A BASINGSTOKE teenager is expected to survive on 63p for 13 months after her benefits application was rejected by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Nineteen-year-old Tierna Cossins, who lives in Brighton Hill, is unable to work because she has Syringomyelia - a painful condition where a cyst forms inside the spinal cord and expands, destroying the spine from the inside out.

But she says her illness has been worsened by stress and worries over the DWP's complex application process.

Her application for a personal independence payment - supposed to cover extra medical costs caused by her condition - was turned down.

The teenager asked for a mandatory review of her case but the DWP did not wait for medical evidence to come through from her doctor.

Tiern said: “It’s clearly a lack of communication on their behalf and I said how angry I felt.

“[The woman on the phone] sounded really careless which annoyed me a lot.

“It’s not acceptable, surely it’s in their job role to acknowledge a letter. There was a note on the system and she said that she could see it but the case worker didn’t wait for the evidence.”

The DWP said the evidence was considered and that it didn’t change their mind.

This has left Tiern with a small payment of 63p - not even enough to buy a loaf of bread and a tin of beans.

She said: “How do they expect me at 19 to live on 63p for 13 months? If it wasn’t for my partner, I would be dead in a ditch. You see all these news articles of people who have starved to death because they have no money, and they haven’t been able to feed themselves, and that easily could have been me at any minute. It’s a scary thought and I don’t want to think that but it’s the reality of it.

“It’s made me feel angry, upset. Ever since I’ve left school at 16, I’ve always worked for my money.

She added: "I’ve not been rich or wealthy but I get up every day to make sure I wasn’t broke. Now, I’m treated like someone’s rubbish that they’ve just thrown on the floor.”

It causes chronic debilitating pain, and Tiern says: “It’s ruined my life for the past year and a half.

“I haven’t been able to work, I can’t even stand up and wash up without being in extreme pain. I feel like my spine is going to break.

“I’m 19, I should be able to live without being in so much pain.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “We want people to get the support they are entitled to. PIP is non means tested and provides help towards the extra costs of having a health condition or disability.

“If someone disagrees with a decision they can appeal, as Miss Cossins is doing, and we have discussed with her other support available.”

Tiern is now waiting for a tribunal to appeal the DWP’s decision.