Folks, My thanks too loan ranger. My suspicion has been that this is another 'scary feet' thing from the government and your links indicate that direction. If we confront any jobcentre adviser with genuine daily symptoms of ill health I don't see what they can do. Best thing is to be prepared for any interviews, maybe by writing down the facts, and don't get hoodwinked. When I was working as a jobsearch seminar leader a young mother was once talked into working in a part time job instead of getting her benefit. One of my colleagues had been pushing hard to improve our statistics, and maybe didn't do enough due diligence on the case. The employer didn't pay our client and the girl came into our office, babe in arms, on a Friday afternoon with no money, benefit stopped. I was there on my own and couldn't contact my colleague. I went to the local DSS office (I was college based) with the client and told them what had happened. The supervisor said that they couldn't do anything as they didn't make payments there. I said that I knew the manager and would speak direct to her. The supervisor opened a drawer, took out a cheque book and made the payment to my client, right there and then. I wasn't too popular after that, and there was quite a change in my relations with the local Employment Services lot. It was worth it though, just doing the right thing. The moral, I guess, is to stand your ground. GS.

John, The newspapers and media don't help, but I try to remember that media is about scare stories, and the poor blighters they are trying to scare are us! It has helped me to look at the proposed legislation and see that existing incapacity claimants over 25yrs old won't be interviewed under the new scheme until April 2010. That's a good breathing space. GS.

John, That sounds really tough, but it's like that. IMO the whole reform package is based on the premise that we are not ill. Our only defence is to be honest and tell them that we are ill. Piling guilt and denial on top of an illness is just not on. On a positive note, people who are challenged and go to appeal usually win the case. The Jobcentre people know this and try all kinds of tricks to sneak us off the benefit, but if we stay honest and get good advice, I think we will win our rights in the end. Hope things get easier for you. GS.

Folks, I was once a jobsearch seminar leader for Employment Services and am now an incapacity benefit claimant with depression. I have a concern about the changes in IB happening now. My experience is that a person admitting depression in a job application or interview will never get the job. In the action plans towards work wanted by the DWP under the new provisions, will claimants be expected to lie to employers about their health condition? GS