@Fletch70 I don't know how you ended up thinking that. If your sick, those involved with dealing you would be doctors, nurses and all the clerical staff, Dwp staff, Call center staff, Atos staff, council staff, etc., etc., If you were getting DLA and used the payment to lease a car, there would be Garage staff, sales staff, administrative staff, Mechanics, staff at Motability (the non profit organisation), staff at motability Finance Ltd (the private company) owned by the banks, etc., This all creates employment and also tax for the government. There is a lot of people are employed in the system because people are unemployed, sick and disabled. It's the same as there are lots of people employed in the Justice system because of crime. The more things the government can find the unemployed, sick and disabled to do, in order to obtain their benefits, the more the jobs will be created and tax payed. It's a knock on effect that keeps the economy going.

The whole thing is about employment, but not so much for the unemployed or those who are disabled, they are a secondary action. The unemployed and disabled are a major asset to the economy. How many are employed because of the unemployed and disabled? How much tax is paid to the government directly and indirectly? How much does the unemployed and the disabled contribute to shareholders and the stockmarket? In one way, you could say that the unemployed and disabled are a major employer in society. How many Police, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges depend on crime to make a living?

IDS doesn't care, plain and simple. He's already stated on a number of occasions that the only reason he entered parliament was to reform the welfare system. Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery opened a question to David Cameron today (19th Dec) holding the suicide note of a man who he said had taken his own life after he lost eligibility to ESA. You can see what IDS thinks near the end of the video. http://vimeo.com/55937747

I'm on the Atos/Dwp diet. No money for over three months and the weight does enarf drop off you.

I think it may be time for an Independent Ombudsman for Social Security, that can investigate and deal with complaints about all Social Security and also all the Private Firms that are used.

Upcoming business Friday, 25 January 2013 Welfare Cash Card Bill - Second reading – Alec Shelbrooke Legislation http://www.theyworkforyou.com/calendar/?d=2013-01-25#cal31386 Here's some more info on his speech about the Welfare card Bill. (hope it's acceptable to post the link) http://conservativehome.blogs.com/parliament/2012/12/tory-mp-alecshelbrooke-introduces-bill-for-welfare-cash-card-to-stop-claimants-buying-cigarettes-and.html

Thank you DX, I was trying to find it on the dwp website.

Does anyone know when they finish their holidays and re-open?

"or if their personal data is published on-line" It's already online. Anyone online can access the data. http://www.nmc-uk.org/Search-the-register/ Originally Posted by osdset "The problem with this is, laptops have by virtue of size only one DVD/CD recording device, so the assessment would in reality have to be recorded onto the hard drive and then 'burnt' on to a disk, then another recordable disk would have to be inserted for copy two, the HCP could reasonably argue that they were not in possession of any equipment to play back their copy to verify that it had not been altered in any way." That's easy sorted. The Hummmmm can verify that it's not been altered. :lol: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20629671

You'll have to ring the Esa office that deals with the claim first and tell them you have a 'fit' note. They will try to book an emergency appointment with Jcp. Everything has to go through the Esa office first. Once the Esa office has received the 'fit' note, they can move to it to the payments department so the payment can be released. remember, just because one person has told you something on the phone doesn't mean it's true, you could ring back two minutes later, get another person and get a completely different answer.

As they've previously said: 'All in it together' and they certainly are. The only one's who won't end up on the system are those who fit the 'ViP' status. Mp's, Members of the Royal Household and certain celebrities, who have a dedicated person to deal with their benefit(s) claim and nothing is put onto the Computer System. This is for security purposes.

They only suspend the payment until they get the 'fit note'. If you can get another 'fit note' ring them again and ask to see if you can take it to the Jcp and for Jcp to fax or e-mail a copy to the Esa department that deals with your claim. They can do that.

I thought the Benefits cash card was going to be part of the 'Social Banking' thing. a4e was on about introducing it a while ago. They and the government believed that people on lower incomes couldn't manage their finances. Pot, Kettle, Black springs to mind.

Shazajo, from personal experience try to stay with the same benefit, otherwise you'll just be jumping off one merry-go-round on to another. I went onto Jsa for a very short time. It's the worst thing i did. I only had a physical disability to start with, and the pain and problems that go with it. Now i've ended up with clinical depression and i haven't had a payment for over three months. Once you go onto Jsa, if you then go back onto Esa, you are a new claim and it causes more problems than enough.

Maybe the government should start by giving to humans, the five freedoms that they already give to animals. The five freedoms as currently expressed for animals are: Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_freedoms