Performance and measurement team

[Rosilecrow]

Just had letter to say I'm to get a visit from performance and measurement team. Anyone heard of this please as don't know what to think.

[Rose54]

Performance Measurement review officer may visit you if you’re claiming:

Employment and Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Pension Credit

Your name is selected at random to be checked.

You won’t always get a letter in advance telling you about the visit.

What to expect The officer will interview you in your home and will want to see 2 forms of identification.

They’ll also ask to see documents about money, savings and rent,

eg: - payslips

- bank, building society or Post Office accounts -

rent book or tenancy agreement -

benefits and tax credit

[mattoid-mags in reply to Rose54]

Wow, I never heard of the likes of this before and I don't like it.

The thought that some stranger can come to your door and demand to see personal documents etc...

Outrageous!!!

Shudder!!! 👿👿👿

[applesandoranges21 in reply to mattoid-mags]

I agree. Can you get some free legal advice say from Human Rights lawyer.

[Rosilecrow in reply to mattoid-mags]

Had the assessment an learnt was assessing my ESA. A coincidence that had also been radomly selected to have my housing benefit reviewed!!!!!! So 2 sets of my 3 bank accounts. 2 empty for years!!! Now waiting, hopefully won't hear anything. Meaning all OK. Sadly, however, have had relapse with my back. Full on sciatica and awful headache 4 days. Stress of it all just floored me. Depressed, hate myself that so weak. Push everyone away as know not "fun" b around. Any1 eles get like this????

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

yes - have heard of this happening more & more .... they say its to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of benefit - in case there is something you should be getting that you are not. they say its at random .... but i know if i personally got a letter saying they needed to check all my financials then it would stress me out that they thought I was trying to cheat the system or something

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Are you sure its to try to give you more or take some back?? Its a shame we have so many cheats in our nation, maybe they should go after those few who they suspect and leave us really disabled alone? I would want some I.D and make a fone call before I let anyone like that in, you cannot be too careful really.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff in reply to Hidden]

who knows what the real reason behind it is. the actual percentage for disability cheats is very low (less than 1% I'm sure - brain fog really bad this morning). but yes - if someone turns up at your door unexpected - always should ask for ID and confirm they are who they say they are.

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

1% might seem a small number but when its totted up what benefits they are claiming it can be a large amount,, when i got ESA it was given from a local budget, I remember having to call a local number, give my N.I no. and wait for a call back, my assessment was over the fone (maybe that system has changed now) what I.m getting at is IF ESA is from local budgets 1% is a lot...

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff in reply to Hidden]

all benefits now come from central government - not local (I thought it was always central - but I may be mistaken).

I appreciate that the actual amount claimed fraudulently can be a large amount ... however - it also means that 99% of claims are genuine.

[Rosilecrow in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you for your comment. Yes, it has really stressed me out as in so much pain at mo and so much eles happening. Don't know if coming or going. Have had 3 spinal ops. Last one screwed up left in constant pain. Have arthritis, and fibromyalgia following 17 years using crutches pushing weight to 1 side and year ago told had wet macular degeneration and would loose central vision of both eyes. Have lost left praying to keep right for bit longer. Got pain clinic saying want to take me of pain meds. In physeptone/methadone tabs. They say opiates bad and causing extreme sensitivity throughout body and now have this performance and measurement visitor coming. I trust none of them anymore. UC leaving trail of misery and destruction. Return to facism unbelievably sad... We are now the worthless in society!!!!

[Hidden in reply to Rosilecrow]

Hi hun can I ask where in uk you live? are you not getting physio support? after all that surgery the trust should be ashamed of themsleves if yo,uve been left to deal with it.

[Rosilecrow in reply to Hidden]

Many thanx for reply and apologies so long getting back. First few yes had physio support but because I was so diligent and did as told decided I could self maintain!! Hands and feet screwed up with arthritis bones in both fusing now making walking or using hands difficult an painful. Therefore now exercising v difficult. Saw physio 4 months ago. Could offer nothing except a Walker. Ironically it causes extreme pain an stress in my wrists. The leaning 4ward really kills my back as Said it would. Ironic world we live in. Love an gentle hugs. Xxx

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff in reply to Rosilecrow]

hugs. you certainly have a lot going on - and the stress of it all builds up.

research has shown that long term use of opiates for chronic pain often does not have the best benefits - although for some people opiates are the only thing that works (especially when you have more than one type of pain going on). However, sometimes we are on medication so long that we do not actually know if it is still working. So a pain med review is a good thing on a regular basis.

my recent experience - i've been on max dose of pregabalin for 5+ years, and gp recently wanted to try taking me off it because of other health issues. i was horrified when she mentioned this as i depended on it for my fibro pain. but we agreed i would slowly cut down and see how I got on ..... I have now cut down from 600mg to 125mg daily. So hopefully if they do take you off your current meds - they will be able to try you on something else which may work better for you.

I've not had any personal experience of UC yet - but from what I hear it is not working out the way it was meant to ...and causing lots of problems for people who are on it. xxx