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Als86
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2010 06:55
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Post removed for reasons of privacy
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Ian
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2010 15:46
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I think that your situation is genuine and I understand, and share, your doubts about the (probably illegal) ritual slaughter of mental illness definitions that is ongoing in our welfare system, in the interest of being seen to be frugal with the public's paid taxes.
Consider the ease with which the ex-PM, Blair and his fellow war mongering thug, Brown, have got away with entering, illegally, into a long-term war that killed hundreds of thousands of people and adversely affected around 30% of the world! You can probably imagine how hard it will be for the UK's disabled to get justice for their plights, against the benefits chaos currently being enacted, in Britain.
I keenly await one, really significant test case to be fought and won and a precedent being set that will rock the welfare barons (and their clipboard hooligans) to their very socks and at least show us some sign of hope for our futures.
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Als86
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# Posted: 6 Sep 2010 18:33
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Thank you Ian :). I too think that it's all going to blow up somehow, though how many people will suffer first and how much, I don't know.
We are supposed to be living in a more compassionate society. Even ten years ago the future looked brighter for sufferers of mental illness. Now it looks like we're all to be thrown into the gutter. I see the parallels with the treatment of ordinary people in far off lands who just happen to get in the way, though the discussion is perhaps not for here, all I can say is that I'm reminded of a song lyric... "To the ******* rich man all poor people look the same".
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Sue
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2010 17:09
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I too understand - unfortunatley the DWP and ATOS don't . Having reached my own mental meltdown I naively thought I would receive financial assistance so that I could concentrate on recovery. The whole ESA experience is an ongoing trauma to add to the pile I'm already trying to deal with. My ATOS Dr was insightful enough to recognize that I suffered mental anguish at being misunderstood and proceeded to give me 0 points! As a former health professional I am greatly anguished that health care professionals are mis-assessing people in such numbers and causing further trauma. I wish you well Als86 hold on there and keep fighting.
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Als86
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2010 18:41
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Thank you very, very much, Sue, for posting. It really helps, perhaps more than anything else can at the moment. I've just got my latest IB50 and I can already feel the anger building... I'm so sorry you've had the same crap to deal with. This time, everything is going to be documented, right from the start, complaints will be written in advance, people are going to be sacked if that's what it takes - revenge will be mine! Lol. And it's all going online so the world can see. Because you're right - these people are supposed to be caregivers. They nod understandingly then destroy you with a stroke of their pen. It's evil. The scale of corporate corruption here is frightening.
Thanks again Sue. All the best to you too, I hope you can take time to look after yourself.
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Raymond
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# Posted: 21 Sep 2010 16:48
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I too belive the ESA is not fit for purpose.There seems to be a lack of understanding about Mental Health problems and there is also an assumption that paid work is the right thing for all people with mental health problems - this is not true. In some cases voluntary work is more appropriate or no work at all.
I have had mental health problems for 10 years, which is aggreviated by the pressures of work.
I am also a Benefit Adviser, so have a deep understanding of the ESA and I have felt for a long time there is not enough mental health descriptors and the whole process is a tick box game, if your medical condition does not quite fit the criteria you get no points.
I would recommend you seek advice from a Benefit Adviser that has some knowledge of Mental Health before you have any ESA assessment- some MIND do have such officers. Having an advocate s also a good thing to do as well and also insist on having a print out of the report before you leave the Medical assessment. There is no reason why they cannot do it, its about you so you should be entitle to see it. If you disagree with it, state it there and follow up in a letter.
My advice to anyone if you do not agree with a Decision made appeal at least then the Benefit Decision is reviewed independently and get as much evidence as possible to make your case. I also feel the Medical Assessments are too stressful for people with mental health problems and that Doctors, Occupational Therpaists, CPNs reports should have more wait than the ATOS assessment.
Finally report all your experiences to MIND. There is also a benefit Consultation going on, so respond to it and also write to your MPs.
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Sue
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# Posted: 24 Sep 2010 07:32
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Thanks for reply Als hope you're OK. My experience of ESA,ATOS and some mental health proffessionals is that there is no understanding of mental health issues, the only person that did believe me was a CPN, not the first I saw though, ESA totally disregarded her letter when I appealed. I know I need to be put in support group but was relieved to be put in Wrag at appeal so have done no more yet - although appeal was over 6 weeks ago and nothing from DWP except a letter telling me they're cutting mortgage help by 45%! - there is no support from the government - and they seem to forget they've happily taken NI contributions - the whole process is so exhausting and complex if my mind can work this out I'd be well enough to work but it can't. Thankfully have got a welfare benefits advisor contacting them for me - I just cant deal with it now.
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Als86
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2010 13:58
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Raymond - thank you. If anything, the number of descriptors should have been increased. There'll be a lot of over-optimistic people with mental health problems being sacked for not being able to do their jobs properly. Though I suppose they're unlikely to get one in the first place these days. It seems so obvious to me, the way mental illness works, I feel that many people must be actually willfully ignorant. But just ask, you know? There are plenty of people with mental health problems, would it be so difficult to just say "So, how does it affect you?" or "So, what do you need?". I'd put money on 0% of them overstating their case as well - most people try their best to do as much as they can with their lives. Only people with Personality Disorders can be truly lazy, and they need treatment too.
Sue - thank you again. It's surprising how little I can do in a day now the review has started again, my progress has stalled, it's depressing as hell. But I'm going to try and get through it. I won't ask what problems you've got, unless you'd like to say, but sadly I'm not surprised by the lack of interest on the part of mental health professionals. They even seem reluctant in my area now for the reason that they cannot offer long-term psychotherapy on the NHS. It's just unavailable! How is anyone supposed to recover to the point of work without treatment? I'm lucky in a way - I'll probably manage on my own if the DWP would just stop harrassing me for long enough - but lots of people aren't in that position.
The treatment in this country of people with mental health problems (treatment in every sense!), is regressing at an alarming rate.
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Sue
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# Posted: 29 Sep 2010 10:58
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Thanks to you both Als and Raymond. I have today managed to email my MP and my welfare rights rep. The thought of contacting DWP again just throws me as you never get a direct answer so I totally understand Als that your progress has halted. I too am trying to find people that recognize my condition, difficult to discuss because of the nature of it, but I do understand it and frustrating thing is if I was well I could write about it as have been given a lot of insight which I want to share to help others but like you this whole 'support' system isn't supporting but adding stress which is the last thing that is needed. If only a day's work were as hard as dealing with the DWP. Talk about bureaucratic bondage - it's like everyone's being putting in a strait-jacket. Anyway hope you're managing to get through, one day at a time, dark times have their reasons too it's just looking for them in the dark is difficult especially if you don't like carrots! (Excuse my weird soh)
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Alison
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# Posted: 30 Sep 2010 04:36
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Im Soo angry..although reading peoples experiences realy helps you to not think its a personal attack and solidaritry is theraputic, i can hardly read them because my eyes are full of tears and distress.
We are real people with real life struggles, we are not fraudsters.
I get £50 ESA and £53 child tax cred for my 11yr son.
I agree about the Gov just standing by and allowing these asalts to take place.
someone mentioned Tony Bliar and all the money theyre spending on the illegal occupations making our country more unstable and demonizing the Arab Muslim and Pakistani community because they can.
Many MPs have admited the Iraq war was wrong..some have apologised..as if it was something that happend in the past.
Children are being born deformed because of the depleted uranium used
in their armery..a legacy of genocide..The UN and EU are refusing Iraq medicine and food because they are still veiwd as terrorists..we know who the terrorists are..
Is it the British tax payer again that is to pay these compensations..
It should be all the MPs that voted for the illegal war and the MOD.
Not us- we took to the streets as did the entire world to protest the Iraq war.. They did not listen.. is this the democracy they are trying to impose on other countries?
But what is their answer?
Penalize the disabled
Make families homeless
Remove children from families with disability
and place them God only knows where.
Drive people to suicide
I have heard they are withdrawing legal aid for people fighting benefit cases.
They are the grim reapers!
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