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Universal Credit (UI) ound & PIP?any advice.

Posted , 9 users are following.

caitlin39841
caitlin39841

Hi Everybody.

wonder if anybody had a similar experience to me and what they did about it?

I've had long standing ME/CFS/Fibro and a whole lot of complications  secondary to same. I'm house bound for long periods and times when I can make it outdoors  but v. exhausted & in pain.  I had a ''Universal Credit'' assessment & to make a long stormy short, they have taken almost all my benefits off me. I was on enhanced level DLA. I'm left with circa £78 a week to live on and am on an  expensive Protocol that means that I'm not house bound all the time.  on the amount allocated, I can hardly live on it and the protocol will have to be dropped. It's what keeps me moving about and not bedbound. 

The report from the assessment didn't remotely resemble what transpired at the actual  assessment. I was on my own. any comments welcome.

with thanks in advance

Caitlin.

p.s. the stress of the assessment has left me totaly washed our, weak and with new symptoms.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • dawn94288
    dawn94288 caitlin39841

    Posted

    So sorry to hear that.  What a mess.  I wish I had something helpful to offer.
  • Beverley_01
    Beverley_01 caitlin39841

    Posted

    Hi Caitlin,

    As hard as it is to muster the energy, you have to appeal to revoke the decision. I know someone with cfs/me and fibro who is in the same position as you and had their benefits reduced like this.

    I hope you have support to help you with the appeals process. The CAB can help and the me association have a booklet about applying for benefits and I believe there's a section on appeals?

    Hope that helps

    Beverley

  • sally_14743
    sally_14743 caitlin39841

    Posted

    Hi 

    we are in the same situation.the assessment near enough stated that everything my husband said about his m.e wasn't true . Zero points . So we asked for it to be initially re looked at ..came back same decision . Then we asked to go to independent tribunal for appeal. Our local council has a welfare rights dept so we asked them to help us a lovely gentleman came to the house and has done all the paper work and told us whether we have a chance of winning ..

    went through this appeal process and we were awarded p.i.p . Three years ago 

    So here we are again ..appealing very stressful but it has to be done the appeal tribunal is fair unlike the atoms assessment . 

    Hang in there 

    • susan556
      susan556 sally_14743

      Posted

      Sally again i read words like what you quoted   "we are in the same situation.the assessment near enough stated that everything my husband said about his m.e wasn't true "

      And they say the in the assessers they dont lie!  Theres a petition been started up to ask for cameras to be in the room to capture all that was said during these assesments, dare i put the link on hear! How can anyone with M.E. end up with zero points!  I thought it was supposed to be based on how your illness affects you?   And everyone knows how this illness can affect one, i do.

      Presume then you got the PIP  just for three years and you have to go through the whole proccess again.

      Sue 

    • sally_14743
      sally_14743 susan556

      Posted

      Yes through the process again ... and my husband finds it very very stressful . but the tribunal really chat to you and explain what you are entitled to and if you aren't why not .. the assessment just don't take into account can you do this repeatedly reliably and safely they think you can walk into my office ok soyou can always walk ok ... you are smiling so your happy and not in pain ... even though you say you are .. horrible system .. but thank goodness for an appeal tribunal .. hope your council has a welfare officer as it takes the stress out of it ..we are in Cornwall...

    • Beverley_01
      Beverley_01 susan556

      Posted

      Hi Sue,

      You can ask for the ESA assessments to be recorded.

      Best wishes

      Beverley

  • susan556
    susan556 caitlin39841

    Posted

    Caitlin im both sorry and angry to have read this, i to have M.E. and am exspecting the horrible brown letter any day to change over to PIP, i do wonder if its worth it, they clearly arnt taking on board how your illness affects you to have taken away your benefits like this. 

    Why isnt something being done about these acessers!  No wonder your feeling washed out and with new symptoms, so cruel, thats what it is.

    Sue 

    • Missworld1957
      Missworld1957 susan556

      Posted

      Me too Susan am waiting for switch over. Def worth joining above mentioned groups
    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 susan556

      Posted

      Hi Susan, Sally, Beverly, et al.  thank you for response. apologies for terrible heading.  i did it through blinding tears & desperation. i'm sure most ppl. can resoane with this. 

      i've just phoned them and asked for an appeal. the Operative said that he would get a case Manger to look into my case and  call me back.

      i'm wondering, if anyone has had this experience and can give some advice i.e. a case manager calling back.

      also, if anyone has had the experience of 

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841

      Posted

      p.s.  my computer just sent that unfinished e-mail.  the last part of my message was an inquiry :i.e. that if anyone had feedback from UC that did not, in the least, tally with the actual consultation with the accessor & if so what were they able to do about it?

      with thanks

      C.

       

  • Missworld1957
    Missworld1957 caitlin39841

    Posted

    Great fpbage ME and chronic illness benefits group. Loads of advice. Apply for MR. also benefits and work worth joining. Mound of info.
  • Anthony_._bee
    Anthony_._bee caitlin39841

    Posted

    I am also sorry to read the above, i am now more aware of this condition as my own daughter has at last been diagnosed with the same after many years of my wife and I trying to get doctors to send her to a specialist. So i suspect my daughter will be going through the same stressful procedure. The truth is, PIP and such like makes the health issue worse, there is no understanding no compassion, its no wonder the country is getting down...
    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 Anthony_._bee

      Posted

      Thank you Anthony.  so sorry to hear your daughter has the dreaded condition. hopefully she'll be geared up for the 'tansition' when it comes to her area.   sadly, it seems that those people who are hyper conscientious & responsible tend to get this awful condition. so in a way we are doubly penalised.

      Having listened to Radio 4 & LBC's commentary on Universal Credits, it's clear, that it's designed solely to cut Benefits.  sadly it's the most vulnerable & least able to stand up for themselves that take  the hit.

      hope your daughter gets the support she needs  with the transition when it comes your way.  

      all good luck

      C  

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