Incapcity Benefit, I'm on it.

Main issue is that far too many people are currently signed off sick and have a negative attitude about it. (Obv I don't know about your individual case and it may well be the case that it would be inappropriate for you to be in work and that you should still be on benefits - but a reassessment to clarify that ought to be welcomed)
No disrespect-not in the current climate it won't. It won't be a clarification but an ultimatum and it will stress you out. The best you can do is more or less expect the inevitable and prepare yourself for a long fight.
 
The decision concerning being placed on IB idefinately will and can be overrided. For one, IB will no longer exist and it will be the equivalent of a cleaner who will write to tell you that. Make no mistake about it. The point of employing ATOS is not to keep the genuinely sick and needy on benefits but to shove them off where possible. This is a sort of Scorched Earth policy which amounts to a cull of all people on benefits claiming they are too sick to work. You not being able to work once they have kicked you off is your problem not theres, and so any employer not willing to employ you is still your problem and not theres.

There has been a very recent review that has led to the decision to implment changes into the process of the Work Capability Assessment, to help ensure the assessment gives a more accurate outcome.

I work as a Disability Employment Advisor for Jobcentreplus and spend a lot of time discussing the options and outcomes of the medical assessments with customers.....now as a personal opinion (not that of the department) I can see there are problems with the system that have a hugely negative impact for many people, but they are reacting to change things.

That the system for ESA medical assessments has leading to an average of nearly 70% of people appealling against the first decision should tell you something (namely, this may suggest that Atos/DWP do not always get things right), but there are reforms being implemented to ensure that it is fairer and more transparent than it has been to date.

As for the future, compared to the 'old' IB rules, it is clear that ESA claimants will be more rigourously checked to ensure they can only claim for as long as their entitlement remains, and that they will be required to partake of more work focussed activities whilst in recept of benefit than previously was the case for people on sickness benefit. Now for some people this is always going to be inappropriate - hence the Support Group for those most seriously ill or disabled.

But for the majority of people, recovery is likely and work has statistically been proven to be beneficial in the long term for a persons health, both mental and physical. With this is mind, why should someone not be expected to take steps towards work as a condition of receiving their benefit where appropriate?

The reality of the labour market is another question entirely (but something I try to help people overcome every day at work, there are plenty of ill or disabled people who do go to work every day), but the value of paying people to stay at home and do nothing at all for their benefit has been shown to be of dubious value in the long term, in terms of the effects of worklessness on health, social aspects and the development of a dependency culture.

The tighter ESA regime also contrasts withn the older Incapacity Benefit rules which unintentionally allowed thousands to remain on benefit, no questions asked, for long periods of time when their health had actually recovered, or gave them such limited contact with JCP/DWP and the medical profession that benefit fraud could continue for years unchecked.
 
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I think I'll end up on this in the not too distant future. Everyone is telling me I should consider it. But I don't think I could handle it, don't think I would be able to support 3 kids without working.

Out of interest how much do people get on this?

Thanks,

G
 
this is probably the reason why she's getting 0p.

you need to find out the grounds of the refusal and see if they are right/wrong.

either your mum or the DWP have made a **** up somewhere.

Given some of the cases I've heard/seen I would suspect it's quite likely the DWP.

I've seen cases where it's taken 12-18 months to overturn a blatantly wrong decision because the person who made the initial decision either couldn't read the official doctors report, or flipped a coin for the decision and no one else read any of the evidence until it reached a tribunal (it's probably telling when the tribunal apologies and says "you've got it" when the person appealing goes though the door).
 
There has been a very recent review that has led to the decision to implment changes into the process of the Work Capability Assessment, to help ensure the assessment gives a more accurate outcome.

I work as a Disability Employment Advisor for Jobcentreplus and spend a lot of time discussing the options and outcomes of the medical assessments with customers.....now as a personal opinion (not that of the department) I can see there are problems with the system that have a hugely negative impact for many people, but they are reacting to change things.

That the system for ESA medical assessments has leading to an average of nearly 70% of people appealling against the first decision should tell you something (namely, this may suggest that Atos/DWP do not always get things right), but there are reforms being implemented to ensure that it is fairer and more transparent than it has been to date.

As for the future, compared to the 'old' IB rules, it is clear that ESA claimants will be more rigourously checked to ensure they can only claim for as long as their entitlement remains, and that they will be required to partake of more work focussed activities whilst in recept of benefit than previously was the case for people on sickness benefit. Now for some people this is always going to be inappropriate - hence the Support Group for those most seriously ill or disabled.

But for the majority of people, recovery is likely and work has statistically been proven to be beneficial in the long term for a persons health, both mental and physical. With this is mind, why should someone not be expected to take steps towards work as a condition of receiving their benefit where appropriate?

The reality of the labour market is another question entirely (but something I try to help people overcome every day at work, there are plenty of ill or disabled people who do go to work every day), but the value of paying people to stay at home and do nothing at all for their benefit has been shown to be of dubious value in the long term, in terms of the effects of worklessness on health, social aspects and the development of a dependency culture.

The tighter ESA regime also contrasts withn the older Incapacity Benefit rules which unintentionally allowed thousands to remain on benefit, no questions asked, for long periods of time when their health had actually recovered, or gave them such limited contact with JCP/DWP and the medical profession that benefit fraud could continue for years unchecked.

This is not in any way a dig at you as I am all for helping people as long as it can be shown to have a positive outcome for that person, but as a Disability Employment Advisor for Jobcentreplus could you tell me how it can be justified for an individual who is too sick to move or even get himself to the toilet at times be placed in to a Work related activity group? Incidently the person in question has to have someone accompanying him where and when he can get out as he is a danger to himself due to the nature of his complaint. The particular individual has an incurrable illness yet somehow someone at either Atos or the DWP have decided he will be eventually capable of work?
 
Thanks for all your views guys, i'm having my social working come around to help me fill out the questionnaire this week. I've had Depression since I left school, but worked through it for many years until it got worse and worse, then things have snowballed, I now (Few years ago) have been diagnosed with manic depression (of which I spent about a month in a physciatric hospital), OCD, servere anxiety, panic attacks and in the past year I have had siezures later diagnosed as Epilepsy (Myoclonic Jerks and Grand Mal). I do understand where some of you guys are coming from thinking that i'm a waste or drain on resourses but I don't really see it that way, maybe some of you guy's need to be educated in mental health then I think you may understand, but without the support of my parents (which I live with) and doctors I honestly don't know what I would be like.

Keep your chin up mate :) I found understanding how these things work as completely essential to dealing with them - I'd also point out that I feel people suffering from depression, anxiety and other related issues are completely deserving of incapacity benefit. If I hadn't have previously suffered from a number of symptoms you mentioned that I think I'd be a little less understanding of your situation (like quite a few in this thread), but experience is always an eye opening experience!
 
this is probably the reason why she's getting 0p.

you need to find out the grounds of the refusal and see if they are right/wrong.

either your mum or the DWP have made a **** up somewhere.

Im not too sure but I will most deffo find out tomorrow, I'd like to get some tips on how to re-apply propperly and get the best chance of being accepted.
 
With DLA, doctors and even high level/specialist consultants evidence doesn't always help.
In theory it should, but that relies on it being looked at.

IIRC CAB used to help but I think they've stopped in a lot of areas as they simply don't have the time/man power to do it.
 
I too am in the process of making a claim for ESA. It is a pretty worrying time as I currently can barely walk to the toilet, work is out of the question for me. Theoretically I should get it without a doubt, but I have heard various stories about people who are almost bed ridden being turned down.

I understand what you mean dave, I hope everything turns out well for you.
 
Given some of the cases I've heard/seen I would suspect it's quite likely the DWP.

I've seen cases where it's taken 12-18 months to overturn a blatantly wrong decision because the person who made the initial decision either couldn't read the official doctors report, or flipped a coin for the decision and no one else read any of the evidence until it reached a tribunal (it's probably telling when the tribunal apologies and says "you've got it" when the person appealing goes though the door).

That sounds spot on I scored 0 points in mine in all sections.

I was warned by Welfare Rights curtain types of illness and mental health related they have very high % they refuse to place on esa.

It's all well and good people saying the system is being sorted well what about people like myself who are receiving £0 now we can't sign up for jsa.

If the government don't trust GPs then why not do a proper medical to me having a chat with someone for 20min answering questions is no medical.


I too am in the process of making a claim for ESA. It is a pretty worrying time as I currently can barely walk to the toilet, work is out of the question for me. Theoretically I should get it without a doubt, but I have heard various stories about people who are almost bed ridden being turned down.

I understand what you mean dave, I hope everything turns out well for you.

I hear you I at the moment am spending around 18hr a day in bed but i can lift one of my arms above my head so i'm fit for work that is how stupid the system is you can tell by just reading through the medical form it's a joke.

The other one that makes me laugh is can you pick up a coin

If your problem is just walking that's not enough to claim sorry in the form it even states if you can do 200 meters with stick you score no points and the other sections you will struggle there the stupid ones like wetting the bed sort of stuff.
 
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I was refused Incapacity Benefit due to apparently having a small shortfall in my National Insurance contributions (no idea how that happened). The person I talked to about it was a right ****, but I suppose I should sort that out some day.
 
The only suitable advice I could extend to you is to shut your mouth and quit rabbiting on about something you obviously, painfully, have absolutely no real awareness of.

If you think anyone suffering from clinical depression can't, or worse shouldn't function in such a base manner as to try and enjoy their everyday life despite what they're dealing with in their heads then you need a serious reality check.

Right, so you have clinical depression.. fair enough, yet are living a full life full of enjoyment ?, surely that's the biggest contradiction ever.

Said person with clinical depression and receiving benefits should be depressed... or are they too busy laughing as they slot the free cash card into the post office reader. If they are happy, or happy most of the time, YOU SHOULD NOT BE CLAIMING, YOU ARE NOT DEPRESSED

I have the joy of queing daily at a large post office, and I'd say half the people there are slotting those little pink cards into the machines 'all of it please mate' they say, one after another. I really wanna pipe up and say 'so what the %$&% is meant to be wrong with you', 'you look fitter than me'.

Well at least they had a nice sleep..... often I've been up since 1am.. it's 9am, with another 8-10 hrs to go till I can lounge about. Still, they have the wad of free cash... off to the cafe next door for a nice free fry up then off to primark for some guchi gear, maybe stopping at phone shop for a iphone on way home. (home to watch 50" plasma and build crazy high spec PCs)

Lifes great


The fix for all of this is simple, it's so simple that I can't believe no-one has ever thought of it.... no more cash. You need help, food etc... you get vouchers. So you can have your free stuff, and those that need free stuff can get it, but that stuff is ESSENTIAL to your life eg - food / a roof over your head etc.

I'll bow out of the thread with one last thought....There is some town somewhere in wales where nearly every adult is officially sick... this is a fact, it's a scam that they are getting away with, and we are all paying for it daily from our pockets.

Some people are genuinely sick and need help, I agree... the large majority are taking the *&^%
 
I was refused Incapacity Benefit due to apparently having a small shortfall in my National Insurance contributions (no idea how that happened). The person I talked to about it was a right ****, but I suppose I should sort that out some day.

On the other hand though, you are surviing ok without it... this proves you don't NEED the benefit ?

People will be people though, and if there is a freebee going, people want it... it's the nature of greed
 
On the other hand though, you are surviing ok without it... this proves you don't NEED the benefit ?

People will be people though, and if there is a freebee going, people want it... it's the nature of greed

I meant sort out my shortfall as it affects the state pension and some bereavement stuff I think.
 
Right, so you have clinical depression.. fair enough, yet are living a full life full of enjoyment ?, surely that's the biggest contradiction ever.

Said person with clinical depression and receiving benefits should be depressed... or are they too busy laughing as they slot the free cash card into the post office reader. If they are happy, or happy most of the time, YOU SHOULD NOT BE CLAIMING, YOU ARE NOT DEPRESSED

I have the joy of queing daily at a large post office, and I'd say half the people there are slotting those little pink cards into the machines 'all of it please mate' they say, one after another. I really wanna pipe up and say 'so what the %$&% is meant to be wrong with you', 'you look fitter than me'.

Well at least they had a nice sleep..... often I've been up since 1am.. it's 9am, with another 8-10 hrs to go till I can lounge about. Still, they have the wad of free cash... off to the cafe next door for a nice free fry up then off to primark for some guchi gear, maybe stopping at phone shop for a iphone on way home. (home to watch 50" plasma and build crazy high spec PCs)

Lifes great


The fix for all of this is simple, it's so simple that I can't believe no-one has ever thought of it.... no more cash. You need help, food etc... you get vouchers. So you can have your free stuff, and those that need free stuff can get it, but that stuff is ESSENTIAL to your life eg - food / a roof over your head etc.

I'll bow out of the thread with one last thought....There is some town somewhere in wales where nearly every adult is officially sick... this is a fact, it's a scam that they are getting away with, and we are all paying for it daily from our pockets.

Some people are genuinely sick and need help, I agree... the large majority are taking the *&^%

You don't understand what you're talking about. You're making yourself look stupid. I suggest you shut up.
 
How does ESA work ? I have had a letter saying that I have qualified and will recieve £105 per week starting from the 1st Nov. I have sent in my forces discharge doc's and a doctors note signing me unfit for 3 months. I did my application over the phone. I have paid NI for 16 years without fail being in the forces.
I'm presuming they will contact me to arrange there own checks/medical. I have ulcerative colitis which is quite bad in restricting me from doing normal things and making life pretty hell but I have no physical disabilities as such. i.e can look after myself etc.
Just wondering if they do a medical will they look a the symptoms of my disease but it sounds like its more of an assesment of your basic physical abilities ?
 
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