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Well, at least that’s how Mr Brown sees it anyway? Now is the time to take the only real action against the present and possible future Tory Government we can as disabled people. Our rights are being eroded on an almost daily basis now and the recent introduction of the “fit note” is only the latest assault on our benefits. This is the action of a desperate Government, a Government which is as usual (and it doesn’t seem to matter who is in power) attacking the easiest and softest target they can.
The disabled population of this country are regularly attacked in the press and portrayed as spongers or scroungers. This is not the case, it is not true and needs to be addressed as a matter of some urgency. The media are only too happy to produce news articles or TV programmes which highlight benefit fraudsters. These programmes are biased and one-sided often giving an uneven view of what they see as “facts”.
Disabled people are often branded scroungers simply because their disability can not be seen instantly. As I am sure many of you are aware, it is extremely difficult to get benefits of any kind when you are disabled, I have several examples of this and wonder how on earth real scroungers get through the system? In the beginning you have the ATOS hurdle after 13 weeks f claiming I.B. or E.S.A. Then there are the hurdles presented to you if you try to claim D.L.A. I have heard of cases taking up to a year and 3 appeals to get benefits to which the claimant is rightfully entitled.
So how do the “scroungers” do it? I am at a complete loss as I hear from disabled people on an almost daily basis who are continually refused/denied access to benefits. So it isn’t easy, its not something that can be done over night, it often takes many months just to qualify.
What can be done? The answer is simple, make the punishment fit the crime, bin ATOS and the draconian “medical” examinations they put us through and spend the money on the court system. Improve the detection equipment available to the DWP, make sure those who are caught fraudulently, yes fraudulently claiming benefits pay for their crime. Take the money back, by fair means like repossessing their property or possessions, make it a criminal offence with a prison sentence attached to fraudulently claim benefits illegally. strengthen the Law so it can be used more effectively against those who openly abuse the system, where a blue badge is misused by a family member or friend make sure you take their car as an example to all who abuse this useful right of the disabled to access parking specifically designed for them. If traffic wardens find a vehicle which does not display a disabled badge whilst in a disabled bay, clamp it and have it towed away.
The answer is simple, penalize those abusing the system instead of branding all disabled applicants for benefits as potential fraudsters!
So Mr Brown, when you were drawing up plans for your future fair for all, did you even consider the power the disabled voter has over your future? I think not.
Vote with your feet at the Local and General elections, tell the present Government and the Tories we don’t want to be governed by them.
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The benefit system can be likened to that of the MP’s expenses system. There are MP’s whom have been ‘transparent’ about their expenses and only claimed for genuine expenses i.e. general office expenses which when split down to less than £3.00 per head of constituent perhaps don’t seem as unacceptable. Then there are those who, like the benefit fraudsters, have clearly bucked the system. The bad apples in the barrel get everybody else a bad name.
Comment by Kate Rowe — April 19, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
Precicely, however, the M.P’s and ATOS alleged “Doctors” see themselves as being above the law. These arrogant fools think they can get away with murder and in the interviews I have seen in connection with M.P’s expenses the general concensus is they dont like being “tarred with the same brush”. Well I say, whats it like to be treated like a thief and a liar? just like every benefit claimant is. http://dwpexaminations.blacktrianglecampaign.org/phpBB3/
Comment by dwpexamination — April 20, 2010 @ 7:11 am
Well there you have it Iain Duncan Smith Knows everything there is to know about Disability and Unemployment.He and his cronies David(lord)for what?Freud,Chris Grayling and it seems the morally bankrupt,egotistical David Blunkett who parades his blindness as a medal to embarass the rest of the disabled community and also with the help of his £64,000 salary and £30,000 bung from A4e can do anything.With enough spin these guys put forward a plan that is difficult to argue against if you can accept the generalising of Disability and Unemployment.For my part I believe every case of Disability is different and can only be judged on it’s own merits.In my case, I have Osteoarthritis,the gang above, if they were to see me would no doubt think I was in the best of health.In fact the pain can be so bad for me I often crave death.Other people with the same condition may have less pain,whilst others, I fear,could have more.To assume finding work is my main aim in life or to assume work will some how improve my condition is the height of fantasy,my one and only aim at this moment in time is to have ONE,I say again ONE,pain free day.
In the great scheme of things my personal disability is at the lower end of the scale and I am sure that a great number of people crave death as a cure for their own personal problems,for politicians to suggest we are lazy or that work is a medical cure is beyond stupidity,i have yet to meet one disabled person who would not swap their disability for the lowest manual job ever invented nor have I ever met a disabled person who would refuse a job that was satisfying to mind and body with a fair renumeration.I am open to suggestions if anyone thinks I am wrong.
Looking at Iain Duncan Smith I can see no signs of disability,however as we all know it isn’t always apparent a person has a problem,If Iain Isn’t disabled I would ask him to partake of an experiment in which I beat his knees with a hammer every night for a week and in the meantime he attends his place of work,one week of his time is all I ask and I assure you he would have a different attitude to the one he has now.To suggest any of their schemes are for the benefit of the disabled is beyond contempt.Privatisation of the NHS and the end of Welfare is the aim,David Freud has already stated there are fortunes to be made for the private sector in the employment market,forcing people to buy private health insurance another way for the private sector to fleece the public.The whole ESA system was thought out by advisors from Unum an American Private health insurance company,who had been charged and found GUITY of defrauding their clients in the USA.Indeed Mansell Aylward the ex chief exec of the DWP is on the board of Unum and in turn he advised the Government.
We have no army to fight our battles,however what we have is a block Disabled and Unemployed VOTE which if it could be brought together would have more influence than any union.Get the votes together and then use the leverage to decide who the block vote goes to IE.Tell us what you intend and we will tell you what we expect.Any party meeting our needs well you know the rest…….Any Suggestions welcome.
Comment by anon — August 1, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Hello All,
Recently I had a fall at work and injured my neck, I spent the first few months virtually unable to move with sever neck pain. I was (and still am)ll forced to sleep lying flat on the floor as it was the only way I can get anywhere near comfortable.
In the day time I was taking diazipam plus numerous other painkillers to help relive the pain. Shortly after as I was unable to continue my original job (wleder) and was made redundent so signed up with “Job Center Plus”. The guy I spoke to told me that I was entitled to incapacity benifit and I started the claim.
Currently I am still undergoing treatment and still suffer severe spasms where all of my neck muscles tighten up resulting in me having to lie down flat on the floor (in pain) for hours / days or until it has subsided.
Recently I recieved a letter and questionaire from ATOS to attend a medical examination.
To me the questionaire dosent seem at all relevent to anyone with a neck injury, I can walk, I can generally raise my arms although but I couldnt lift somthing heavy above my head or even to head height without severe agrivation. I can not turn my neck left or right up or down, so have very little spatial awareness which meens I bump into my surroundings and often other people if i don’t know they are beside me (most embarissing). Due to this I no longer drive as I don’t consider it to be safe to do so.
Some days can be o’k and I’ll have little or no pain other days i’ll be lay on the floor in agony, the symptoms can be triggered by somthing as simple as moving too quickly, or even just having my neck in the wrong posistion.
Two weeks ago I recieved a letter from the DWP telling me that they are stopping my benefits as I haven’t scored highly enough on their system, I was amazed and pretty upset it felt like i was being told that there was nothing wrong with me.
I have phoned the DWP to explain my situation and told them that I am signed off work as my doctor and the specialist dealing with my case don’t consider I am fit for work, and lifting or doing anything that may agrivate tha condition could make things worse than they allready are.
I was totally dumbfounded by the DWP representitives resonse, they told me that despite the doctor and specialist signing me “Unfit for work” they can overide the doctors decision! Surely this cannot be the case?
Surely DWP cannot overide a doctor and say that you are fit for work when your doctor says you are not?
I would love to here any feedback.
Mark
When attending the ‘Medical Examination; I took all of my doctors reports including the doctors note stating that in my current condition I was unfit to work, I also informed the ‘Medical Profesional’ that I am still awaiting some more scans and results and am undergoing regular physiotharapy.
Moving back to the DWP ATOS assesment
Comment by Mark Hansen — August 4, 2011 @ 11:02 am
All please excuse the follwing Paragraph in my above post :-
“When attending the ‘Medical Examination; I took all of my doctors reports including the doctors note stating that in my current condition I was unfit to work, I also informed the ‘Medical Profesional’ that I am still awaiting some more scans and results and am undergoing regular physiotharapy.
Moving back to the DWP ATOS assesment”
It’s not supposed to be there! My mistake.
Comment by Mark Hansen — August 4, 2011 @ 11:06 am
If the DWP find you fit to work you have the right of appeal. As it was an accident at work I take it you have also investigated compensation if you were not at fault? I have been off work for many years and gone through the mill several times over. The introduction of ESA has been a disaster and the propaganda in the media supporting the patronising unelected government makes me sick. I have dreamed of taking some of these decision makers and applying my medical state and watching them continue with their daily lives. Unfortunately sickness/disability is a personal thing. As well as the fluctuation between cases is the ability of the individual to withstand things like pain. PIP is another disaster waiting to happen. I want to launch legal appeals etc. against every attack on the sick/disabled but don’t feel fit enough to take on the challenge. I know from forums, message boards etc. that many feel the same. We are vulnerable and unrepresented and as such make an easy target with the media supporting the scum of Westminster.
Comment by neil — December 16, 2011 @ 1:46 pm
I feel I must share the experience my brother has just been dragged through…he is 62 and has been on IB for a few years with spondulosis arthritus diabetes severe depression and is alchohol dependent and was injured on active service leaving him deaf. he has been summonsed to attend an assesment but as he is house bound and lives in a house where there is steps to get out he hasnt been out for years. to cut it short I have battled to get him a home assesment as I have pulled my back out trying to move him. we eventually got a home trial sorry I mean assesment. it was an hour and twenty minutes of pergotry…the doc purposly speaking low so I had to keep translating. my brother couldnt do the physycal as he is in too much pain so the doc left it. today after 4 weeks the phone rings and it is DWP she was very nice saying that after consideration my brother is no longer entitled to IB but says not to worry as he won’t lose a penny because his money will be made up to what he is getting by increasing his pension credit. he doesnt have to do anything at all his money stays exactly the same.my brother is over the moon, I on the other hand are furious.. all this money wasting.. forms doctors ATOS idiots all costing a fortune to end up with exactly the same money, but on paper it would appear ATOS have successfully got someone off IB and thats all this government wants.. I have asked my brother to appeal as he has a DLA appeal going through and by accepting the decision on IB I feel it would jeperdise the appeal on DLA does anyone know if this is the case?
Comment by Chris — April 3, 2012 @ 3:05 pm
Hello Chris.
Your a breath of fresh air and it’s great to see someone like yourself is looking after him, yes you are correct it’s another person off IB, they are obsessed with figures, the appeal, if he lost just may compromise his DLA, I can’t personally say for sure.
But can I suggest something Chris ? because I want to keep you on the right road, contact your nearest welfare rights or legal aid centre that deals with benefits and ask their professional advice, they know all about this tricky stuff that’s what they get paid for.
They are on your side, if they think its worth it they will give the go ahead and may even help you, if they think the opposite they will tell you and more importantly tell you the reason why..!!
Comment by dwpexamination — April 3, 2012 @ 4:23 pm
Hi Chris
You may like to check out benefitsandwork.co.uk It costs a few quid to join but you will get all the info and help you need to make an appeal or complaint if you want to. Your brother would have been pensioned off anyway to get him off the sick list without having to go through all you have been through but you are right in saying it affects DLA, however you get attendance allowance instead. It is a bit complicated. Otherwise as stated above you could go to the CAB although most have had their funding cut and you will have to be patient to get through to a benefits advisor. There are also time limits on appeals, complaints etc.
Comment by Anonymous — April 3, 2012 @ 4:41 pm
Thank you for your advice. I will definatly be giving welfare rights a call tomorrow.I don’t see how someone who cannot walk dress or wash himself along with a host of other problems should agree that he is not entitled to be on incapacity benefit..it doesnt matter wether the amount of money is less or the same. if they feel fit to give a benefit a title then you should be entitled to that named benefit and not moved to another benefit so that the government can achieve their desired figures. I don’t understand the need for the DWP to inform us by phone call.. is this a regular thing now? it doesnt save time or money as I want everything in writing anyway….I will keep you informed
Chris
Comment by Chris — April 3, 2012 @ 6:07 pm
Hello Chris.
Everyone is being moved from Incapacity benefit to Employment and support allowance, that’s everyone there is no exceptions. I suspect your brother may be entitled to the support group, and the support group is something they are trying to deny people, preferring to lump us all in the WRAG..
The DWP are using the phone to call everyone now, since you quite rightly want everything in writing then saving money is not going to happen as far as you are concerned but it’s amazing how many people actually listen to the crap they talk and don’t even ask for everything in writing, it’s imperative that you get anything important in writing because the DWP are well known for denying they said such and such, they won’t even tell us their real names.
Let us know how you get on Chris…Cheers.
Comment by dwpexamination — April 3, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
This story above talks about fraudulent people claiming benefits. How about this. Atos medical filling fraudulent reports on people.
I have been claiming ESA and DLA since 2010 for mental health reasons.
Last year I had an appointment for a medical with atos for my ESA claim. Unfortunately at the date of this assessment I was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. I went on to stay the for 4 weeks. When I left, I left with a much worse diagnosis and situation which led to me having to move into a mental health project to live.
Now me being the honest guy. I rang up DLA to inform them of my situation and apply for mid rate care as opposed to the low rate I was currently on. Much to my amusement I had a reply in less than a month. The reply stated that atos medical declared me fit and healthy for work on my last appointment. Now as stated before. I wasn’t actually there. I was advised to get in touch with welfare rights, and get them to deal with this. It’s almost been 6 months and still heard nothing.
Am I right in believing that them filling a full fraudulent report, which I was not present at is illegal?
I hope I can hammer them for this.
Comment by Christopher — April 20, 2012 @ 9:00 am
Hello Christopher.
Writing fraudulent reports is stock and trade for ATOS healthcare, but since you weren’t there and can prove you weren’t there then ATOS have got serious problems to solve if you take this further, asking welfare rights for an opinion would be a good idea, also the good folks on the forum would like to hear this, pick a username and log in http://www.dwpexamination.org
Comment by dwpexamination — April 20, 2012 @ 12:55 pm