At my wits end with the dwp.
Posted , 6 users are following.
can anybody help me as i dont know which way to turn. i had been waiting 14 months for an ESA assesment to be put into a group. i have arthritus and need a new knee which they wont do yet because im only 46. ive had one operation but its just deteriorating. i cant walk more than 150m and thats with a crutch. i had to give up my job which i loved because of this. i failed my assessment and i was fuming as they had blatantly lied and missed out vital info. i did what i had to do for a mandatory reconsideration but they wouldnt change their mind so ive had to appeal. then only last week i was failed my PIP medical and the same reason again lies and missed info. ive lost 500 pounds a month and my husband isnt on a great wage. we were just about keeping ourselves afloat before i lost PIP. after we pay the mortgage and other bills theres no money for food. how can they say im fit for work when i cant even walk to the bus stop to get to the job centre. im now back on anti depressants and having panic attacks and hardly any sleep because of the stress. sorry to ramble but im at the end of my tether.
0 likes, 56 replies
mike09523 choochie70
Posted
I feel that an explanation may be due on my particular slant on life.
I have only been disabled since August 16th 2011. I was decorating a clients house, I was on the top rung of my stepladder when suddenly the right half of the ladder fell through the floor. Unbeknown to me that part of the floorboards had worm in them. As I fell to my right my right side of my head slammed into the wall pushing my head and neck to the left. It took 18 months of x rays(2), mri(5), and ct scan(1), followed by electric shock/needle tests before it became clear that I had serious spinal cord/spinal canal problems. During that time I lost my business, my credit rating and my mind. It was only thanks to a strong minded wife that I turned that corner.
In that time I had an enormous struggle with DWP and DLA. Atos decided there was nothing wrong with me, I must admit that to look at me you would think that I was okay., and they suggested that if I really was in serious pain to see my g.p. anyway Atos told me that I was capable of getting a job lifting an empty cardboard box.I appealed and was rejected outright by the Tribunal. In all that time I told the truth, I presented myself as and when requested and filled out all forms honestly.
I lost my esa but luckily I was able to get Pension Credit and eventually middle care and higher mobility dla.
The one thing I learned from this experience is very few people who work in the system that controls our lives on benefits could not care less about us, we are meaningless, pointless and a drain on the system they are trying to run.
les59996 mike09523
Posted
I started claiming benefits following an industrial accident back in Dec 1994.
I have to admit that the DWP truly f*******ed up my life big time over the years. But as you say it is just the system and nobody working for the DWP actually gives a damn.
I'm still fighting for money that they owe me (over £20,000) but getting nowhere.
The only thing holding it up (according to the DWP) is that I didn't send an appeal in in time - I was ill, in hospital and recovering at home. I never received the decison notice, although the DWP say that they sent it but can't produce a copy. They just have a note on a file cover that it was issued. That is sufficient in law that proves that I must have had it and ignored it.
I have had countless re-assessments over the last 21 years. Always face to face (ESE, DLA & IIDB) most failed and I appealed and got them awarded eventually when the DWP saw sense.
The last straw is that they have taken away my DLA (High Mobility & Mid Care) because they say that I didn't follow the rules when transferring over to PIP at the end of last year. At 67 I can't reclaim DLA or PIP - too old.
choochie70 les59996
Posted
susan556 choochie70
Posted
Sue
les59996 choochie70
Posted
I saw an article today in the paper relating to women having to wait years for their State Pension despite what was promised to them by earlier governments.
They are told not to worry and should be claiming ESA or JSA if they are short of a few bob whilst waiting for their State Pension.
Losing my DLA has cost me over £250 a week - am I supposed to sign on at 67 to get a top up?
pollmadoll64 choochie70
Posted
les59996 pollmadoll64
Posted
Nothing will ever change, it can only get worse.
Which brings me to another point - the government have frozen benefits for the next 4 years (until 2020) at the level they were in 2015. Now if that isn't another cut....
susan556 pollmadoll64
Posted
Sue
les59996 susan556
Posted
IDS is now looking to curtail ESA in so much that he wants to assess what you can do not what you can't, That's a great piece of social engineering. Can you walk, can you think, can you talk - good - you should be working doing something, maybe picking spouts in the winter and fruit in the summer.
anthony97723 les59996
Posted
I remember back in the late 80's early 90's when the Nasty Party was at its height the idea was if you couldn't walk, talk or even think you could get a job as a model for art classes as that didn't require any of the above. The fact that no jobs existed was irrelevant as you would be classed as an unemployed art class model and expected to spend 30 hours a week seeking work.