Don't be poor, disabled, sick or elderly . .

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/apr/19/rishi-sunak-sicknote-culture-welfare-reform-post-office-horizon-conservatives-labour-uk-politics-lastest-updates

So this is a big part of the next Tory strategy to get elected.

I hope the buggers don't get in

You make it sound so simple. It really isn't

Fit notes are different to the old sick notes.

Oh sorry.

You really have no clue

I know it isn't but I just gave the basic info.

That's OK. Maybe you can explain how that part of the process works?

Torys trying again to turn ordinary folk against ordinary folk and make out the issue to be the poor, sick and disabled who are draining the country dry when in reality it's the millionaire tax dodgers. Don't be fooled.

Not sure as have never been on any benefits in my life. Assume you go on the sick and the DWP assess you.

Thanks, that was confusing me a bit as I thought it was relating to being off your job for a while rather than being on benefits but wasn't quite sure

I had to get a sick note to claim benefits, despite not working. You need sick notes to trigger a WCA. A sick note also means less commitments from your work coach. And I had not worked for 8 years at this point.

When I was in uni, I was asked to provide a sick note as I handed in an assignment late (needed it for extenuating circumstances). My GP refused, and said sick notes were for people in work. Even got a note out the drawer, and explained it to me like I was an idiot.

In my assessment the assessor stated that I was unable to sit for more than 10minutes at a time, unable to stand for more than 10minutes at a time, was unable to raise my arms above shoulder height, unable to be in crowded/noisy environments. But.....I was able to work.
Fuck knows what i would have been able to do, at the time I was in constant severe pain and my autism hadn't been diagnosed (I did have social anxiety and sensory processing disorders diagnosed though along with depression).
I've worked hard to increase my mobility and reduce some of my pain levels, everything else is the same though and I never know when I'm going to have a bad day.
Last year I had a PIP claim refused because the assessor decided that the fact I can drive means I can cope with travel and because I spoke to him (on the phone, supported by a friend because I couldn't cope with travelling to the actual assessment centre) I have no issues.

So yes I am worried about what will happen with the assessment stage if I get there again.

But you are participating…

Not really sure what’s funny ?

As I have said below, what about income protection policies? Why should threshold be different for private vs public ?

Someone is posting about people dying after being declared fit to work by the DWP. I’d like to see how that compares with the general working population of the same demographic with the same risk factors. It may reveal that yes, working does decrease life expectancy, but it may not.

I am not even sure what side of the fence I’m on TBH, but there is such a defensive tone. I think we should be asking for data from a public health POV rather than just a fiscal POV.

Because I had a pip assessment with one of those health care assessors who get a bonus for rejecting applications. I have low blood pressure when I stand up - it's a scientific fact. I cant reliably stand up. But they told me I could and gave me fuck all.

Good luck if you get ill it will be a rude awakening.

Wow. Sounds like maybe you shouldn't. Is the pain exacerbated by your work? Or do you enjoy the work you do?

I didn't intend to, but the prejudice and misinformation gets to me. But it is a waste of my time, I know.

I had similar bearing in mind this is supposed to be a medical professional your talking to I had to explain how blood vessels work in different temperatures to explain why I need someone with me for bathing and showering as I faint as I have 2 separate conditions that cause regular fainting. I scored zero for that

Just to add that no I didn't appeal, just as they hoped I wouldn't. The stress of it all was just too much. I'm now in the process of reapplying for PIP and it is just so difficult for somebody like me, I have ASD, possibly ADHD, sensory processing disorder, hypermobility, MCAS (lovely random allergies as part of that), chronic urticaria, executive disfunction. Much of that makes even filling the forms depressing, imagine having to sit and write about how you can't even open a bill let alone manage money well enough to pay it.
Just applying for PIP is soul destroying without people saying that you don't look like you should be getting it

I ended up overdosing during the pip process. People genuinely don't get it, unless they've gone through it

Seriously your reply is just so rude and limited.

Work is enormously beneficial ESPECIALLY for some that have limited physical function. It is excellent for mental health, a sense of purpose and giving a person’s life a sense of value and meaning. Jobs save lives. You talk about work like it’s a negative thing that is inflicted on people, but the opposite can be true.

You have shown what a compassionate, understanding person you are. Just the sort that the Tories love.

This in buckets.

ladybir ignorant assumption which only illuminates your stance

God you are still on here! I have done an entire days in the same time..

A 'culture' created by this government after all their disastrous years in power. Services are stretched to the limits preventing effective health treatment, more people living in poverty which is having a huge impact on their mental health and ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Housing shortages, shortages of social care staff after leaving the EU and the attempt to force the covid vaccination on them.
I'm sure some do play the system but the majority are genuinely too ill to work due to the mess the tories created.