SOCIAL service chiefs have been branded as "stingy" by a woman who cares for her disabled husband.
Di Coldwell, of Southgate, Honley, has launched a scathing attack after her request for a care payment of £113.63 was turned down.
Di, 72, helps look after her husband Andrew, 58, who is confined to a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis and is also partially sighted.
Mrs Coldwell wanted to claim the money from the Direct Payment Scheme after she provided 17 additional hours of care for her husband during the Christmas and New Year period.
She claims there were several hours between December 15 and January 1 when care workers failed to turn up as arranged and she had to fill in.
"I'm quite used to filling in during the evening and at night-time when no-one turns up but I think these were exceptional circumstances. How stingy can you get? I'm only asking to take £113.63 from the account. I think other local authorities are a bit more generous with their allowances."
Under the Direct Payment Scheme clients have a designated care plan with money paid into a specific account which is then used solely for clients to buy their own care.
An invoice needs to be presented at the bank so the client can withdraw a payment cheque.
Kirklees Council says it can only pay money to spouses in "exceptional circumstances".
In a statement a Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: "We will not discuss an individual's circumstances in the media."
