“And getting us to agree with you is going to change what exactly?”

“Well maybe if a few people did understand the hell some are going through it might help change something,
Every time the likes of Ian Duncan Smith go on TV he criticizes those on welfare as if everyone is scum.
As i see it... There are aslo some in places of work or power who could do a little bit more to change things, but in some cases some are so frightend of loseing there job or being seen as trouble thay dare not speak up. It would seem we have bullys in power at both local & country level & its only folk like myself who have the balls to speak out, but hey... iv been called 'reble with-out cause' yeah right!”

“It does not matter what government are in they all seem incapable of sorting out the sick and ailing from the skivers and shirkers in our society so everyone gets tarred with the same brush and I think this lies with GP's who have been to quick to to give out sickness certificates to everyone that complains of a bad back .”

“It does seem odd that people that are "too ill to work" can maintain blogs, submit numerous FOI requests, use a computer all day, go into town, use the telephone, send/receive email, go to the shops, go to the pub, drive a car, get on the tram etc but they can't do any work. What would they do if the government said that they'd get zero in benefits after 1st June 2013 ? How did people with the same "illnesses" survive before ? Isn't it the case that the more welfare that is created, the more people get sucked into it ? It's a black hole.”

“Thay ended up in Work Houses & dead before 40 years old, Maybe the government should put all on same amount of benefit, fairness for all. And yes many are able to do something or other & should have more options depending on illness or disability.
Guess only time will tell.”

“Dickybadboy

If everyone was on benefits, where would the money come from? It is us idiots who worked hard at school, gained qualifications for half decent jobs, re-trained again and again at our own expense as the job market changed who are paying tax to support the likes of you.

The welfare system was set up as a safety net, not a lifestyle choice. And if someone can't work because they are ill, why should they get more money than someone who can't work because there are no jobs?”

“Seems there is alot of hate towards The Disabled, Thay are an easy target where as the ones who have caused so many of the problems this past few years are crafty/deceitful/corrupt. I am the first to agree things should be bit more fare and yes there are some people who just want to laze about all day claiming masses of benefits,
I ask... What should be done with ill/sick/& people with mental health isues? Things happen in life that change some peoples lives.
Some do need a little bit more help & support. Having known people who have commited suicide due to there ill health or utter disregard i know only too well how some suffer.
I just hope it never happens to some leaving comments on here.”

“Perhaps you would like to explain how it is possible to arrive at a fair decision without an accurate assessment of the level and type of disability and what effective measures need to be taken then "Dickybadboy". It never ceases to amaze me how so many people of my acquaintance with very high levels of disability manage to hold full time responsible jobs when those with a far lower level of disability express dismay at even the thought of doing so.”

“I admit fair assessments should be done & done by proper well trained/skilled consultants not this bunch of Atos people who havnt a clue. Thank you... But i have been to college, worked full time (22 years) and on top of that part time jobs. Its only of late when one needs a little extra help that i am going through this sheer hell because of government changes & cock ups that it would seem systems cant cope. Before ****ging me off, Let me tell you there are so many types of disabilitys & some people to ashamed to admit. Makes me sick how some folk jump to conclusions.
Its someone like me who should be making decisions on what benefits some get, because beleave me im darn sure id have fairer systems in place & i would also know what type of special help some might need in being able to get back into work & am not just talking people with physical needs, some may have mental or learning difficultys & some due to there illness have days when thay can barely get out of bed. So please... A bit more understanding wouldnt go a miss,.”

“By the level of emotion you display I would suggest you would not be suited to making a rational and considered evaluation of disability levels and needs let alone the medical knowledge required to do so, if it is not to be done as a tick box exercise as presently carried out. As you rightly say the assessments need to be carried out " by proper well trained/skilled consultants" and producing a fairer system needs an in depth knowledge that few people possess. Having worked with, amongst and for less abled people most of my working life as well as in my retirement I have a very considerable amount of understanding for the problems they face and overcome. That is why I wrote the last sentence in my previous posting. I was in no way commenting on you "Dickybadboy" as I have no knowledge of your personal circumstances, only an interest in how you considered assessments might be unnecessary in arriving at a fair decision.”

“Thats cool BLawrenson, Im just so upset & feel like a cornerd rat at the moment, now having been told it could take 16-52 weeks for my tribunal, having to survive on 30% less income & having to plead with mortgage & fuel companys.( sell my house some would say ) Having my 2 consultants & dietition telling me i need eat properly & keep warm. No middle or high rate dla here ( again sore subject). Think the past 4 months is taking its toll. (if you knew the half of it)
Its a disgracefull state of affairs, & god help many more once thay start changing dla,
Maybe its ashame a few have spoilt things for those who do rely on bit of support. I know we are all supposed 'to be in this together' but like heck as like.”

“"Dickybadboy" it is very wrong that you should have to wait so long for a decision. The decision making process needs a very drastic revision if it is taking any longer than three months to get an Appeal decision. The present situation has arisen because nothing positive had been done for many years to carry out real assessments and it is now being done with a blunderbuss approach. Indeed for many years it served a political purpose to have people off the unemployment register and signing sick.I trust that you have already taken up your case with your MP and are in contact with one of the disability rights groups.Selling your house would not be a wise option at this present tim,e which is why you should keep your mortgage company well informed about your present situation.”

“Ah yes BLawrenson my MP is aware of whats going on & i have a meeting planed. I will get onto disability rights people and see what thay say & see if any other help i can get. I do have couple of things in hand & letters on the way.
Shall keep this forum updated as to how i get on.”

“Well what a week, Had the meeting with my MP, and tried to put across my concerns re certain topics, only time will tell. Also sent letters to both Disability Rights & Health Ministers Secretary, again god knows if any good will come of things, I do beleave its about time certain things were put back on the radar, specialy certain sexual health topics that over past years have been swept under the carpet.
Then having been told this morning by some woman at DWP that disabled people awaiting apeals arnt entitled to cold weather payments (only if win) and on top of that no point in making a complaint because it would be thrown out, also unable to complain about those weeks with-out benefit as told its the way DWP now works.
Then on top of all that... if you want a Doctor at my local medical centre to fill out a form for blue badge or bus pass you have to pay £16 thats 17.5% of my weekly income,. My god i warn people of Nottingham area... For f--ks sake dont become ill, disabled or out of work because life is getting somewhat tough, Yet im sure there are those still screwing the system & still reeping the rewards!!”

“Well Dicky the lady at the DWP was correct regarding the Cold Weather payments, as you must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit to receive them and your qualifying benefit has been withdrawn. She was also technically correct regarding complaining about delays as the Appeals are now handled by HM Courts and Tribunals so any complaint regarding delay would be for them and not DWP. As I do not know what your health problem is I cannot suggest which local group would best help you with advice. Most disabilities seem to have their own dedicated support group. By the way the bit about sweeping under the carpet has me guessing, nothing springs to mind.”

“I used to be in receipt of qualifying benefits BLawrenson, am still in receipt of low rate DLA, Just seems so wrong im waiting so long for this appeal, Having sent a letter to disability Nottinghamshire, even a woman phoned me, i was told there are many others like me & in same boat, (well that realy helps doesnt it)
Iv just had letter from Department of Health re a letter i sent to a local MP, & At bottom it says... You may wish to contact the DWP where the staff will be better placed to respond to my concerns about benefits. its like ever decreasing circles!!
Im now in talks with a guy in London who has been in same boat, and him going to send me some info.
Thank god for my credit card, its the saving grace, but then the interest keeps going through the roof, climbing the walls at mo with stress & anxiety.”

“Dicky, it might be worth your while to contact one of the Nationals and see if they are interested in your plight. I am sure they are getting plenty of complaints about the long delays and often appreciate a human angle. Well that is me, gamekeeper turning poacher, but I do think this whole change is being badly handled.”

“We do have laws to protect the most vulnerable, it's just that access to law is time consuming and expensive and, in the absence of legal help in the community, now voluntary organisations speak to and for communities and individuals in a kind of 'economy of scale' way. So you are unique, your life history is unique. You need to feel you're respected and taken seriously. Your life is very important, your future is very important to you and to the people you love and care about. My sister, who has bi-polar disorder and is well some of the time was on the medium level of disability benefit and managing her finances well, she had an ISA. Because she had an ISA on disability beneift, she received a letter from the DWP to say they would assess her ability to work. She was pleased. She met with them and answered their questions honestly and they reduced her disability benefit to JSA level but it wasn't paid for three months after the assessment so she had no money. She tried to get a job and lasted two days. She appealed and in the interim asked the bank for a loan which she was given. Realising that she wasn't able to work she used the loan to live on and used the same loan to make the payments for the loan and began to become ill. Over the period of eighteen months, while suffering from her illness, she made appeals and eventually she was compensated, the disability benefit was reinstated and the loan was written off. However, the genuine connection between assessment and really offering understanding and opportunities for disabled people are not synchronised, they don't happen in the same moment, they are punitive. What isn't understood is that all of these processes are restraining trade and economic development: voluntary organisations are standing in the shadow of other people's lives. If they have something really to offer: a genuine route or opportunity then they should give it freely and without morality or assumption. Far too many people who work in voluntary organisations think that the poor, unemployed and disabled are there to hear their interpretation of the world rather than listen and really make local changes that could create work and employment and a great community. There are great people who will make a difference, you need to find them and respect your own right to a great future.”

“Soanesoap, I was very surprised to read your comment about voluntary organisations as all the ones I have had contact with are very non judgemental. Volunteers give their time freely and usually at at their own expense. When you work as a volunteer it does surprise you when you are so frequently taken for granted and the words thank you are few and far between. You still keep doing it though because you can make a difference.”

“Would you beleave i am a Board & Committee member of one voluntary group, I have also attended local council meetings, but at the moment with all this going on i havnt the enthusiasm to be botherd with any of it, Also one has to now worry about would one be seen as too fit if known to attend meetings, its like catch 22 at the moment re benifits or being court out by the system, can imagin many in same boat, yes sometimes having a good day yet other days feeling blinking awfull.
I never thought id be brought to such a low eb,
But tell you what if this is what hiv+, diabetic & being insulin dependant + other issue,s healthwise ends up leading to, i hope others who read this take note.
Now on top of all this, people/me are worried sick about this new bedroom tax & extra council tax that,ll soon be wanted from our measly income, things realy have got to the point of a person feeling utter despair.
D.Cameron says we are all in it together, OMG the man is a joke & so are most of his government.”

“OMG had a letter from DWP telling me my sick note runs out 5th march & if thay havnt got a new one by the 6th that my benefits will be stopped / suspended again, I thought once in appeal process i was safe from my benefits being stopped yet again? tell you all something i cant cope with this for much longer, my head thumping & another weekend of anxiety, fingers crossed my GP will have new note ready for monday.”

“Now clobberd by the bedroom tax for having one single spare bedroom, extra council tax to pay,
Just cant fckin take any more.
All in it together? What this government have done to me is pure evil
Yet no laws to help protect us,
Best place to be is in a coffin out the fckin way, off this nasty planet, iv ad enough.”

“I'm on DLA and ESA, trying to survive a progressive disability and a severe mental health problem. Both of these are under current treatment by Consultants, and the DWP have regular letters about this. However, I live on so little money-and that's under threat. There's the constant fear of being forced to move house, so I'm forced keep living costs to almost nothing. Again, I have more paperwork and another ATOS physical to attend. Suffering, stressing, starving & freezing aren't bad enough. Now the Council wants £81 and the Government want to cut my (pathetic) Benefit payments. Nobody can help me. What sort of people don't believe Consultants?”

“Do hope this comment gets added”

“It,s a nightmare icecrystal, i do understand you & sorry for my late reply. Iv now put my case with a disability group & sounds like them taking up my story, It seems all of our rights have just about been taken away, also now with legal aid also having been nearly all but stopped. We have a government who couldnt give a monkeys, even more worryingly are more local folk who are covering there backs, or think thay are. something was said to me just the other day that i still am seething about, but hey if i rock the boat i,ll be known as a c**t & put on the naughty step.
But when i see & here just what some are getting & the ways some have got around things (yeah some not having to pay bedroom tax) or in recept of there extra bit of sick benefit. But time will tell, unless someone kills me im getting closser to trying to get things made farer, but am not doing it just for myself, am doing it because i want to see fareness for all & i dont suffer fools or folk who try to cover there backs by trying to turn something round & making me feel like i cant do something that nearly everyone i know on certain benefits is able to do. I know one thing... Im in no mood to be taken for a **** or have the wool pulled over my eyes.”

“Turns out someone else i sort of know has now had his benefits stopped, again with long term health conditions & someone who is rather poorly. Its just discusting it can be alowd to happen, ill & sick people being treated in such away, Atos/DWP taking no notice of GP,s & Consultants, Social Workers not doing there jobs properly & not advising ill caiments to get the relevent info from hospitals & consultants,
Yes & if anyone reading this who helps fill out those forms for sick and disabled people, please please please do all you can to prevent the suffering or humiliation of the individual having no funds or having to plead for hardship funds. Because i cant stress the long term effects it has on a person.”