A RETIRED architect faces being made homeless after Wirral Council care bosses overruled social workers and slashed his benefits package.

The £300-a-month cut means 79-year-old Donald Edwards’ daughter Rona Sutton could lose the specially-adpated family home where she looks after him.

Donald suffers from a list of debilitating conditions including diabetes and dementia, and requires round-the-clock atten-tion.

Rona, 45, and her husband Mark, 38, who have a son Tom, eight, built an annex on their home in New Ferry to allow her to care for Donald.

But after the care package cuts the couple are failing to meet the repayments on a £135,000 mortgage on the property in New Ferry and are being threatened with eviction.

Holistic therapist Rona said: “We are desperately trying to make ends meet but without the extra money in dad’s care package we are now in arrears on the mortgage.

“My dad’s own social worker said he should continue to get the full package but then a manager wrote and said it was being cut. It makes no sense. In the long run, if he is made homeless they will have to find a care home for him.”

Rona has been the sole carer of her father since he left hospital in 2005 following a series of operations, and was being paid for 22 hours each week caring for him.

But following a reassessment in October, Wirral’s social services axed a third off Donald's allowance, claiming he only needs 15 hours of care per week.

Managers classed his needs in a “lesser substantial” category - overruling a personal social worker who said his needs were “critical” and “substantial”.

Donald needs assistance with meals, showers, toileting, applying of creams, and has to be prompted to take up to 25 different medicines every day.

Rona added: “Unless that social work manager comes into this house and assesses him herself, she has no right to make assumptions which mean an hour of care is cut to just 15 minutes.”

Widower Donald, who had a 57-year career working as an architect, said: “I often feel like everyone would be better off if I wasn’t around.

“I feel like such a burden. I have paid all of my taxes and never once claimed dole or any other benefit.

“Now when I need a little help they don't want to know and it is making me even more ill with worry.”

A spokeswoman for Wirral Council said: “Mr Edwards' concerns are being taken very seriously and a number of the department’s support services are already working to ensure that he will remain safe and well.

“We believe that his case has been reviewed correctly and that he receives the correct level of funding relative to his needs. It has been reviewed in exactly the same way as we treat every other case.

“We are in continuing contact with both Mr Edwards and his legal representatives as we continue to address his concerns.”