To be frightened about the Government’s plans for benefits reform?

[PilgorTheGoat]

I am one of the millions of people currently on long term sickness benefits. I receive the LCWRA element of UC and PIP due to poor mental health and autism. I have severe anxiety and depression and I am awaiting an appointment to see if I also have PTSD due to sexual abuse in my childhood.

I have tried every element of support offered to me. I’m maxed out on 2 different types of antidepressants. I have had back-to-back (excluding the 6 month wait in between) 12 week sessions of counselling offered via the NHS. I am on a waiting list for intensive CBT due to my possible PTSD. I am currently having twice weekly private, video counselling appointments.

I can’t leave my house alone due to panic attacks. I struggle to meet my own care needs and my husband has to do a lot of the work for us both (although he works full time). I have a very understanding friend whom I force myself to go for a short walk with twice a week in order to stop myself becoming completely imprisoned at home but I find this very distressing and we have to take the same route each time.

I am so, so scared about the government’s plans to end sickness benefits for people like me. We don’t have a load of spare cash, we’re just about getting by. There is no support available. I’ve taken everything offered and my husband has been very proactive in seeking out other services for me to be involved with. I’d love to be better, I’d love not to live in fear but there is no help.

Don’t try to outsmart me.

😂😂😂

No chip on my shoulder my dear. As I’ve just pointed out I have a comfortable life. You’re the bitter one picking on the less fortunate.

I agree with you@TigerRag , and under the old system of DLA, I do believe that took such things into account. The constant roundabout of filling in forms, and attending assessments for people with conditions very unlikely to change, must be costing a fair amount, under PIP, I daresay.

only, there is no tailored help for our individual need at all and the assessment process is heavily flawed and not working 🤷

Nobody has demanded anything, except a couple of posters, who seem to think that they have the right to know about posters medical problems.

A doctor as well now. Laughable

Thank you. I am no longer going to engage with that poster... I mean, a fucking burger van. Ok, I will just pull one out my ass and go set it up somewhere. It is that easy when you have no money, no knowledge of business, the laws and regulations about catering etc., and no desire to have one anyway.

Oh, I read it as a coffee van (goes off to get eyes checked)😁

1. Because of the real anxiety of not being believed
2. Money being stopped with no notice
3. Having to prepare for such an assessment
4. It's a waste of public money, my time and that of my carer

Can you seriously think of a good reason why I should be reassessed?

There are so many bad faith arguments on this thread.

How would the government know there's been no change in your circumstances without assessing?
All benefit claimants are required to declare any changes, and for disabled claimants that includes changes in their condition.

Well it was just something ludicrous to say wasn’t it. Take no notice. She’s been pouring petrol on the situation. I don’t know if she’s trying to agitate or just ignorant x

So why do you object to being assessed, if there's no chance of your prognosis changing?
Is it really that big an inconvenience to be assessed every couple of years?

As people have explained, they are only given a few weeks to collect all the evidence they need and post it in. They dont give you any waning and there's nothing to can do to prepare in advance.
Its a massively cruel and inefficient system. The old system was better - the DSS / DLA would contact your consultant and deal with them directly.

Coffee van. 🤣🤣🤣

😊@KittyCollar

@LadyKenya Was deffo coffee van. Less smelly than the burgers so that’s ok then 👍

It is a big inconvenience? Yes.
As a professional, I see repeated assessments of people with learning disabilities, for example, is absolutely a waste of time and energy for the DWP and those who complete the forms on their behalf.

My severely disabled relative who is non verbal and almost completely unable to communicate, blind, PEG fed, non invasive ventilated at night and fully immobile (cannot weight bear, needs hosting) due to brain injury has been like this for a few decades. He isn’t jumping out of his chair as much as we wish he would!

Ha, well that proves I can't run one anyway if I don't even know what I am selling 😂

Don’t be so defeatist, what about an ice cream van?! Or a pizza van! Or an ice cream and pizza van.

As a side note, one day when I retire, I’m going to set up my own hot chocolate van. It is many years away (and probably a pipe dream) but I looked into it and the start up costs are astronomical.

I’m disabled, and on DLA. The migration to PIP hasn’t happened for me, and as I’m now over pension age, I’m not sure if/when it will be. My disabilities are physical.

But, I’ve never objected to being assessed. I just send off the form, along with the medical evidence, and things roll on. No problems.

I’m getting funds from the public purse, and I just accept scrutiny as part of it.🤷‍♀️

Right.... So every single person claiming benefits is completely honest (despite some being convicted criminals) and will immediately declare a change in circumstances, so there's no need to assess/investigate any claims.

When I read nonsense arguments like this, I become more convinced that regular assessments are required.

My form should be plenty. I shouldn't need a face to face where they decide they know more than my consultant who has seen me since I was a child.

I’m not arguing, I’m just saying I send off the forms and medical evidence, and I’ve never had a problem.

Obviously, I am only speaking for me.🙂

You're on DLA. That's different. Almost everywhere on PIP has a face to face assessment.

There have been face to face DLA assessments since 2010.

There we are. From the horses mouth. Perhaps your disabled relative could run a hot dog van because that’s where the spiteful lunacy on this thread has gone x