A TALENTED teenage swimmer, with no lower left arm, has had a break-through in her fight to get her benefits reinstated.

Southend Council has U-turned and reissued Paralympic hopeful Jo-Jo Cranfield, 17, with a blue badge – going against Department for Transport regulations.

Jo-Jo, from Westcliff, who swam for Team GB, received mobility allowance plus a carer’s allowance until she turned 16.

David Amess, MP for Southend West, has been campaigning on Jo-Jo’s behalf for months.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Amess said: “I understand all the arguments about the fact there has to be a cut-off point, but why, on Joanna’s 16th birthday, were almost all the benefits she received relating to her disability suddenly stopped?”

This led to Maria Miller MP, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for disabled people, promising to find out if there was funding available for Jo-Jo, who was born without her arm.

She said: “This case illustrates a number of drawbacks with the current Disability Living Allow-ance system.

“That is why we are so committed to reforming what we believe is an outdated benefit.”

Tina Cranfield, Jo-Jo’s mother, said the Department for Work and Pensions had told her Jo-Jo’s benefits were halted because she would now be able to cope. Mrs Cranfield says this is not the case. Jo-Jo attends a special sports school, Millfield, in Somerset, and despite Jo-Jo being on a scholarship the family pay £17,000 a year in fees, which they fund through constant fundraising and donations. Mrs Cranfield said with Jo-Jo’s disability any extra money would help. She said the cost of living is more expensive now Jo-Jo is away from home and mum is not able to help with domestic tasks, such as cooking.

Mrs Cranfield plans to continue campaigning for Jo-Jo, who is aiming to swim at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Her mother added: “It is fantastic Jo-Jo has a blue badge again.

“We live in hope, and have our fingers crossed the publicity will have an impact.”