Wednesday, November 17, 2010

X Factor 2010: Wagner living on incapacity benefits... despite his energetic performances on X Factor

By Daily Mail Reporter



Quickstep: X Factor contestant Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho, pictured heading to the gym today, has been receiving incapacity benefits since last year


Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho has been receiving £91.40 a week in incapacity benefits - as he puts on his energetic performances on The X Factor.

The former PE and karate teacher, 54, has received the state handout since last year after injuring his shoulder.

But his acceptance of the benefits have been called into question due to his flamboyant dance moves during his weekly over-the-top songs on the ITV show.

The hopeful, who regularly goes running to keep fit, was also spotted heading to the Nuffield Health and Fitness centre in London for a workout today.

An X Factor spokesperson said: 'We told him to talk to the benefits office.
'In terms of the show, clearly he was deemed physically fit to do the show because they all see the doctor.

'We wouldn't put him on the show if we didn't think he was fit enough.'

A spokesperson for the Department Of Work And Pensions (DWP) said they 'can't comment on individual cases', but told the MailOnline: 'People's conditions change all the time. When new information comes to light, we reassess their fitness for work.'

A source told The Sun that Wagner has kept Jobcentre bosses updated about his singing and was expecting to have his fitness re-assessed.


Flamboyant: Wagner performed a mash-up of I'm Still Standing and Circle Of Life on Saturday's live show


Bending over backward: Wagner puts on an energetic performance on The X Factor 10 days ago


Since injuring his shoulder last year, Wagner has undergone two major operations to correct it - the last one being in January this year.

The father-of-one was wearing a sling to the auditions for the show in Birmingham in June, but removed it for his performance.

Over the past six weeks of live shows, Wagner has been putting on show-stopping performances with a large troupe of dancers.

Last year, former Britain's Got Talent contestant Fred Bowers, 74, was ordered to pay back £3,000 he had received in disability allowance.


Energetic: Wagner, with mentor Louis Walsh (centre) and Mary Byrne (left) celebrates after finding out he has survived elimination from the contest


He had been receiving motability allowance due to an injured leg, but benefits chiefs halted payments after he was seen breakdancing on the ITV show.

Meanwhile, Wagner's fellow contestant Matt Cardle has hit out members of the public who are voting to keep the Brazilian on the show at the expense of more talented finalists like Treyc Cohen and Aiden Grimshaw.

He said: 'The whole Wagner thing, enough is enough. The joke is over now and people should be voting for the singers.

'People would mind leaving the competition less if Wagner wasn't still in it.'



source:dailymail

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