had no muscles in the back of my leg which meant I couldn't stand up at all - and had to lean or sit down all the time - but they were telling me I was fit for work.'

This was the condition Steve Smith was in in hospital in December before he fought and won a tribunal allowing him vital benefits

The frail man says he could have died save for two men, Tony Nelson, and Terry Craven. Tony runs the CASA community center situated in the city’s hope street. It offers support to people who have nowhere else to turn to. It is through Tony that Mr. Smith got to meet Terry Craven, a former city council welfare officer who advises people on benefit claims at the CASA center.

Terry took up Mr. Smith’s case after learning that he had been kicked off ESA. He battled with DWP in his efforts to get me Smith the benefits he deserved. This involved contacting two separate doctors who unanimously confirmed Mr. Smith’s significant difficulties in doing routine activities and the immense pain he experienced.

Mr Smith's most debilitating illness is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, an incurable respiratory problem

One doctor’s report read, 'It is my opinion that Mr. Smith could not walk 20 meters without pain or exhaustion.'Despite this candid report, Mr. Smith’s appeal was rejected in January last year by the DWP who stated that his points were insufficient to warrant his case as ‘limited capability for work’
This did not dim their hopes as Mr. Smith and craven continued to battle in court over a period of a year. Eventually, earlier this month, they were granted a chance to appeal the decision by the DWP.

Stephen Smith with welfare advisor Terry Craven (l) and Tony Nelson of the CASA

However, this news came almost too late as the 64-year old was struggling to fend for himself while suffering from deteriorating health during this time.

Mr. Craven said: 'Around December time I and my wife went to check in on him and my wife said 'if we don't do something now, he's not long for this world'.

'He was then suffering from pneumonia and had been hospitalized. This was when the shocking images were taken. Nevertheless, he was forced to get a pass to leave the Royal hospital and fight his case.

This time, he won it with the judge exactly expressing that his mobility and health challenges meant that he had satisfied the full requirements for ESA.

This good news meant that Mr. Smith would be enrolled back to the ESA and Terry believes that he is owed close to 4,000 pounds in back pay.

craves said; 'I have got lots of cases like Steve's - I have a client at the moment who is actually on dialysis and has been thrown off benefits

Mr. Smith acknowledges the great support that the two gentlemen have offered him. He said, 'Without them and this place I probably wouldn't be here today - I had nowhere to turn- they have saved my life.' 

A spokesperson for the DWP said in an official statement; ‘Mr. Smith has continued to receive all of the benefits he was entitled to, as well as offers of personal support to improve his skills and health issues'.

She added: 'He has now been reassessed, reflecting his changing condition and will be receiving full ESA support.
'We're committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they're entitled to and we are sorry for the experience Mr. Smith has had.

'Decisions for ESA are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist. 
Any claimant can appeal a decision for free to an independent tribunal.'