Thanks determindator. didn't realise you were allowed to do that.

At the end of January I put in a claim for DLA (still getting that here in Northern Ireland). I mentioned that to my GP. She said that in my case it would be unlikely I would get it but she would fill in her part for me. About 4 weeks ago my support worker rang DLA to find out what the hold up was, only to be told that My GP had not sent the information they required. About 2 weeks ago I had an appointment with my GP and mentioned this. She said she would fax the details through to DLA. I rang DLA yesterday and they still had received nothing. And when I rang the surgery this afternoon, I asked the receptionist if she could check to see if anything had been done in relation to this. She said and said she would remind my GP. Has anyone else had this problem or is this a common thing that it may be because the GP is busy.

Thanks for your input antone. As I already mentioned the money has not come through yet. And I see no reason why they couldn't have allowed me the cost of the bus fare home (£6) I did receive a little help from a local charity yesterday. Had it not been for my support worker I would not have been aware of this. Reading the information on the link provided above. The advisor should have been able to point me in the direction of other help. But when I asked where else I could go for help he couldn't answer me. I was in need of immediate help and the promise of a payment the following day could hardly be considered to alleviate the immediate need. I am on medication for depression and the whole episode has been very stressful and I feel as if I'm only starting to settle a bit now.

Indeed, never thought that I should have pointed out I was in NI. I think the way they treat people needs to be reformed never mind the welfare system. It shouldn't be down to charities to do the governments job. In fact one charity is currently gathering information on the scale of the problem to present to the government. And even if my money does come through. I won't let the matter drop

Northern Ireland might be different because no one has told me that. Just checked nidirect and they still give information on applying for a crisis loan

Hi all. been a long time since I needed to post here I tried a search but couldn't find anything like my story. I have also posted this in the CAG facebook page because as I state at the end I want as many people as possible to know about this. Hi folks. I would like to ask has anyone ever been denied a crisis loan or know anyone that has. I'm between payments at the minute. My SSP has run out and am waiting for my ESA to come through. My money ran out at the weekend and my electricity and food ran out yesterday.. Went to my local SSO to get a crisis loan. The guy dealing with me rang the ESA office and told me that they had all they needed and no reason why a payment couldn't be put in my account today. Therefore I was refused a loan. They wouldn't even give me the price of a bus ticket home. Today at lunch time there was no payment in my account. Rang esa to be told there was nothing to say a payment had been authorised. He said he sent through an email to authorise an interim payment but said it would take 4 hours to be sorted. Because of the time I rang at meant no payment until tomorrow. Obviously that's unacceptable so rang the benefits enquiry line. The lady there said she couldn't help but told me to get back to esa and ask to speak to a supervisor. Did that and was told I couldn't be transferred but I would get a call from one before the end of the day. I didn't believe that so rang BEL again. This time the person told me he would transfer me to esa. Instead I was put through to JSA. I was told there that there should be no reason why esa couldn't transfer me to a supervisor. In desperation I rang my MP. As of 4.55 neither me or my MP has had no response from ESA. They have no idea the stress this has put me under. Luckily I don't have any children needing fed but regardless of that this is an unacceptable situation. I spoke to a charity worker who told me this is not a unique case and even mentioned that a family with 4 young children were denied a loan. Sorry this has been a long story but even though I was given some food I am furious I have been treated this way and want as many people as possible to know about this. I'm even thinking of going to the papers....national if needs be!! Is this normal practice or even accepable.

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet or not. While being directed to another site I decided to do a little browsing and searching and came across this from Jackie Baillie of the Labour party in scotland So discredited has the process become that even Atos is pulling out of carrying out the assessments for the UK Government and has indicated clearly that it is because of attacks on staff and the reputational damage that it has suffered. The helpful briefing from Inclusion Scotland states: “the Work Capability Assessment is unfit for purpose regardless of who is contracted to carry it out.” I point out as gently as I can to the Scottish National Party the hypocrisy of its back benchers lodging motion after motion heaping condemnation on Atos, when we heard not a word when NHS Lanarkshire and Salus made a profit by helping Atos to deliver the very assessments that are so abhorred. That is another case of people saying one thing in public and another in private. The full debate can be found here. Just page down a couple of times http://www.theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2014-03-04.4.0&s=atos#g4.12 Elsewhere on that site I found out that atos are looking to be able to access medical records!!

At past disciplinaries I have mentioned that I am being treated for depression. Unfortunately I didn't point out that it was a disability as I didn't think it was necessary to point that out.

Hi all. Maybe I am being a bit over concerned here. A while back someone advised that I should seek a referral to Occi Health. Given that I have been on anti-D's for over 3 years now. I spoke to the employers nurse a few days later and mentioned this to her. She said she would mention it and asked for my permission to contact my gp for my notes, which I granted. Turns out my gp hasn't been contacted by my employer. On Monday I had a disciplinary for missing 3 days since January. In 2012 I missed 18 days in total (sick certificates have no bearing on whether or not you get a warning). Firstly they don't seem interested in helping to try reduce your absence, only reminding you that you need to turn up for work. Secondly, at the end of the meeting I mentioned the issue of my notes from the gp to the HR officer present. Her reply was, "You want us to see your notes?" Sounded to me like she was trying to make out I was doing something wrong. My concern is that by trying to avoid recognising that I am being treated for depression and therefore have a disability. Then they don't have to treat me as such. Whether that would mean more leniancy in regards discipline or whatever. Does this also mean that the duty of care they are so keen to talk about doesn't really exist! That is the impression I get. Thanks in advance for any help. Even if it's only to say I have nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks for that Lily. And hope things are going ok for you. Despite my supervisor saying he would try to sort the error I made before the department manager would see it, I was called to HR to give my version of what happened. Spoke to the nurse on Thursday about OH referral. Gave permission for HR to contact my gp. Emmzzi in relation to you comment that you saw nothing to suggest that this is a good employer. Since the beginning of the year (since we got our pay rise) they have been deducting points from the production bonus of anyone who goes to the toilet.....or leave the line/workstation as they call it. And as these scores are only updated once a month. You are down money for all that time should you only need to use the toilet once. And worse yet. A female colleague has told me that when it comes to their 'time of the month' they are to let a supervisor know. There has been plenty of hearsay about this but I have seen no formal notification. Though apparently a notice had been pinned to the notice board. Also, despite me and another workmate having to go to the wages department about our pay falling below minimum wage. I found out last week that they are still allowing this to happen. To equal NMW our production bonus needs to be over £42. One guy told me last week he is only getting a bonus of about £30. As far as I know there should be measures in place to prevent this happening.

TBH I wouldn't know the legal stance on that. But it could be construed as harassment. And I would definitely tell ofsted

And also, what if he decides to drop my depression into his daily chit chat

Thanks for that Lilythepink. And good to hear you're getting somewhere. I suppose I have never mentioned it to my supervisor for fear of it affecting any chance I may have of being trained up for other jobs (although that's unlikely to happen anyway). Or being put to even more demeaning or mundane tasks than I am now. I have however mentioned the fact that I am on anti depressants when in the disciplinary hearings I had. And at least one period of sickness last year the certificate was for acute stress. This however doesn't stop you being disciplined for absence.

You're not wrong there Emmzzi . We get a production bonus!!! on top of our hourly rate (£1 less than NMW). When doing monthly appraisals (which are never face to face despite promises that that would happen at least once every 3 months) supervisors can raise or lower your bonus on things such as reliability attitude etc. But one thing I do know is that you cannot be cut to such an extent that you fall below NMW. And me and another colleague had to bring this up with the wages department around September-October last year. The clerk only went back six weeks (some weeks were just about ok in that period but that would have been due to the production output. I mislaid all my payslips when moving home earlier last year. But still believe there where many other times when I fell below NMW. Sometimes I am still tempted to give HMRC a call. Emmzzi they know very well they can just lift the phone and call the recruitment agency and get any number of workers (mostly migrant) so don't give a hoot.

I think the nurse should be in this thursday so I will ask to see her and ask about it