Even more bad news for people on ESA

[onestressedwoman]

I would have thought that an opthamologist would be the professional to outline your needs in this instance - but alot of us have many conditions that stem from one only making our lives more difficult and as you rightly say go's are the only ones who have medical history to be able to consider all facts

[frank_begbie]

What we've had for years, is a drip, drip effect of stories in the media of Benefit Cheats, and nothing about the people that are suffering in silence.

 

They've brainwashed the majority of the public into thinking that anyone on benefits is a scrounger.

 

So when announcements like this are made, the masses aren't outraged as they should be.

 

Obviously I'm not saying there are no cheats, but people on benefits are an easy target.

 

I'm afraid the future looks very frightening.

[onestressedwoman]

Not really because statics have proven that It's mainly the 'chattering classes' that bother to vote. Many poor and disabled feel so depressed and powerless that they don't bother. It's getting them to do otherwise is the problem, and that apathy is what the government is banking on.

Postal vote forms should go out with all DLA/council tax letters then everyone would fill it in lol x but things are so bad now that I bet alot of people who did not have energy to vote will on this occasion muster up some as they are fed up with being downtrodden said with my fingerscrossed

[sadone]

They've brainwashed the majority of the public into thinking that anyone on benefits is a scrounger.

 

So when announcements like this are made, the masses aren't outraged as they should be.

 

Exactly, and the longer this brainwashing is allowed to go on the harder It's going to be to reverse such ignorant attitudes.

[Nystagmite]

What we've had for years, is a drip, drip effect of stories in the media of Benefit Cheats, and nothing about the people that are suffering in silence.

 

They've brainwashed the majority of the public into thinking that anyone on benefits is a scrounger.

 

So when announcements like this are made, the masses aren't outraged as they should be.

 

Obviously I'm not saying there are no cheats, but people on benefits are an easy target.

 

I'm afraid the future looks very frightening.

 

Agreed. It also seems that if the child is disabled, parents claim benefits for said child, etc. it's "oh dear, poor child". Once that child reaches adulthood it's "scrounger".

[onestressedwoman]

Where children/young adults are concerned there should be NO question eitherway if you have a child that is ill or disabled (no matter what age as they are always children to us) we are their carers no matter what age

[onestressedwoman]

There did in this statement appear to be undertones that this might just be an excuse to kick atos out relabel them then try and get public to view them as a different entity whilst still being deployed as whipping sticks

[frank_begbie]

Agreed. It also seems that if the child is disabled, parents claim benefits for said child, etc. it's "oh dear, poor child". Once that child reaches adulthood it's "scrounger".

I've never thought about it like that. Good observation.

 

Funny how we never hear about MPs salaries or their gold plated pensions being cut.

[sadone]

Oh thats just the half of it. Have you ever wondered how it is that the Daily Mail & Express (other brands of toilet paper available) seem so intent on victimising sick and disabled people? Ever wondered how it is, that monthly benefit fraud rates, released by the DWP are always written up in such an inflammatory way? Why national media only ever print the government lines. Chris Grayling, minister for employment, says he is "bemused" by it.

 

Well read this. Makes very interesting reading...

 

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2011/11/know-your-enemy.html

[45002]

"Independent" assessment service.

 

That means no one has any influence over its decisions:roll:

 

Yeah, right!

 

Independent assessment service is already hear,it's just called ATOSH.

[Nystagmite]

Exactly, and the longer this brainwashing is allowed to go on the harder It's going to be to reverse such ignorant attitudes.

 

It's even worse when it comes from other disabled people / carers of disabled people.

[taxii]

This terrifies me. Im considered the lowest of the low as I damaged the base of my spine about 15 years ago and the doctor signed me off work as I was doing a heavy manual labour job. The company I worked for dispensed with my services as I was no longer able to fulfil my duties. So I took what savings I had and studied to become a private hire driver as I thought this would enable me to still work. The doctor put me on morphine to ease the pain and this helped but even with the drugs I was in constant pain but as an ex rugby player I was lucky to have developed a high pain threshold so was able to carry on working. After about 8 years of constant pain they decided to give me an MRI which showed the lumps on the lower disc were close to the nerves but not exactly hitting them so they decided not to operate although I was informed by a friend in the hospital that if I could afford to go private I would get the operation. This MRI has been used to rate the damage to the back even though the G.P has stated that the damage would have deteriorated so I have now got to take silly doses of morphine and gabapentine to help up my pain threshold even further to help me deal with the pain better. I do feel the consultants have their own part to play in this as the last one I saw at the pain management clinic treated me like a complete fake and her only advice was to just move within the pain and at that time I wasnt looking to go on benefits, I just wanted some help to help me keep on working. The back has since got progressively worse and I now find myself unable to even work as a cabby anymore as the getting in and out of the car was getting too much and I couldnt spend 12 hours a day behind the wheel anymore. I went to the first atos exam and passed with limited capabilty to work so went to the work based interviews but was lucky to have an ex nurse who told me the jobs I was looking for wouldnt suit my condition. his department was closed and he is now redundant and is looking for work himself. I have just had another atos exam and have now failed and am in the middle of the appeal. I really dont know what I will do if it fails as I cant even stand long enough to sign on. I would happily give everything I owned without a second thought to just have my health back and get back to work but the doctors tell me the damage is too advanced an theres nothing they can do. As more the supposed help in finding jobs we can do. the extent of that help is to send you a letter telling you you dont have enough points and their stopping your money. Not really much help in my book. If they could find me a job I could do I would happily start tomorrow. As things are on my good days when I have mobility I attend college for 3 hours to try and retrain in the field of I,T and tech support and again when the pain allows i teach basic computer skills to mature students on a volunteer basis jus to try and help out and keep my mind as active as I can. I understand that some people will prob never work again as their injuries are too severe but if the medical proffesion had helped me when they had the chance I wouldnt be in this position which is what really upsets me. If I had enough things to sell to pay to go private I wouldnt hesitate and im classed as a scrounger. Sorry for the long winded rant but needed to get it off my chest. Thanks for your patience

[sadone]

I'm so dreadfully sorry to hear your story. Those sods in parliament just don't know how hard it is for folks in the real world whole didn't choose to become ill to survive.

[taxii]

It's so soul destroying. Im watching my life erode in front of my eyes. All the things I used to be able to do and Im just losing the ability bit by bit. They don't realise the psyclogical damage it does as well. Iv'e lost count of the amount of times I've looked at the pills I take and think of just finishing it. I was lucky and had a really good life. I wasn't rich but I worked hard and played lots of sports and even rode motorcycles. I try lot to look at the future as Im not sure Im strong enough to not just end it when I think of the rest of the years I have and the worse it's going to get. Im in my early 40s and really not sure if I can spend the rest of my life like this. The dose of painkillers I take would knock an elephant out and I've even reserched if I could just take the lot and not wake up but Im even too chicken to do that. When you hear sweeping statements from the media it just makes you feel lower than you already are. The P.R programs where they send the odd m.p out to see what it's like trying to cope like this don't work because they know they can go back to their comfortable lives after a few days so they don't know the hopelesness of knowing you have the rest of your life to live like this.

[45002]

"Tough on sickness and tough on the causes of sickness"

 

Wonder who they'll have doing this then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15801515

 

The report authors estimate the changes could save taxpayers at least £350m each year.

 

Could someone please remind me how much the Bankers and Banks have cost the taxpayers over the past few years....

[maestro451]

Im afraid to say its an astute move from the DWP, they realise that basically theres little chance of getting someone off sickness benefit if there GP supports them.

[onestressedwoman]

It's so soul destroying. Im watching my life erode in front of my eyes. All the things I used to be able to do and Im just losing the ability bit by bit. They don't realise the psyclogical damage it does as well. Iv'e lost count of the amount of times I've looked at the pills I take and think of just finishing it. I was lucky and had a really good life. I wasn't rich but I worked hard and played lots of sports and even rode motorcycles. I try lot to look at the future as Im not sure Im strong enough to not just end it when I think of the rest of the years I have and the worse it's going to get. Im in my early 40s and really not sure if I can spend the rest of my life like this. The dose of painkillers I take would knock an elephant out and I've even reserched if I could just take the lot and not wake up but Im even too chicken to do that. When you hear sweeping statements from the media it just makes you feel lower than you already are. The P.R programs where they send the odd m.p out to see what it's like trying to cope like this don't work because they know they can go back to their comfortable lives after a few days so they don't know the hopelesness of knowing you have the rest of your life to live like this.

 

Hey Chin up

 

Sending Loads A Love your way FEEL THE LOVE

[onestressedwoman]

Im afraid to say its an astute move from the DWP, they realise that basically theres little chance of getting someone off sickness benefit if there GP supports them.

 

This is exactly what I meant "GMC has to jump in here somehow/somewhere"

[sadone]

Oh they'll just wag their tales and agree with it all, like they did when some tried to ask for help about ATOS's 'medical' assessments.

[gazmix]

Its true what is said here that DWP seem to realise that if a gp supports you, its hard to get someone off ESA, so instead of trusting a gp thats known you years, they put it in front of someone who has never met you or knows your medical history & its all about targets & ticking boxes instead of the real person.

 

Is this something that can be challenged individually?

 

i'm currently filling my 'change from Income support to ESA' form & have my letter from my gp saying how my mental illness severely inhibits me from doing certain things daily.... I'm wondering if in the back of the for i should asked to be reviewed as a human being, that we are all different & not a number or a target or box to fill in, but i assume that would be a bad move.?.

[onestressedwoman]

I spoke to CAB after filling in and returning my form - Point to note : don't fill in forms by yourself When I had my review they told me after reading what they had written they told me not to sign it if I disagreed with anything - She asked me to sign a form confirming my ID docs the minute she came in and never gave me oppertunity to read what she had written and never asked for my signature again:?::?::?::?:

[maestro451]

On further reflection I feel that aslong as you are still entitled to an independent tribunal hearing you have a decent shot at getting esa long term although it will be stressfull.

 

I kind of think of it differently now, each year I have one farcical medical which will no doubt score me 0 points and then a true fair medical at the tribunal center, usually they are quite fair people.

[gazmix]

How can an ATOS stranger, decide whether you are ok for work in a 30 min tick box interview. As opposed to my GP who has known me 15 years plus!

 

If they don't trust GP's to do there jobs, then how can GP's be employed to do anything?

[taxii]

I spoke to CAB after filling in and returning my form - Point to note : don't fill in forms by yourself When I had my review they told me after reading what they had written they told me not to sign it if I disagreed with anything - She asked me to sign a form confirming my ID docs the minute she came in and never gave me oppertunity to read what she had written and never asked for my signature again:?::?::?::?:

 

I signed the I.D form but was given that by the receptionist and wasn't asked to sign anything the by the examiner. I wrote a 5 page letter outlining the reasons I disagreed with her report as I have the list of all the points they award and what they award them for(anyone who wants a copy just P.M me with your email and I will send you copies). She said she was a physiotherapist but didn't act anything like the one I go to. As Iv'e stated before on this thread they act like we don't want to work. They couldn't be more wrong. Most of us would give anything to be able to get back to how we used to be. I was watching the usual Panorama rubbish about benefit cheats and they showed a snooper from the DWP waiting outside some chaps home who was on ESA and she waited there all day and he never came out and I was watching this with a friend of mine and she assumed the guy wasn't there or was just lazing about his flat until I told her the guy could be laid up there in agony unable to move and not to assume just because he's being investigated doesn't mean he's guilty. But her initial reaction showed me what most people must think when they see these programs. I have good and bad days. On good days I can go out but on bad days Im stuck in bed unable to move without severe pain and that's with taking morphine for the pain so when people don't see me out it's not because Im just lazing about it's usually because I can't bloody move.

I've got yet another appointment with the so called pain clinic soon and the last time I went there was a couple of years ago while I was still able to work. but as the pain was getting more and more severe and I was worried about not being able to work anymore I all but begged the so called specialist to help me control the pain enough so I could at least still work but all I got from her was there was nothing anyone could do and to just work and move within the pain. So thats all I could do and as was bound to happen I could no longer work as the pain was too bad. Iv'e got to see the same so called specialist again and will probably get the same response. People don't realise it's not just work we can't do. It's also not being able to do all the things other people take for granted. I wander if anyone from the DWP or the job centre take any time to read these threads and are too embaressed to respond to the awful stories on here or are they the thoughtless machines they come across as. Surely they are people just like us who must feel for the people who are in a lot worse position than them and as any of us would want to try and help as much as possible or has the system ground them down to a point where they just don't care anymore. My examination with ATOS was on a Sun and I apologised to the examiner for her having to work on a weekend and all she said was she wanted the overtime. Thats all we meant to her. Just a bit of overtime. It's enough to make you weep.

Edited November 20, 2011 by taxii

[sj01]

So, we fail our ATOS medical and have a years wait to go to tribunal.

We need to send sick notes for the whole time we are waiting.

We are not going to get sick notes any more from our G.P.

How will this work?