A SOUTHAMPTON woman is furious after council chiefs refused to provide a vital home adaptation to help her terminally ill husband.

Jane Butler’s husband David, 66, was diagnosed with Progressive Surpanuclear Palsy (PSP) in 2013.

He needs care from his wife Jane, 54, and also has a carer.

David’s condition is deteriorating and doctors say he has just a few years left to live. He can no longer walk unassisted up the stairs or take a bath independently.

The couple, of Ludlow Road, Woolston, asked Southampton City Council Adult Services for a disabled facilities grant for a stairlift and wet room in 2014.

The cost would have been more than £6,000, which they were told they would need to contribute £1,300 towards.

They said they could afford it.

But they were then dealt a blow when they were told they would have to turn to charities for funding as the government would not be able to assist due to a means test.

However the couple believe that the decision is unfair as their finances are being drained by Mr Butler’s condition.

Jane earns £18,000 a year as a legal secretary and they also have a disability allowance of £352 a month plus Mr Butler's fortnightly state pension of £304.26.

But they still have £60,000 left on their mortgage which they fear they won’t be able to pay. They say they can't afford the home adaptation.

She said: “They have wasted a year messing us about. They should have told us more about the means test from the start.

“Means testing is unfair because means testing a disabled person they should take everything like outgoings and mortgages into consideration but they haven’t with us.

“I am in an impossible situation because I can’t reduce my hours to look after my husband because I have a mortgage to pay.

"I just wish I could help him maintain his dignity.

"At the moment he [will] be reduced to living downstairs and washing in the kitchen sink.”

Daily Echo:

A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: “Early indications at the pre-application stage were that Mr Butler may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

"Unfortunately, when Mr Butler submitted an application, his income had increased slightly.

“This meant that when Mr Butler’s required financial contribution towards the cost of the work was calculated using the nationally prescribed means test, his contribution exceeded the cost of adapting his property.

"Therefore, at the time of the application, Mr Butler was ineligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant.”