Local Appeal Tribunal case file for Charles Bingham, aged 47, Packer and Drawer-off...

Date of birth: 11/04/1905
Marital status: Not given
Address: Ash Cottage, New Higham, Shirland
Type of benefit claimed: Special Hardship Allowance
Type of injury: Injury - back; orchidectomy
Further information: Mr Bingham's claim went to the Commissioner [Ref CI 156/53], who reached a decision on 1 June 1953. An accident by fall of coal occurred on 25 October 1948, when he was 43 years old. His back and left testicle were injured as a result. His work as a packer and drawer involved heavy manual labour in a confined space. The work involved lifting and handling lumps of stone and packing or stowing them tightly. He also has to withdraw steel roof supports. After the accident he was 'away from work' until 15 November 1949. after this he started as a 'day wage man' on 'light work' such as cleaning up the spillage from a conveyor belt. His disablement was finally assessed at 10 per cent for life by the Medical Appeal Tribunal on 15 December 1949. He had his left testicle removed, and the tribunal found that this 'had not caused any loss of faculty, except perhaps psychologically.' Mr Bingham was examined again on 6 November 1952 who 'reported that the claimant's symptoms were vague' and that he was 'making the most of his injury.' Therefore his weekly payment of 20s. 0d. was stopped on 23 December 1952. He appealed against this decision (dated 3 December 1952) 22 December 1952, on the grounds he still cannot follow his regular occupation. According to the Commissioner there was a mistake made by a doctor who described the accident having occurred in 1949, not 1948. He was examined by his own doctor who stated that Mr Bingham was unable to do any heavy work as a result of post-traumatic fibrositis in his back. The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that the Commissioner felt Mr Bingham was able to go back to his usual work 'if only he would.' One of the medical boards stated 'there is a marked psychological element in this case.'