Re: Sick & Disabled unfairly treated
Originally Posted by
The Artful Todger
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Just pause and think how the population of the UK has changed and the %age of blatant dishonesty that is found in the "New British". The checks now have to be taken.
Depends what checks you’re talking about doesn’t it ?
This is about sickness and disability benefits .
There is no such thing as checking these days.
Take a case such as this .
A long term with a severe mental illness person put onto the new name of ESA where previously another term was used .
Called in for a face to face assessment by a.n.other so called health professional ,let’s say a practice nurse from a.n.y where an employee of the foreign firm Atos , on behalf of the very busy DWP , under the let’s get them off benefits “Fit for work “ scheme .
On the assessment form sent to the DWP ,said assessor declares person fit for work . Benefit stops immediately .
Imagine being left like that . No salary ,no state pension if you’re that old .
The upside is the DWP tell you is you can appeal their decision .
So what does the person with a severe mental illness do ,if he/she understands ?
Hopefully will have someone to complete the process by letter , which is to ask for another opinion and say why you think the decision is wrong .This is called Mandatory Reconsideration and it must be that it’s explained in words and phrases the DWP guide uses for the new person looking at it uses .
The DWP have all documents submitted in the first instance including those written by a GP and psychiatrists over years but you’re told you can send in further evidence . What further evidence do they need other than those?
So now a little bit of money is reinstated to you while you’re awaiting the outcome .
Stressful ? The result could take weeks even months in some areas. This could lead to a distinct chance of the illness spiralling into a crisis situation.
Imagine after maybe weeks of waiting the feeling when you’re told the decision remains the same and why .
Believe me when I say one such letter said “ she says she suffers from Schizophrenia but the assessor saw no signs of this “
Yet the assessor had all the documentation from professionals?
You’re told once again you can appeal the decision .
So reckoning on appeals can take months to be looked at once again you’re in the queue ?
Some unfortunates by this time have lost the will to go on . They could be in such a state they relapse or even take their own lives .
The fortunate ones are those who have helpful people behind them who encourage them to stick it out because at least a doctor and a judge will be looking at this .
This then is the current system whereby gross amounts of money are being spent on these appeals which should never have come to pass .