Faith

June Clarke from Plymouth says that her life was turned upside down after an accident at work.

She slipped on a wet canteen floor and badly damaged her hip, pelvis and lower spine.

For six years she experienced progressive, intense pain and was unable to continue working or walk more than a few steps.

June before her 'miracle'

June's husband Stuart is a Pastor at Hooe Baptist church. He says he prayed every day after the accident for God to 'bring my wife back'.

Then June was offered healing at a Christian conference. Within hours she was able to fold away her wheelchair and stop taking painkillers.

She says medics were amazed by her recovery, which she puts down to the power of prayer and patience.

When June realised she was completely healed she contacted the Government's Industrial Injury Department to put a stop to the benefits she'd been receiving.

But the payments continued.

June and Stuart sent letters and made phone calls, but officials told them the system was unable to recognise an apparently miraculous recovery.

Invalid request

June had been awarded an allowance for life and the computer wasn't programmed to allow that payment to end while she was still alive.

June and Stuart Clarke

After six months, she saw an official government doctor who registered her as fully fit.

The allowance was stopped and June was able to repay the money.

Stuart found their battle with the benefits system amusing, if frustrating. "We would have loved to have used the money for a good cause," he says, "but it wasn't ours to spend.

"It can't be often that a government department gets a complaint about unwanted cash!"

A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions said,

"Each case is treated individually.

"When a customer contacts us to say they no longer require or need to claim benefits we ask for a letter of confirmation for security reasons.

June with Stuart, fit and happy again

"Following receipt of the letter we will cease the benefit."

Recalling the events of last year, June says she believed she'd been officially recognised as fully healed when the allowance stopped.

But recently she received a surprise in the post.

"They were offering me a mobility scooter," June laughs. "Apparently I've just become eligible for one!"