This isn’t fair, this is fucking evil.

[MrsWrex]

My wife has had her pip reassessment reduced because of one point.

Her condition hasn’t changed one bit, we have letters from various professionals stating this. Some assessor that knows jack about her condition has stated she has no problems with communication at all because she ‘sounded intelligent’ (yes, that is written in the reply letter, apparently you can’t have autism if you sound intelligent)

You can’t even get a diagnosis of autism without some glaring problems with communication.

Sorry, just needed to vent. Can’t do it at home as dw is stressed enough as it is. I’ve been trying to get her to stop adding up how much this is going to affect us. Dd has been diagnosed with autism too, I just feel terrified for them both in the future.

I’ve called up for a mandatory reconsideration, I am fairly certain we’ve got enough evidence to win a tribunal. This system just seems to be designed to stress us as much as possible, it’s wrong.

Who forces the alcohol down an alcoholic's throat then? Their GP? Their children? No. It's self inflicted because it's done by them

Ah, yes,...they enjoy being alcoholic don't they?!

An alcoholic has to drink to function and feel 'normal' They are addicted!! No one who becomes an addict, either drugs or alcohol, set out to become one. No one thinks it will happen to them. By the time they are addicted it's too late.
You lack understanding of addiction...that is apparent.

Competitive misery olympics is quite unbecoming.

No one thinks it will happen to them

I can assure you it won't happen to me. I choose not to drink alcohol or take drugs. It's always a choice.

Gottagetmoving... Addiction is not an illness??? It depends how you view it. Im addicted to healthy eating and healthy living. I go swimming and running EVERY day and YES I am addicted to this but can anyone help ME? No... because what I am doing is GOOD for me so that is NOT an illness, although I am ADDICTED to it!! Even though its the anxiety I am feeling that makes me do this, (because it is better than picking up a bottle or popping a pill.. which is MY choice)!!

My son is not ADDICTED to Crohns Disease, he got it and did NOT ask for it. My life is not great and I could go to the doctor tomorrow and claim I have mental health issues, hit the drink and maybe pop a few pills and you can bet your life that in a few weeks I would probably qualify for PIP because I could quite easily lie my way through the procedure in order to get it and that is why I think the system does not work. The alcoholics I know brazenly brag about the amount of PIP they get per month (usually when they are fuckin pissed) and the couple of drug addicts I know who also brag about their PIP, also get benefits and food from the food banks across the street from where I live (and this is probably the same all over the UK)... then there are the people with illnesses who were refused it.

I would like to hear the opinions from people who could have been in the back of the ambulance with me at 3am in the morning when I thought my son was dying and the Paramedics thought his appendix had burst and he could have died if we did not get him to the hospital on time...(where were the fucking alcoholics and junkies at that time, probably out there faces or in some other planet...paid for by their PIP money!!!)...

Makes me mad!!!

SunnyskiesSleepsinthemorning,

If you have nothing to contribute to this post that is of any interest or any assistance to anyone on here why bother writing at all?? Olympics???... This is obviously over your head so go away!!....

Well, I am not addicted to healthy living - chance would be a fine thing! I wish I could go swimming and running, I wish I could walk. I remember when I used to tramp through the streets of London, never thinking that one day I not be able to. I miss that so much it sometimes makes me weep. I loved walking, middle of the night, coming out of a club somewhere in North London with no idea of which direction was home but just walking, finding a bus stop and working out which direction to go until I started to recognise some building or skyline......

But addiction is addiction is addiction. The amount of support you need to stop and stay stopped cannot be underestimated, must not be underestimated.

Ewan, I do understand your pov, but I simply don’t agree with it and nor do many, many, many HCPs, which is why there are services for addicts within the NHS, inadequate though they are at present.

I am so sorry about your son, I really am. I have know, and do know, people with Crohns and it’s awful awful awful.

That doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t appeal and that’s almost certainly why your son didn’t get PIP. The difference berween him not getting PIP and an addict succeeding is that one appealed and one didn’t. It is exhausting and upsetting filling in t,he forms, and heaven knows it’s hard enough for you and your son to do that and then go through the indignity of the assessment, but you have to keep on pushing.

The addicts have support workers who do the pushing for them, and that’s another area of unfairness I suppose. If more mOney were given to the NHS then you have better support, and if SS got more money they would be able to support your son too.

One day, Ewan, one day......

Jux.. Thank you for your comment and with all due respect that is what makes my blood boil. The one who appealed and got was probably the person who didnt need or deserve it as much as my son and the one who didnt appeal was my son who was told in so many words that if he did appeal he would probably STILL not qualify because you know why?? Because he CAN tie his own shoe laces and he CAN wash, dry and put on his own clothes independently .. You show me an alcoholic who cant do this and still manage to get to the Off Sales (no matter what state they are in) or drug addict who cant get to the chemist for their "meth" or to their "dealer". They could probably do more than my son could when he was at his most painful stuck in a hospital bed, having to give up his college course and loosing out on all of his funding, not to mention his education and through no fault of his own!!... These people got when he did not. Read this back,,, tell me (especially if this was a member of YOUR family).... would you think this fair???

ewen who told your son appealing g was pointless? It's never pointless to try and appeal decisions are independent of the dwp so tend to be much fairer.

My son, when he telephoned looking for advice on HOW to appeal, was told that because he went for a Face to Face interview and someone actually SAW him, it was "highly unlikey that he would win any appeal"....(Pointless is a word that I used, not them, but boils down to the same thing)...

So no, appealing does not always work either. Incidentally, I have worked all my life since the age of 16. I am 51 now and have always had a full-time job. I have paid my taxes all my life. I encourage my son to do the best he can and work for what he wants. I would never encourage him to live on benefits when he could get a job if he looked hard enough. (I do realise that PIP is not a benefit). Some jobs will not be suitable for him now because of this condition. Why shouldn't he be entitled to PIP. He has lost out through no fault of his own. This isn't just about money its also a point of principle...

ewan1234

You should appeal regardless of what you've been told. Appeal wins for PIP are somewhere around 50/60 per event successful (75% successful in the team I work in)

It's interesting people saying they will never become addicted to things. I've clients who said things like this In the past only to Get hit by a car, fall off a roof, lose a child, be raped then suddenly...alcoholism, drug addiction, prescription drug addiction and suicide. It's arrogant beyond belief to say say things like this will never happen to you.

why?? Because he CAN tie his own shoe laces and he CAN wash, dry and put on his own clothes independently

This would not stop him from getting PIP. I think I said earlier in the thread that DHs cousin has Chrons and currently receives the standard award.

It sounds like it was the job centre staff that told him appealing was pointless. They do this because they want as little people on benefits as possible.

Please reapply and when/if he is turned down again, contact your local citizens advice to help you with the appeal. I am almost certain your son WILL get it. Unfortunately appealing is pretty much the only way to get what you are entitled to. I heard recently that its 90% of appeals being overturned these days, which is fucking ridiculous really. So many people being forced to appeal and wait years, for what they were entitled to all along. And all because the government do not give a shit about ill people so try to put people off getting what they are entitled to by draconian 'medicals' and giving bonuses to assessors who refuse claims. Luckily at tribunal its people completely independent from the DWP. Which is why so many people are given what they should have been given in the first place once their appeal is heard.

backaftera2yearbreak

Yes, I said I would never be addicted to anything (bar smoking). I am currently addicted to morphine. Had to go on it for pain so its not recreational or anything, but now, if I don't take it even for just a day I get huge withdrawal symptoms. I am told morphine is basically heroin...so the withdrawals are on par with a heroin addict going cold turkey. So I am addicted to opiates, basically. I know this is not 'the same' as being an alcoholic...but its easy to say you will never be an addict...but circumstances can change that easily tbh

I think we've crossed wires. I know it's easy to become an addict. I work in welfare rights. I meet people addicted to things everyday

Who did he phone ewen?

The dwp will tell you that it's unlikely that you'll succeed at appeal but, to be frank, that's bullshit.

My friend has narcolepsy. She's had a face to face for esa (x2), dla (x2) and PIP. She was denied by the dwp each time. She has won every appeal.

There are huge numbers of people who win on appeal despite what the dwp say.

The appeal success rate is around 60%, with a representative it is even higher. If you believe that you fulfil the descriptors you should appeal. Whether you had a face to face assessment does not affect your chances of the appeal going in your favour, the majority of PIP claimants have one and it's very rare that a claim is declined without one.

I'd never deem an alcoholic less deserving than another person, you don't know their circumstances, and disability is not a bloody competition! Addiction can happen to anyone, however holier than thou they claim to be.

Drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes CHOOSE what they want to do and how they want to live.

Drug addicts and alcoholics have as little choice in the matter as I do about breathing. They had a choice about the first few drinks, or pipes of crack, or whatever, but once addicted they have no choice whatsoever. Addiction is every bit as much of an illness as Crohn's or anything else. Stopping can be fatal, which is why addicts are advised NOT to stop unless they do so in a clinical environment.

Sadly, in-patient detox beds are hard to come by and addiction services are being slashed to the bone. Rehab beds in my part of he south-east currently have a waiting list of over 18 months.

And most addicts are either self-medicating because of mental illness that isn't adequately controlled or treated or dealing with profound trauma (and often both).

No-one grows up with the ambition of becoming a junkie.

With Crohn's, it's difficult for people meet the criteria for PIP. It's only the worst cases, where Crohn's has led to anaemia (and consequent fatigue) and osteoporosis, where they can score enough points across enough activities to qualify. And for a lot of people, the pattern of remission/relapse means they don't meet the "majority of the time" criterion.

Crohn's is a dreadful illness, and I'm really sorry your suffers from it, but I've spoken to at least 20-30 clients with Crohn's and, on the basis of what they've told me about how it affects them, I've had to advise them that I don't think they'll get PIP. And I'm very generous with my interpretation of the regs, and will always advise applying if I think the chances of success are greater than about 30%.

The one who appealed and got was probably the person who didnt need or deserve it as much as my son and the one who didnt appeal was my son who was told in so many words that if he did appeal he would probably STILL not qualify because you know why?? Because he CAN tie his own shoe laces and he CAN wash, dry and put on his own clothes independently ..

But that's what PIP measures - can you dress, bathe, cook, manage your money and so on without help. It's hard to see how you could alter the descriptors in a way that would stop addicts meeting the criteria without also ruling out those with learning disabilities or dementia.

Ewen, I am honestly angry that your son hasn’t got PIP. Please do try again - don’t give the bastards what they want, fight them.

We should all be converging on our so-called represntatives screaming blue murder about this.

They want us to cower in our homes feeling helpless.

I think we've crossed wires. I know it's easy to become an addict. I work in welfare rights. I meet people addicted to things everyday

I was agreeing with your post. Welfare rights have been a godsend to me and a few I know. Thanks for all the hard work I know you do. My award was decided before I even got to the tribunal centre apparently..as when I arrived before even seeing the panel I was told my award had been reinstated, and that I only had to go in for the panel to tell me in person, welfare rights had clearly been working behind the scenes. The only question I was actually asked by the panel, was if I had any further treatments in the pipeline as they said a 30 year old should not be spending her time alternating between painkiller hazes and excruciating pain and they hoped it got better for me soon. It hasn't, clearly. Still waiting for physio but have been told its unlikely to be sucessful..but theres a bit of hope

Cant be arsed reading all this shite anymore about how drug addicts didnt set out to be junkies and alcoholics didnt set out to be alcoholics. YES!!! THEY BROUGHT IT ON THEMSELVES!!!

Tell you what...I wont bother getting up every morning to go to work. Instead I'll just head of to the Off License first then go to the local dealer and buy a wee bag of whatever is going to send me into oblivion so I dont have to face reality. (And before any more fucking dogooders come on here with their support for the junkies and alckies of the world and all their suffering, I have suffered trauma and loss in my life too). If I continue to do this for a while, using my trauma and loss as an excuse, then maybe I will eventually be addicted too. And I can do this because this is a CHOICE I have made, this has been totally MY DECISION!!...Because it seems to me right now these "vulnerable" people are getting more help and support over people who DO DESERVE the help and are being passed over for every other fucking junkie and alkie who put THEMSELVES in this position.

I totally get that if someone has trauma or loss in their lives, yeah I can see that getting blitz out your head can take the hurt away for a while but it doesnt need to become a way of life, but then again why not, if it means the state throw money at you for fuck all...

I will NEVER understand this....NEVER!!!

A mother's natural instinct (and no matter what age your children are!!) is to care, look after, protect and do the best for her child/children and that is why I am angry that I know my son has probably been passed over for someone else who has brought their own shite to their own door.

Dont bother to reply to this, I dont really care if dont agree with me. This will be my last post on the matter..

I completely agree with you Ewen. It's beyond.

I think there is a lot if issues with payments due to disability because so many of our population are considered disabled / less well. There isn't enough money to go round.

My DDs entire friendship group are now describing themselves as having hidden illnesses or mental health problems.

Hive, my dd’s too.

When I was a teen we were expected to soldier on regardless, but that was in the 60s/early 70s and the war still wasn’t that far behind.

I could be flamed for this but:
EWAN1234 unfortunately if your son can manage all the daily living descriptors 50% of the time then he won't qualify for PIP. Fluctuating illnesses are very difficult to claim for.
Stop dwelling on who else qualifies and concentrate your son's application. It is not affected by anyone else claims. You may be able to go for a late appeal if you were given the wrong information by the DWP which you were.
And LakieLady is absolutely correct. Addiction affects the brain in such a way that no amount of willpower will help them stop. Try thinking about refusing water when stuck in the dessert. Its the same part of the brain stopping them refusing drugs.