Hi Peeps. I've moved this comment as I realise it was confusing and should have started off a new blog, so here it is.

[JT_3]

Thanks everyone for the good luck wishes. Tbh there was no point in me going to my appeal. There was a woman from the DWP who pretty much interrogated me, I found her to be almost aggressive. I had kept a diary for a year and gave this to the DWP, I was as honest as I could be in it. Because I was too specific in some entries and not enough in others, and because on what was a good day for me I managed to drag myself round Tesco using the trolley, and then another time that I wrote I was pushed round, I was clearly lying. So basically for me being so honest that we have goodish days and then flare ups, it lost me my appeal. Well that's the way I feel anyway. I wasn't given the opportunity to explain what it was like having fibro and cfs, I was there to answer their questions and ask any I had. I knew I wasn't going to win it, as soon as she started. She picked holes in everything. They don't want to hear about our illness or the pain. Its all very black and white. Because she came at me with all these questions, I got very confused and couldn't answer as I would have liked. It was only when I got home that I realise - I wasn't after higher rate of both! and I didn't claim that I couldn't walk at all, I specifically said I am in no way saying that I cannot walk, but I do so with great difficulty and severe pain. She made it sound like I was claiming I couldn't and was very smug when she thought she caught me out. I didn't stand a chance.

[Hidden]

Bless you it so frustrating having to explain to someone about how fibro affects you !!!!!

unless you have it you dont really get it at all i dont care what anyone says

I so often get asked what is it ? how does it affect you i jus sort of stand there not really knowing where to start to be honest as there are so many strains to it and so much to say i just get lost in what to say

good luck with everything anyway love diddle xxx

[lynz]

sorry you had such a hard time with your appeal ,but iam confused i thought you had been awarded high rate in both ? maybe i read your blog rong ,so does this meen that they will take it away ?

how awful ,they really are nasty pieces of work ,

hugs xxx

[JT_3 in reply to lynz]

Hi lynz, you're right I was awarded higher rate of both BUT that was only on my second application. This appeal was regarding my first appeal in October 2010. I was refused initially, with it being obviously they didn't bother to read my form as the refusal letter I got said completely different to my claim form answers. Then I asked them to look at it again and they eventually came back with lower rate care because I couldn't prepare a cooked meal for myself. My husband had to help me out of bed, wash, use the bathroom, dry, dress and downstairs then do everything for my during the day so I believe I was entitled to more than lower rate care. That is why we went for tribunal. Whilst waiting for that, my one year lower rate care was coming to an end so had to apply again. I did and it wasn't changed, I asked for it to be looked at again, made several phone calls to DWP and lo and behold was given higher rate of both. ( I did have to go and see one of the independent doctors (atos I think they are called), but he was rubbish. This was to do with the first claim but I can't remember at which point I saw him). Our main argument was that the letter from my CFS consultant stated exactly the same in his first letter (for the first claim) as it did in his second (for the second claim, the only addition was that I was suffering much more pain and that is what got me from lower rate to higher rate of both. Again I completely believe it that it is the luck of draw as to who opens your application. Sorry that rambling, I hope it makes sense. I've only slept for an hour last night and that was from 9 -10 this morning, so am in a massive fog. Take care all xx

[Mills]

Oh it gets me soooooooooo mad hearing how we are treated JT!! it's hard enough living with this condition & other health problems without all this begging for your rights!! I used to be earning £20,000 a year & if they think I would rather live on a pittance rather than work they don't know how wrong they are!! I've worked all my life paying into the system & what am I entitled to when I am too sick to work....365 days of ESA....no other payback for all the years I worked!! This country is not looking after it's most vulnerable people any more!! they make you jump through hoops for what little you can claim!! As I said It makes me MAD!! lol. xx

[Linco]

I know exactly how you feel the very same thing happened to me I felt as if I was under interrogation by the gestapo mine was a man and he was ruthless he asked me how often I visit my grandchildren, who stay over 4o miles away, and when I said I dont really as they visit me he said in a derogatory tone "Are you trying to tell me that you dont visit your grandchildren?" he didnt let me explain that my grandchildren are teenage boys who spend most of their free time with their girlfriends and one is a professional footballer who is at training most days so it would be pointless going to visit so it was better that they visited me when they had time I also had the shopping trolley questions I ended up in tears and even the woman from welfare rights who was with me said she had never seen anything like it my daughter put in a letter of complaint and got a reply asking for more information but saying if I was appealing again not to bother as they would get it from me I got a letter and a load of forms saying they had recieved a complaint from my daughter but she hadnt followed it up! the copies of the transcribe of the meeting were incomplete and his findings stated that I drove myself to visit my grandchildren regularly and was able to shop, drive to hospital appointments and do housework by myself all questions I answered no to I wasnt feeling up to dealing with it all as it was so stressful so left everything until I felt I could then I got a letter saying I had passed the deadline and they were closing the case I feel there would have been no point anyway because his statement was downright lies and if he can get away with that then what was the use.

[rosylyn]

hi hun, don't give up write to your MP i have told him how we are being treated he has wrote me a letter for dla tribunal appeal. i told we are getting turned down and how they give you trick questions to try and catch us out . they just don't understand the pain we are in. my MP is fighting for us with fibro and did tell him the government needs to realise this illness not just the medical profession. this MP i a Conservative which surprise's me as it was this government that is changing benefit center. it got that bad my brother in law has had to brain tumors removed and is waiting for the third one to removed very soon the job center pulled him in to see what work can he do the man is brain damaged for god sake.. like you i have worked most of life be tween having children .i will still keep fighting for my illness it is hard work but we have to fight. gentle hugs xxxx

[Hidden]

I went through exactly the same at my tribunal, no its not a tribunal its a bloody lynch mob, I had CAB helping me, and they put in for high mobility and high care. When I got in the room, they said they hadnt got any notes, luckily I had copies so again I went out in the waiting room

When they had read the notes I was summoned in again, they timed how quickly I could walk,

I was told I didnt look illor in pain. I was asked if I was in severe pain why hadnt my gp given me stronger meds, I explained Id changed meds, as I had just been advised by a specialist that my gp wasnt being her job right and I needed more help

I had a social services and OT assessmnet, they didnt even look at them, I was interagated for over an hour, everthing I tried to say I was stopped speaking

I was asked why I wasnt in a wheelchair, I told them I was waiting for one of social services

I was then asked about how bad it gets, by then I was hysterical I cried about how frightening this illness is, that theres no let up.

Everything I told them they picked holes in needless to say I got awarded nothing.

Im sorry to say they are not a tribunal, they are the worst people you could ever meet

[tulips123]

A sense of your frustration and sadness comes through loud and clear in your writing, that woman must have heart of stone not to see that when face to face with you! We cannot predict how we are going to feel tomorrow so how on earth can anyone else sit in judgement and just assume we must be lying? Wish you well, and hope for better things to come, as well as justice!

[Hidden]

it really was horrendous, I would never go to one again, those people are evil. I know they got to check, as theres been so many that have been awarded and then found out they re cheats. I told them I can spend days in bed, I was asked , was I in bed for christmas, I was asked why did I need help to change my pads,they questioned me about my childeren, one was taking her masters degree, that was looked on as negative,my hubby had just started his own business that again was negative,would it be better if we claimed benefits and sat on his arse, we couldnt claim jsa, even though he d always worked it really is a joke

[suejayjay]

I am so shocked at all your horrendous stories! This is what frightens the life out of me and keeps me working.Just! Seems the DWP have had a knee jerk reation and when people who have scammed the system for years are shown up, they lump everyone in the same boat. What happened to inocent until proved guilty? Seems you need to be on your death bed to get anything and even then only if you live in the right area! I see how some of you have husbands/ family who have to help you to do things and even with their testaments they still try and do you out of even the little that should be yours by rights! Most if not all of us have paid into the system, but just try and get something out!! I just can't imagine how some of you manage financially.Having had to claim ESA for 3 months last year I know what little that is. Best bit was, I had been back to work for 3 months, had told every conceivable department,but then got a phone call "inviting me to my ESA medical"!!!! Lady was very put out when I told her I had managed to go back to work altho only part time.Best wishes to all Sue X

[dottiedog]

first thing I need to do is send huge, fluffy gentle hugs to eveyone on this page xxx.

JT_3 it is discusting the way we are all being treated. lally is right they are little hitlers that work in these places. How do they sleep at night? very well i think as they have no souls. Remember the saying " what goes around comes around" or

if you prefer karma? I am not a malicous bad person but I have witnessed people being kocked down & kicked in their teeth by life! I hope that none of the these poeple have to suffer the relentless pain that we go through on a daily basis- but it might kock some sense into them if they walked in our shoes for a day! oh no they couldn't - cos most of us can hardly walk!!!

soft hugs my fibro friends xxx Jill

[fifty]

they always think its thrir own money so sad it didnt work out for you hope things are going to be alright for you xxx

[JT_3]

Thanks all for your supportive comments. They are very much appreciated. Unfortunately I have just 3 months to get myself in some kind of able state to have to go back to work. The ill health insurance my firm takes out for their long term sick employees stops in September and there is no way I could afford to keep my house, so I have no option but to return to work. I said this to The pain management nurse I saw last week and she told me its not realistic but I said losing my house isn't realistic either. If they can get me to where I an able to walk with crutches, to do the hour and a half journey on public transport them I will do it. I just have to convince everyone I can do it to be signed back to work. I don't know how I will do it but its not an option, its a necessity.

[JT_3]

I meant to add, hugs to all xx

[Hidden]

hey kharma hey kharma yes u ..... can i show you a few people that need tobe smacked in the head with the judgemental chairs they sit on... petal

[JT_3]

Ha ha love it! I just hope they get to sleep as comfortably and as well as we do at night!!

[Jeannie]

Just read your blog OMG what a terrible predicament to be in. It's disgusting. God bless you Honey - soft hugs xxxx

[JT_3]

Thanks Jeannie, I appreciate it. But as usual we just have to get on with it and make good as best we can. Is anyone also tired of the constant battles? Weather it be with dwp, doctors, or just with yourself to get out of bed in the morning?

[hamble99b]

the question actually asks about walking without difficulty or pain so if, you cannot, you are "unable or virtually unable to walk."

[hamble99b]

oops! I keep hitting the wrong key. I meant to add go to appeal. join the work and benefit subscription and use the bookllet info to flll in the forms..

sandra99b

[JT_3]

Unfortunately that was my appeal, even though I had lost it before I even got the chance to speak. Sandra you are correct what you say, it does say that and I specifically wrote that I am not saying I cannot walk but that I do so with great difficulty, and with great pain and discomfort. It didn't matter tho, because it was only after, when I had a clearer head and got pretty angry that I was able to remember that. I had woken up in a fog and getting grilled didn't help at all. Still I absolutely agree with you, anyone who has been rejected appeal all the way. At some point they have to admit that they are wrong about us and start believing that what we live with can be horrific. Gentle hugs all. JT