Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:56 am  

Hull White Star wrote:

Yes its that simple as to whether I will lose my independence and become housebound or not. All the way through the consultations with disability groups and charities the government had set the criteria for getting high rate mobility the same as DLA, 50 metres. But what they didn't do with DLA was to ascertain as to whether you could walk 50 metres reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely fashion. If you could walk 50 metres in say, 10 hours, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine, then you ticked the box "yes, I can walk 50 metres" and move on to the next question. No room to explain the pain, or why it took you 10 hours or the dosage of morphine, just a "yes I can" and get 0 points. (You need 12 points to get high rate mobility component). Then at the end of January they moved the goal posts even further (to the moon if you ask me) and dropped the 50 metres to 20 metres. They have no shame on what they are going to do to most disabled people, no shame at all.

I am sure Mrs D has been advised to apply for the higher rate mobility component for Miss D (who can walk miles alot of the time).

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:59 am  

El Barbudo wrote:

Someone I know recently underwent surgery in which his abdomen was opened from the sternum to the pubis.
Four days later he walked 100 metres to the car to be taken home.
Was he fit for work?
Of course he wasn't.
But he'd have got the tick in the box for walking 20 (or 50) metres.

It's cruel and simplistic bollox to allow the rich to keep more of "their" money.

Yes, the forms for all these things are rubbish and do not fit with many people's needs and difficulties. They need to write down the facts backed up with evidence / medical opinion / etc and explain the form is wholly inappropriate. Make the idiots who process them do some work and read them.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:04 am  

Dally wrote:

I am sure Mrs D has been advised to apply for the higher rate mobility component for Miss D (who can walk miles alot of the time).

But can she not walk miles for some of the time? The old DLA forms and decisions were based on fluctating conditions and accounted for that, the new PIP forms (which come in this April) do not, so Miss D will be applying for DLA now but will be invited to apply for PIP when her DLA runs out. If its an indefinate award, she will be invited to apply after 2015. Note the word "invited".

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:10 am  

Hull White Star wrote:

As a person on ESA, I have just gone through my paperwork which I receive every year. In the 9 years I have been claiming my IB/ESA (basic rate) has gone up by a grand total £15, increasing in small amounts ie £2 or so every year. My ESA amount has stayed the same for the last 3 years (2010/11/12), I got the 5% rise which was introduced in 2012 but because ESA is made up of differing components I received a 5% raise in one component only to have the next component reduced to exactly the same monetry amount so I received exactly the same amount whilst being shouted down by right wingers how disgraceful it was I had such a huge rise!!

My benefit hasn't changed amounts in 3 years and I will get 1% of £96 this April, in effect only changing by pennies in 4 years, and yet STILL benefit claimants are the scroungers, spongers and lazy workshy that can afford 50" plasmas, 4 holidays abroad, smoke, drink and buy drugs, eh Sal?

You are lucky to only fill in the form annually. Miss D was awarded ESA for a week or so pre 5 April 2012. By September she had received nothing for 2012/13. Upon enquiry by Mrs D they had unilaterally closed the claim because Miss D's "circumstances had changed". There had been no change. It transpired that she had not submitted a new medical certificate. Mrs D pointed out that she had submitted a 12 month one with the original application. They said they only accepted 3 month ones. When it was pointed out that no one had advised on that, they had just closed the case uniltaterally the idiot said "do you still want to claim?" and was not impressed by the answer "have you taken your salary these last 6 months? Why did you want it?" They then decided a 12 month certificate was fine - that was early October.

Come January - 9 + months without income for a person with no prospect of working or able to self-medicate - nothing, despite their previous assurances. That's when I drafted a letter. Had we not been supporting her the consequences are unthinkable. Just got a reply saying the arrears have been credited to the bank. They have thus far ignored the "formal complaint" aspect of my letter, presumably thinking they'd just pay and we'd forget about it. I am afraid that will not happen. There are disabled people who would love to work but cannot, whereas there are people employed to supposedly help them you turn up to a place of work, take money from the state but do not do their work. It is a scandal and they must be held accountable.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:52 am  

Dally wrote:

You are lucky to only fill in the form annually. Miss D was awarded ESA for a week or so pre 5 April 2012. By September she had received nothing for 2012/13. Upon enquiry by Mrs D they had unilaterally closed the claim becaise Miss D's "circumstances had changed". There had been no change. It transpired that she had not submitted a new medical certificate. Mrs D pointed out that she had submitted a 12 month one with the original application. They said they only accepted 3 month ones. When it was pointed out that no one had advised on that they had just closed the case uniltaterally they idiot said "do you still want to claim?" and was not impressed by the answer "have you taken your salary these last 6 months? Why dis you want it?" They then decided a 12 month certificate was fine - that was early October.

Come January - 9 + months without income for a person with no prospect of working or able to self-medicate - nothing, despite their previous assurances. That's when I drafted a letter. Had we not been supporting her the consequences are unthinkable. Just got a reply saying the arrears have been credited to the bank. They have thus far ignored the "formal complaint" aspect of my letter, presumably thinking they'd just pay and we'd forget about it. I am afraid that will not happen. There are disabled people who would love to work but cannot, whereas there are people employed to supposedly help them you turn up to a place of work, take money from the state but do not do their work. It is a scandal and they must be held accountable.

I can totally sympathyse. It is not acceptable to be without an income for 9 months and while you do get the money backdated, if Miss D didn't have you and Mrs D and lived independently she would be royally Donald Ducked.

I would love to work. I am a sociable person, who loves company and loves being busy, but I had a scan on my "good" foot last week to be told I need another foot fusion requiring 12 weeks in pot, 6 weeks non weigh bearing, what employer would employ me on that basis? Not to mention the pain I am in at the moment.

I am lucky I got into the Support Group for 2 years so don't have to see a dreaded ESA50 form for at least another 18 months. But then the cycle will start again, repeating everything that they already have in front of them.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:20 pm  

Hull White Star wrote:

Yes its that simple as to whether I will lose my independence and become housebound or not. All the way through the consultations with disability groups and charities the government had set the criteria for getting high rate mobility the same as DLA, 50 metres. But what they didn't do with DLA was to ascertain as to whether you could walk 50 metres reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely fashion. If you could walk 50 metres in say, 10 hours, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine, then you ticked the box "yes, I can walk 50 metres" and move on to the next question. No room to explain the pain, or why it took you 10 hours or the dosage of morphine, just a "yes I can" and get 0 points. (You need 12 points to get high rate mobility component). Then at the end of January they moved the goal posts even further (to the moon if you ask me) and dropped the 50 metres to 20 metres. They have no shame on what they are going to do to most disabled people, no shame at all.

then you answer 'no'.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:23 pm  

Big Graeme wrote:

Well going by the way you assume anyone against the current government is a card carrying member of the labour party then I'd say you were a UKIP'er.

no, i don't. and, nope.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:25 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Without treading carefully I can confidently state that I haven't the slightest interest in which political party you support, but thanks for continuing to promote the issue of football supporter politics - you just don't get it do you ?

you clearly do, as you keep wheeling out this ridiculous analogy. for it to be even remotely true, i must have 'a team'.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:47 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

Someone I know recently underwent surgery in which his abdomen was opened from the sternum to the pubis.
Four days later he walked 100 metres to the car to be taken home.
Was he fit for work?
Of course he wasn't.
But he'd have got the tick in the box for walking 20 (or 50) metres.

It's cruel and simplistic bollox to allow the rich to keep more of "their" money.

Different tests and different benefits mate.

Re: Cameron reprimanded for false claim on debt : Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:49 pm  

samwire wrote:

then you answer 'no'.

The only no answer is if you are in a wheelchair with no means to self propel. Yep, even if you can self propel in a wheelchair only scores you low points, a motorised wheelchair or mobilty scooter scores you 0 points as you have the means to "travel" 20 metres. I am hoping when it comes to mine they take into account the damage to my wrists, hands and shoulder and realise I can't self propel. Even then you need proof that you can't do it. A leg amputee has no excuse either, having a prosthetic leg scores low points too