Dear Bespoken,

I would be grateful for some advice if possible. In 1973 I had a patella removed and at the time I was registered as 5% disabled. I received a small compensation payment of just over 1000 pounds, but I did not claim anything else. I have never claimed anything in the past 40 years.

At 61 years of age I am still generally healthy and physically quite fit, but unfortunately I am now experiencing problems with both knees, back problems and tendonitis in both shoulders. I am concerned that I won't be able to carry on working after another 2 or 3 years, so I contacted the government department to ask if my 5% disabled was still registered.

The works and pensions department say that all records are destroyed after 9 months, I find that difficult to believe. Can anyone tell me how to a disability archive that would show my disability.