22pagents22

[22pagets22]

Dear everyone is it just me or the media and government talking about economically inactive people feel they are talking about disabled people in chronic pain etc getting the persecution again with pip renewal awards cut or refused and being told nothing wrong with you go get a job etc ie 2014 change from incapacity benefit to esa coming round again I can feel it happening again as we are easy targets for them I hope iam wrong but this is exactly what they were saying then iam prepared to go through my renewal fight again like I did in 2014 I filled in pip renewal in November last year waiting for outcome I would be happy to have award same even though me health has got worse ie my eyesight had 3 eye ops in 18months and when put in paperwork etc I've had these ops feel the pressure and anxiety building on top off constant pain and being bullied into cutting pain meds that work and anxiety of constant increase in price of everything nowadays was paying 68 month every now 192 month cut showers to every other day now

[Blue-52]

I was quite surprised, I got my letter yesterday, and I have been awarded 10 years, so there is some hope .

[Latics1989-90 in reply to Blue-52]

Hi

I'm so pleased for you. xxxx

[Blue-52 in reply to Latics1989-90]

Thank you.

[Latics1989-90 in reply to Blue-52]

You are very welcome xxxx

[22pagets22 in reply to Blue-52]

Congratulations no worries about paperwork for 10yrs how long did you wait for your renewal award letter as I've been waiting since November lol

[Blue-52 in reply to 22pagets22]

Thank you, my pip didn’t run out until this July, but last September I filled out all the forms, I had to call them last week, as we had to tax the car, and you need a year left on your claim, so from there it was a week. Apparently in my case it has to be accessed by a medical professional, and I had all the proof. They did say they are running months behind. Good luck.

[22pagets22 in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you for reply I eould love a award for 5to10yrs as I have every 2 years and they send out forms a year before even though I've had supporting evidence saying my conditions will never improve still seem to be always filling in either esa or pip last time I had both at same time which nearly made me give up until I called up harc a charity in my area and explained iam losing my mind with stress of trying to fill out both forms dealing with getting all evidence from docs gp etc together so would love a better to try and concentrate on getting as well as I possibly can but stress triggers me and then spiral of not sleeping eating only rubbish as can't find energy to do anything

[Blue-52 in reply to 22pagets22]

is it ok to pm you?

[22pagets22 in reply to Blue-52]

Yes sure havnt done before so bear with lol

[Blue-52 in reply to 22pagets22]

don’t worry, you will see a private message, from me, just accept

[rosewine]

The actual statistics gathered by the government includes those such as students, retired, people looking after children, etc and yes disabled people. I do think lately that there seems to be more emphasis on getting disabled people back into work but we know how difficult it can be as there is a derth of suitable jobs out there and many firms just can't make the adjustments required to have a disabled worker. I don't think they realise the stress caused by the battle to get PIP renewal for the genuinely disabled which people could do without when every day is a constant struggle. I do hope you get your renewal without a battle.

[22pagets22 in reply to rosewine]

Thanks for the reply my concern is many of the disabled people can't work due to their health like myself and I can see the writing on the wall where everyone will have to go jobcentres and have work coach's even if you can't work as a condition of receiving your esa pip etc just by the way they keep banging on about it ,they seem to think we are all choosing not to work where in fact most disabled would rather be healthy and able to work but to presume all disabled with help or training can work is scary and can see many more people being bullied to suicide or not claiming for what they are entitled to its bad enough now how many hoops you go through every year sometimes going over same stuff again and again degrading assessments when doctors writing evidence saying never going to get better why put people through it year after year

[rosewine in reply to 22pagets22]

I can remwhen I had to give up work and I was seen by a Disability Officer at the Job Centre. He had a look at my file, read the report from an Occupational therapist and asked me loads of questions. He then said he was going to do a report saying in his expert opinion I would unfortunately not be fit enough to do paid work again. Yes you can guess the next bit, assessment and the nurse agreed with him. Next assessment and I barely got any points despite my health remaining the same. The letter said the decision had been made on the grounds of my assessment and a report from my GP. I asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration and said I couldn't wait for a tribunal as they would be laughed out of court. My Gp had never even been asked to do a report and was willing to do a letter stating that fact so their decision had been based on something that never existed. It was my GP who told me to give up work. Strangely within a week they had decided to reinstate my claim. Even though I knew I had a good case I still went through the gamit of negative emotions.

I also helped my husband go to tribunal and it took 2 years and two tribunals for him to go from O points to 20 points for his ESa. He actually had a apology from the judge who said they would be writing a strongly worded letter to the DWP telling them the initial decision had been faulty and that my husband should never had to endure two years of anxiety.

It just seems to be a box ticking exercise with them. My doctor will no longer do any supporting letters as he feels that his expert opinion isn't taken into account when he has had patients who are permanently in a wheelchair being passed as fit.

Both of us have said we would be happy to give up everything we have if onky we could get our health back.

[22pagets22 in reply to rosewine]

Bless you and your hubby been through it also I got to the mandatory reconsideration stage and said I willing to go to court/tribunal because I listed 30 lies and said I wanted my say . In the end of week had letter stating they had looked again and put me In support group esa and had similar thing with pip but this time I asked for recordings and copies of report also sent so much supporting evidence that it took 2 A4 envelopes sent recorded delivery also a letter from gp and consultant at my cost of about 90 pounds because in the past none of my health professionals were contacted etc but its the news and negative attitude of government at the moment that makes me feel disabled people and people who manage to work a bit with pip will start to see more stress and persecution to come I hope iam wrong but my gut feeling is we are in for a rough and degrading few years and come the time people on income related esa are forced onto uc they will be worse off even tho the government said they wouldn't. I myself when moved over from incapacity benefit the dwp wrong lynx put thousands of people on wrong esa and were made to exist with £50 to £60poubds aweek less money than they were entitled to also they missed out on other things like free prescription and housing benefit in some cases when dwp wrote to me saying they had made a mistake and backdated nearly 5 years money that I was due but not given I went without heating any new clothes and eat rubbish when I finally got money backdated no interest was added or even a apology so I hate dealing with them dwp and the atos capita bunch of to,,ers lol

[LadyJoro in reply to 22pagets22]

Not working should never be a condition of ESA, it just reduces what you get.

Working has no relevance to PIP

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi - concerning the govt's white paper on health & disability, then their proposal is to try & help those disabled people who want to work, & who often face obstacles in gaining or staying in employment, to be employed; the same for some older people without a disability. However, this is just a proposal, & we don't know if the same govt will be in power down the line. Even if they are, then some things wouldn't be put into place until 2027 at the earliest.

It would seem PIP is here to stay, as it has largely replaced DLA; it's by no means perfect, but since it's been around for 10 years at least advice can be sought (from a Welfare Rights Office, Citizens Advice, etc.), & also gained from forums such as this.

Unfortunately with PIP the onus is on the claimant, as it's rare for the DWP to contact your GP/specialists. You can however request your medical records, which is free: nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

Sometimes medical records just repeat a diagnosis, & are not always relevant to the PIP activities/descriptors.......your Drs don't see you dress, cook, use the bathroom, etc. Sometimes, less is also more.

The most important info is that which you describe in detail pertaining to the activities that are looked at with PIP. Also important to note that many people work & also receive PIP.

As far as moving over to UC from legacy benefits, you can see here: gov.uk/government/news/mana... that the govt says, 'Everyone moving over from legacy benefits will have their entitlement to Universal Credit assessed against their current claims, with top up payments available for eligible claimants whose entitlement would have been reduced because of the change – ensuring they receive the same entitlement as on a legacy system.' Unless sure, it's best to wait until you are moved over to UC by the DWP, if you read this link a little further.

I'm sorry for the DWP's errors in the past as far as you were concerned (& unfortunately you were not alone); again I'd say there's benefits knowledge available, but always remember the DWP don't give benefits advice, & if you 'call' them, you are just talking to a call handler who shouldn't be attempting to advise, tho some think they can!

[1whitestar]

I agree with you. They are from another world.

[LadyJoro]

There is a lot of information about changes coming out at the minute.

The proposals include

Doing away with work capability assessments for additional UC payments

Only those getting PIP will receive additional UC payments previously awarded for Limited work capability.

Although not directly stated I suspect ESA won’t exist soon.

While this system will benefit some it looks like a bigger headache for those with variable conditions and pain being the issue

[22pagets22]

Thanks for reply it's like an assessor said to me after leaving atos to work for charity helping people through the minefield of paperwork of esa and pip they told me the targets they had to refuse so that not too many people got swards first time hoping some would give up then certain amount would get an award at mandatory reconsideration stage and then people who are forced to get to tribunal stage a greater number win at that stage but why do we have to fight a system set up to incentives assessor to fail people no other way than they had there quota of awards given and that is from someone who worked for these cowboys I have seen it in need all the negative comments and talk of disabled people were working the government could lower taxes by 2p is clearly a ploy to turn people against the disabled again like in 2014 when disabled people were abused in the street and still a atmosphere of somehow if you disabled your playing the system which is wrong in so many cases

[BlueTofu]

Yes, 'economically inactive ' as though we are useless and totally freeloaders. That people only have value through money. Actually we still spend our benefit money on things like food and things we need to survive! As for the whole benefit system...

[22pagets22 in reply to BlueTofu]

Thanks for reply totally agree I can feel the storm coming more hoops and being forced to have work coaches even if u can't work due to health issues I myself suffer from chronic pain mobility issues along with other health issues which I have to take medication that makes me tired and illness that causes me to have anxiety and depression stress and paperwork causes me to have dark moods or suicidal thoughts on assessment I was asked why I had not killed myself yet !!!

[BlueTofu]

What?!!! It's like they're telling you, you should have killed yourself! They dismissed my emotional and my mobility issues, but I just scrapped everyday in PIP. I can't work although I 'look ok'. People don't get the restrictions, if only could live a month of our lives.

[BlueTofu]

Sorry fingers! I got everyday PIP, and if only they could live a month of our lives.

[22pagets22 in reply to BlueTofu]

Yes or had to go through the paperwork and system to really understand and maybe just maybe we would get bit more respect and empathy but I won't hold my breath lol . Gallow humour