Hey hey...
I've never claimed benefits, I went to school, college and then work and haven't stopped since then.
Now I find myself unemployed and looking at the very real possibility that I am gonna have to "sign on". Let's face it who is going to employ someone when they tell them you're on the waiting list for a new liver and at any minute could get a phone call and would have to drop everything and go and then potentially not come back for six or more months. Add on top of that you may get a number of false alarms prior plus days off for hospital appointments and the likelihood that you'll have above average sickness.... blah blah blah
Anyway. From what I understand a lot of the benefits we can claim require face to face interviews/assessments? We've probably all experienced what it's like having an invisible illness, friends telling you you look great, never really understanding how you actually feel despite you're outward appearance. I know this is the case with me. So what chance do we really have in one of these assessments?
I'm a big lad, 6'2" and look relatively fit and functional. To look at me you wouldn't think anything was wrong. I realise that you back up what you are telling these guys with medical certificates etc but when they see me stride into their office it's Shirley got to put them in doubt.
I understand the reasons for being thorough but Shirley it should be once you are diagnosed with something like we all have it should just be a matter of a tick box exercise, it's not like we can fake a good sick cough to our boss to cover up a duvet day.