A decision to refuse a severely disabled woman financial support while she was bed-bound has been dramatically reversed.

Floriann Taylor, of Smeed Close, Sittingbourne, was born with a rare genetic condition which means her body cannot absorb any vitamin D.

So far, the 22-year-old has undergone six operations to straighten her legs, which are bowed, and had surgery to correct her hearing because her condition meant she was born deaf.

She also has osteoporosis and arthritis, both of which have left her suffering chronic pain.

Weeks before undergoing another operation in May, Miss Taylor was assessed for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the period she would be unable to do her job as a care worker.

However, after she was visited by a mental health nurse, who reportedly told her she had no experience dealing with people with physical ailments, she received a letter saying she was not eligible for the payment.

Refusing to accept the decision, Miss Taylor appealed to a tribunal.

However, last week – just after the 30-day deadline for the DWP to acknowledge she had launched an appeal had passed – she received a letter informing her she would get money and backdated payments.

The decision came despite her not being reassessed and her application for support being looked at by at least two separate medical professionals.

She said: “It’s going to help with my recovery because I’ve been in this frame for so long I actually lost my job.

“I’m glad I don’t have to rush and do myself an injury.

“But the way they made the assessment in the first place isn’t right. I mean, they’ve not even spoken to me since the original decision, they have no new information and then suddenly they change their minds.

“How many other people are being wrongly affected by these decisions?”

Just this week, London specialists removed the metal leg frame Miss Taylor has had to wear for more than four months, although she will still require extensive treatment for her condition.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and pensions said: “Everyone has the right to appeal the decision on their Personal Independence Payment claim and where appropriate we will revisit the decision to ensure the correct outcome.

“In this instance the claimant’s application was reassessed and she was awarded the benefit, which will be back-dated to the time of her initial application.”