To Think the Tories Are STILL At War With The Disabled?

[JoffreyBaratheon]

As parent of a disabled child, this is what I'm preoccupied with, during a General Election...

Under Cameron and Osborne, and iDS - it was clear the tories were engaging in an all out war on the disabled. Cuts to benefits, and services and of course, the loathed and disgusting PIP replacing DLA...

But what has strong and stable (well, weak an unstable) Theresa May done to reverse the damage? Nothing, so far as I can see.

My son had DLA for life and by some miracle, managed to get PIP but will now have to re-apply in five years. If the tories have the cure for autism and it is going to be made available in 5 years - fair enough. But something tells me - they haven't. We were put through months of hell for that.

Other disabled people and their carers have far worse stories.

Now I might be stupid but I can't see what May has done to address the callous culture of PIP. She is still attacking the disabled. Or am I missing something and AIBU?

I think this should be enough to lose them the election. The fact they have attacked disabled people to the extent they have. Am I the only one not to be hoodwinked by this 'I'm only a vicar's daughter' BS? What she has done to the disabled is the least 'christian' thing I can think of and I want her held to account for it. Anyone else?

Oh and if you work for ATOS, CAPITA, etc.. how the fuck do you sleep at night? Seriously. I'm curious.

I think it depends on how well insulated their crypts are

It's disgusting Joffrey. My DS got the 'ongoing' award for PIP but even that will get reassessed in 10 years. It's nonsensical that there isn't a permanent award for a permanent disability. DS is never going to be cured of his autism and will never live independently or get a job. It should be enough to submit his diagnosis and get it rubber stamped, it is blindingly obvious from his diagnosis how disabled he is and will always be. I really worry for the future when I am dead and I won't be there to fill out his PIP forms. I can see him at home with no money just wasting away and starving to death like so many who have had their benefits removed and no one to support them.

When DP had his PIP assessment the assessor said he was going to recommend that he shouldn't be see again as DP was never going to get better. The assessor meant well but DP was very quiet for a few days after that comment.

These are people doing their jobs, trying to work out how the information they are getting from the person in front of them fits with the guidelines they are given. It doesn't sound as if the guidelines are always appropriate for the condition of the claimant, but that is not the fault of the assessor. I'm sure that mistakes get made and that can be devastating; but which of us can honestly say we've never made a mistake or misunderstood something? Do you really think that most people apply for assessor jobs just to be nasty?

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/pip-review-ignores-evidence-of-dishonesty-among-atos-and-capita-assessors/

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/nursing-regulator-finally-clarifies-stats-on-benefit-assessment-complaints/

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/election-forces-mps-to-abandon-pip-inquiry-but-evidence-backs-up-dishonesty-claims/

I don't blame the assessors really. This is an advert for a PIP assessor in London - for a band 5 mental health nurse which would get up to about £33k on the NHS. The pay for the PIP assessor job is £41k with private medical insurance and only working Monday to Friday with no evenings. You only need 2 years experience too. I can see it would suit someone with children who can't manage shifts and need a higher salary.

I'm sure that mistakes get made and that can be devastating; but which of us can honestly say we've never made a mistake or misunderstood something

Making a mistake is one thing. Repeating several mistakes is not. Stating that an amputee has no mobility problems is not making a mistake, that's being as thick as pigshit scoring them 0 in that area is something that anyone with an ounce of integrity is able to avoid. Especially when their assessments heavily influence what conclusion the DWP decision makers come to.

It's still ultimately a crap system though - they've got badly qualified people doing assessments and all these things are evidence of that.

I definitely blame the assesor that I saw when I started claiming esa.

I live literally five doors away from dds school. I told her that clearly.

She wrote that I walked twenty minutes every morning there twenty minutes back then the same in the afternoon. So I was obviously fine.

That's not just doing your job. That's cruel.

Here is an example of a mistake which took my mum 2 years to sort. 2 years with no money over a mistake that should have been easily rectified. If she didn't have family she would have starved. I wanted her to go to the press with this but she didn't want people knowing her business.

Mum was in hospital having an operation but complications occurred, during which she received a esa renewal form asking her to attend a medical and fill in the lengthy form.
I filled it in as best as I could stating she was in hospital and would be for some time.

2 weeks later a letter comes stating after her medical assessment she was found fit for work, she was still in hospital at this point and obviously had no medical.
Here is where you think a letter explaining she hasn't had a medical would resolve this, but it didn't.
We appealed and they kept sending their decision letters using the medical as why she was fit for work so they weren't reading our letters saying she never had been to a medical in bold.

It had to go to a tribunal and I attended with my mother and they wouldn't let her state at the very beginning they kept referring to her medical she attended but she was in hospital .
She had to answer all their questions and the bit at the end I made it clear I want it recorded in writing she had never attended a medical which they had based their decision on and it had taken 2 years of no money and going to a tribunal to rectify their mistake.

The judge wasn't happy that I wanted that in writing and I knew then that they knew ATOS and the DWP had fucked up massively but he didn't want to record the fact but I was insistent.

She won her case but can you believe that it took going to a tribunal 2 years later over a medical she supposedly had when she was in hospital?

If someone in that situation had no family how would they have coped?

SillySausage123 sadly yes.

They didn't believe me when I told them I cant 'just put my mum on the phone' to confirm she was indeed in ITU and in a medically induced coma. They weren't best pleased with my retort that I'd happily pay their train fare so they could come and see for themselves. Idiots.

Thankfully got her consultant to do a letter there and then. Something along the lines of yes Mother Pixies is in Intensive care and No Miss Pixies isn't lying. Who knew?

Hope its all sorted with your Mum now

Oh I meant to add. We only came across hers by pure chance. Happened to be checking on her home and came across a mountain of post. The ESA one was at the top.

*Oh and if you work for ATOS, CAPITA, etc.. how the fuck do you sleep at night? Seriously. I'm curious.

I think it depends on how well insulated their crypts are*

Hah! Just, you made me LOL.

Husband is meeting one of these lovelies, soon, for his assessment. Letter came through at the end of last week, inviting him to attend in a couple of weeks. Not only is that not much notice, but it happens to be the day of his uncle's funeral, 200 miles away. He is having to drive his dad and sister down. His dad has dementia so wouldn't be able to go to his own twin brother's funeral if ATOS had their way.

Husband rang up to change it and they did - reluctantly and rudely. Apparently the woman was incredibly arsy on the phone (despite him just mentioning the reason, ie: a close relative's funeral).

They have the people skills of something dug up from a crypt that's for sure. (And would probably pass something dug up from a crypt as fit for work, too).

I think all assessments should be filmed and transcribed and recorded - the incidences of outright lies by the assessors would fall significantly. Husband didn't know he could have asked for it to be recorded and it's too late now as they won't re-schedule a second time. So I am going to go and take notes. In case anything he says is misrepresented.

Do you really think that most people apply for assessor jobs just to be nasty?

Well, given the reps of ATOS, CAPITA, and the DWP I have to say... yes.

Joffrey take as much paper evidence with you as can and also please will you take a look at this website incase their is anything that can help you there

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Good Luck

"I will save you from being skint by borrowing more money, which is what made you skint in the first place.

Then I will hand financial control to someone else for a bit and we will conspire to pretend the negative consequences are everyone else's fault.

Rinse, repeat."

Cheers, Just. They already have the printed out evidence - we sent it with the original forms. I will take and look at that and thanks! This time we didn't trust them to contact the dr as they didn't last time then said WE had no evidence!) So before husband did the original form, wegot his audiologist and GP to write something.

We are holding out no hope but are going to apply anyway because it is his right. Or that's how I see it.

Please appeal, anyone struggling with the DWP / Atos. They are better qualified, a judge, doctor, panel who look at it in detail. In terms of my MP helping, they don't get involved in the medical side but simply helped to speed things up when DWP 'lost' my appeal papers. Which was helpful. HTH

if there is a no more money in the pot, but seemingly there was enough to cut the highest rate tax and not closing the loop holes that large companies can take advantage

Fucking starbucks in fact paid less tax then my dad paid in 2012 even though there earned over 1 billion profit from the UK branch paid less then 15K tax that year...... as they gerryrig the figures claiming they were making a loss

I blame my assessor. He has blatantly and horrifically lied through my entire report. He lied to my face with a witness present. He is the sole reason I am in pain today because I'm so hungry my stomach hurts.

Dawn MP said he can't do anything as Parliament is currently dissolved

fudge don't vote for him, he's a lying arse. What he means is he's too busy on the campaign trail. He should still be working for you and is able to do so.

I do wish people would get there facts correct
You can most certainly put down a deposit on motobility to get a higher spec car
I know this to be the case as I have paid the deposit twice once in May last year and once in March this year for family members who have upgraded to a better car more suitable for their needs
Your just reading daily mail trash and not actually getting the facts . You have always been able to put down a deposit to get a better / higher spec car with motobility
They took certain cars of the scheme but not all of them
my brother in law paid a £2000 deposit for a Volvo X70 or C70 the big SUV type as its better suited for his needs height space and wheelchair

the problem with the assements the companies are PAID TO FAIL people they get a bonus for every single person they fail with higher amount for reaching targets.

Its so blainted with something like 90% of appeals succeding...

Forgot to add
Im quite happy and glad to be in a position to help my family out with some money in order for their lives to be more comfortable

If that means a better standard mobility car then so be it .
The law & mobility clearly hasn't got a problem with people paying for a better car
with regards to motobility

It seem that some people feel that disabled people should have nothing but the minimum
But until the law changes those people can fuck off