Department for work and pensions (UK)

I'm even madder now. Just lost an hours typing.

First time my claim was stopped because the DWP said my meds were just average.
After sixteen months the tribunal found in my favour, calling the DWP "ridiculous" because two of my meds are controlled drugs which require additional ID at the pharmacy and I could get arrested if caught in possession without a prescription.

Second time they said I couldn't possibly be depressed because my clothes were "too normal". Diagnosis by wardrobe. I had no idea that I was supposed to buy a special outfit!!!
The tribunal found in my favour again but that appeal took fourteen months!

This time a fake Dr filed a fraudulent report with large omissions and a few downright lies...results for tests I did NOT take.
I can't appeal just yet, they've changed the system.

Cont...

a reply to: Tulpa

Same thing happens in the US, but we pay 3X as much for the run around.

a reply to: Tulpa

Lost another. Dammit.

This time I had to send additional info in support of my claim. Three surgeons, two doctors and two psychiatrists tell me I have problems but the DWP won't accept that.

I sent the letter off and waited.
After a £9.80p phone call they lied and said they hadn't received it. I know that's a lie because they say the same thing every time I send something. They need a new line.

Anyway, I'm still waiting and I'm as mad as hell.

I could be dead by now from starvation but my Pee and Em are still alive and their pensions just about feed me.

It is a nightmare. Constant pain from an exploded disc and a load of scar tissue around my sciatic nerve. I've had surgery twice but the surgeon won't go near me again because its a dirty mess in there. My discs are gonig soft and my spine is starting to distort.
On top of that I suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks and chronic insomnia.

What do I do???

Cont.

a reply to: Tulpa

I'd like to fill this thread with your experiences with the DWP and their lies and delaying tactics. I'm sick of them getting away with this and I'd like a record of their crimes because I'm sure someone will see this.

Hang on sorry. Bloody phones overheating.

a reply to: Tulpa

People have died because of the DWP. At first they denied it. They were caught out lying so then went on to try and hide the true figures. Next they tried to blame ATOS the company they hired to do the dirty work (no FOIA access) but they cancelled the contract and the DWP are pressing ahead on an identical track.

How can I get the blighters to pay? They need to be held to account. I would really like to get the doctor who did my assessment fired because she really lied on the official report, even though I had asked for the assessment to be recorded.

One comparison of the recording against her report will clearly prove where she was lying and which parts she conveniently left out. I was made to sign a document saying I wouldn't use the recording for anything but wouldn't even let me keep a copy of that! Is that even legal???

I'm tempted to hand a copy of the CD and her report to a national newspaper and expose them for the fraudsters that they are but I imagine that would be bad for me.

I'm selling my collection of weirdness on eBay but its not bringing in much money and I fear I will be forced into crime to survive.

Does anyone have advice about what to do next? If I wait much longer I will starve.

I'd like anyone in my situation to add to this thread and expose the lying, cheating fraudsters for what they are. We have more cuts on the way and the DWP are literally getting away with murder. They are attacking the most vulnerable in our society with a callousness that is on a par with the Na...
You know who.

I'm sick of this. I worked all the years I could and am now left to suffer excruciating, constant pain and my government would rather give millions away in foreign aid while miserably failing those who need protection. Its disgusting and the people who work for them must be disgusting too. I had to get this off my chest and there must be others who have a nightmare story too.

Why are the DWP trying to kill me??? Why does my government want me dead???

What can we do about it but rant?

Sorry this isn't too coherent for a first thread but I'm tired, shakey and in pain. I'd also like to see the DWP in the next ISIS video.

Thank you for your time.

Is this what happens with government controlled healthcare?? Is this the soon to be nightmare that's coming to US soil??

a reply to: WUNK22

Its not the treatment that's been the problem. The hospital have done their best.
Its the benefit system (welfare). I was claiming Employment and support allowance, known as ESA. I'm not yet bad enough to be classed as disabled but I cannot work so if I tried to claim jobseekers allowance it would be me committing the fraud!

Their trick is to cut your money off and hope you don't appeal. Of course, people do appeal and that's why it takes over a year to get to tribunal because of the backlog. The appeals tribunal are very well aware that the DWP are playing games and my last appearance before the court took thirty seconds and there was a lot of disgust from them about how I've been treated.

Its only going to get worse, I fear.

I really feel your pain, i have really suffered with two discs, one bulged disc, two discs with annular and posterear tears.
Yours is far worse than mine so I cant imagine just how much you are suffering.

I really hope you get your money soon and can try and move on with one less thing to worry about.
What surgery did you have? Spinal fusion?

a reply to: SoEpic

Thats rough.
I can't get the fusing thing done. They call my problem degenerative disc disease but I'm pretty sure that's code for "we're not really sure", or at least that description covers a range of things.
Suffered sciatica for a long time with a bulge but that came and went.

It wasn't too bad. I used to cycle and one day after coming home up a steepish hill just down the lane, I got off the bike, walking in the house then BANG!!!
Felt like I'd been shot in the base if my spine. Couldn't feel my legs, screamed the house down til an ambulance arrived and the propped me up at an angle in a hospital bed and pumped me with morphine on a drip for four days.

First operation was to scoop out the bits of disc that had spread out from the joint. I had to wait almost four years for that operation so the nerve was shoved out to one side. The second operation was to remove scar tissue and more disc bits. The scar tissue is clumped around that nerve now so its constantly firing and I can't do a thing about it but eat useless painkillers. I'm on about the best my doc dares to give me. That was organised by a pain management specialist.

My doc worries that if I have to move up another notch I may become addicted. Well durrrrr doc, its not as if I can stop taking the ones I'm on now is it?

I suspect they really could do more but also suspect I've used up my "ration" of treatment so that, as they say, is that.

originally posted by: WUNK22
Is this what happens with government controlled healthcare?? Is this the soon to be nightmare that's coming to US soil??

Absolutely nothing to do with the healthcare. Didn't you read the bit about his doctors backing his claim.

This is about welfare for disabilities and the government trying to claw back pennies from sick people in order to fund the rich. They "contract out" the assessment system to private companies who haven't a fricking clue. But as per usual "private is good", "public is bad" brainwashes people into believing that this is the best way forward. In the past your GP would have signed the papers saying you are in need of help. By contracting out the Tory governments "friends" make millions.

But hey ho until enough people stop being brainwashed by this contracting out nonsense things will only get worse as yet more of our taxes are siphoned off to the Tory parties pals.

Oh and the right wing press always find somebody who is faking their disability to "prove" that this method of assessment is needed. I suspect the GP's can spot fakes !....just a hunch.

a reply to: yorkshirelad

Iain Duncan Smith started all this. He then hit his shame limit and ran away. He tried to pass it off as an honourable thing and didn't want to preside over more cuts.
It was really just a cowardly buck-pass to spread the blame.

Theresa May did a real newspeak moment in a speech about helping mental health issues. She said WE must do more as a society.
This translates as...
We are going to do LESS as a government.

And TV is just as bad. There's about five different shows on about life on the dole and they always show the worst people they can find to make everyone assume that unemployed means lazy.

They never show some normal family who've ended up on the street with their lives ruined because of this policy.

Its sick.

a reply to: Tulpa

I am feeling bad for your situation. It is the last thing you need when you are poorly to have to worry about finances so. I have been there myself so know how hard it is. I hope it gets better for you and you can win your case.

There are organizations that can help you. They will help you, too, and they are in every area of the UK.

When filling in forms and taking part in assessments you must always state how things are when you are at your worst. That is the PROBLEM that makes it not possible for you to work. Illnesses have peaks and troughs, but you must answer how it is affecting you at its worst, every time.

I wish I could offer better advice, but that is all I can say.

Take good care and lots of healing vibes.

a reply to: Tulpa

Tulpa,

Unfortunately, nothing you have said in this thread surprises me in the least. The Conservative government, in association with its private industry partners, have deconstructed and re-purposed the DWP into a machine whose entire reason for existence, seems to be to ensure that as many people either commit suicide or simply suffer, totally unsupported, for as long as the government can get away with not paying anything toward the upkeep of the sick, the disabled, the elderly and the otherwise in need.

It is well nigh time, that we took the Conservatives not just out of power, but banned the party and everyone who has ever been in it, from ever attaining public office again, not to mention having them all arrested, as well as their private partners, for crimes against the people, reckless endangerment, institutionalising the emotional abuse of the defenceless, and general violations of common decency.

This is especially frustrating for me to read!
The dwp seem to adopt the attitude that if it can't be seen it can't be real. This is humiliating for anyone suffering from any mental illness and more needs to be done to stop this from happening.
I can directly relate to your struggles and having to deal with ignorant or just plain insensitive people can bring you down.
I would suggest that any correspondence sent to the dwp should be sent recorded/special delivery so they cannot deny you sent it. Also i would make photocopies of everything you send because chances are they will have to be sent again.

Also it doesn't hurt to call the assessment centre and ask for the name of the person giving the assessment, this will give you opportunity to research their qualifications if any in the mental health field. And make requests accordingly.
I would also suggest researching Atos/Capita and Maximus. They are the biggest private companies running assessments on behalf of the dwp. There is a wealth of horror stories regarding dealings with these government sponsored bullies.
The UK government contracts these scum to weed out the "workshy" as they would put it. But in the process they have put thousands of the most vulnerable at risk and in some cases this has led to death.
But the worst part in my opinion is the efficiency of this system as a fair percentage of those denied disability benefits will have their claim awarded at an independent tribunal. This is a lengthy process that could cost the courts and the dwp money. Between the costs of contracting private companies who hire physiotherapists to conduct health assessments and all the other costs i wonder how much money they really save.

a reply to: WUNK22

Maximus is a US owned company who were actually contracted in the US to perform similar tasks. If i remember correctly they cost the state of Wisconsin somewhere in the region of $40m because of their imcompetence. They are discriminate towards women and the disabled and there have also been claims of fraud against them. Then the UK hired them to basically do the same thing over here.

a reply to: thomadom

Thank you.
And TrueBrit and Revolution9.
I know I'm not the only one.
Trying to find an advocacy group locally. First appeal I had help from Citizens Advice Bureau. They were good. Second one I dealt with myself. Its not so bad when you've seen what to do.

It is frustrating. You can't see depression and I'm one of those idiots who puts a brave face on in public. You grow to become a good actor.
My limp isn't too bad but walking gets slower and slower until I stop or fall over.

The pins and needles are bad. Stings! Feels like my leg is being crushed in a vice too.

On a lighter note. When my leg suddenly goes numb, it just crumples and I keel over.
I have to admit it makes me laugh! So far I've not landed badly or hurt myself more...
So far...
Peoples reactions can be hilarious. I like the ones who pretend not to notice and keep walking. Bless 'em.

I must try and sleep for a while. I'm talking palt and sepper again with chish and fips. If you get me?
Back in a bit.

a reply to: Tulpa

It's actually rather sad when i hear people have to hide what they are going through. You didn't chose your illness and the shame is not yours. That is reserved solely for those people who would stigmatise your condition because of their own lack of understanding or care.

I have added a link to a checklist of all the questions that may/should be asked during an assessment for PIP and ESA along with the points awarded for each descriptor. Remember 8 points for PIP. 15 points for ESA. At this point i think this will just be for future reference should you be reassessed.

PIP

ESA

Good luck.

I feel for all of you having issues with the DWP. As a carer to two claimants (one DLA and now currently transferring to PIP) I think we have been very lucky that the DWP have seen us good in the past. That being said, the medical records for my toddler far exceed even my own (with a 30 year head start) so the figures should speak for themselves to the assessors.

We are now awaiting the decision following the face-to-face for PIP. I had seen the point scoring that thomadon links on another website and from knowing my wife would hope she gets Enhanced care and Standard mobility. Even if she gets standard on both I would probably not appeal though as there are people in far more need than us.

What really bugs me though is the amount of financial assistance that is taken away from us as a family.

• As my toddler needs regular but unpredictable help - my wife is a stay at home and does not claim ESA
  
• To ensure a quality of life for my family I then do most of the housework and food preparation - result is average of 4 hours sleep - 7 days a week - ergo do just as much as a full time carer for free
  

but at the same time

• As I work full time (42 hour shift-work week) - I don't qualify for carers allowance
  
• As I earn over £50k (so about £35k after tax) I have to pay back a large part of the child benefit
  
• We own our own home, so am not entitled to financial help from the local council
  
• If I quit my job to earn carer allowance we will end up losing our home.
  

We just seem to get hammered left right and center financially. We don't qualify for some relief because of the financial test as a family, but have to then send some back because I fail the financial test as an individual.

a reply to: TwistedPsycho

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.
I would recommend at least requesting a mandatory reconsideration, even if they award the claimant standard rates. It is unlikely an award would be denied after a reconsideration if it has already been awarded by the DWP.
Always put a mandatory reconsideration request in writing after reading the decision makers statement of reasons. Also you can ask for a copy of the assesors report (which the dwp use to make their decision). This can give you the opportunity to dispute any descriptor and give the claimant the opportunity to further describe why the descriptors awarded did not reflect their situation.
I hope your wife gets the award that adequately reflects her needs, i know how far it can go to relieving stress on your family which is a massive contributing factor to many illnesses. Good luck.

The Department for Work and Pensions are a joke.