I've just got back from a wrag interview thing at the jobcentre.
I didn't realise when the year of contributions run out you have to chase to be income assessed - the starting assumption is that you don't need the money.
That's ridiculous.
I've just got back from a wrag interview thing at the jobcentre.
I didn't realise when the year of contributions run out you have to chase to be income assessed - the starting assumption is that you don't need the money.
Bad move IMO. You can't let the buggers win. Perhaps she could request a home assessment? Or ask that an assessment should wait until after the PETT scan?
No or at least my sister didn't when she acompanied me.
Oh I know that, and I think she's said she'll only have a home assessment. She had breast cancer over 5 years ago and has since had nearly 20 breast operations plus a pacemaker fitted. She just can't be arsed to fight any more, and I don't think anyone has said she can't have a home visit, I just think she can't be dealing with anyone until she has latest results. She's in bits at the moment worried the cancer's come back and spread
No worries, best of luck.Thanks both...
I hope the results are good. I understand that she only has so much fight in here at the moment - and I think this is what the people behind the benefits system fail to understand. People on benefits aren't living a life of luxury, they're struggling to get through the day because of health issues and not having to worry about losing their homes or paying the bills can have a huge impact of their illness and recovery. Give them more stress and it will undoubtedly kill some of themOh I know that, and I think she's said she'll only have a home assessment. She had breast cancer over 5 years ago and has since had nearly 20 breast operations plus a pacemaker fitted. She just can't be arsed to fight any more, and I don't think anyone has said she can't have a home visit, I just think she can't be dealing with anyone until she has latest results. She's in bits at the moment worried the cancer's come back and spread
I hope the results are good. I understand that she only has so much fight in here at the moment - and I think this is what the people behind the benefits system fail to understand. People on benefits aren't living a life of luxury, they're struggling to get through the day because of health issues and not having to worry about losing their homes or paying the bills can have a huge impact of their illness and recovery. Give them more stress and it will undoubtedly kill some of them
Oh jeez minnie.. Poor woman.
I hope the results are good. I understand that she only has so much fight in here at the moment - and I think this is what the people behind the benefits system fail to understand. People on benefits aren't living a life of luxury, they're struggling to get through the day because of health issues and not having to worry about losing their homes or paying the bills can have a huge impact of their illness and recovery. Give them more stress and it will undoubtedly kill some of them
A friend (bi-polar and assorted stuff including depression that certainly isn't helped by the crap he gets from the benefits system) has an ATOS assessment thingy for continued ESA later this week
I've offered to get him there (partly, to make damn sure he does get up and get there, and also think it may be a bit in his favour if he says he needed someone else to make sure he got there)
We're considering whether I should go in with him as a witness / observer - from this thread, I gather that's OK (Is this still the case?) and do we need to tell them in advance?
And anyone know what a witness is allowed to do? Am I allowed to take notes? Am I allowed to say anything? (I'd rather not, but on some occasions he's a bit British about things and might not tell them stuff they ought to know, there's also a risk he'll lose his temper with the alleged 'health care' person...)
one of the things the ATOS "professional" marked me down for was that she "didn't offer any supporting evidence" - Which is bollocks, she was only there to hold my hand and he didn't ask her anything.
It's worth trying to get the name of the assessor if possible but Atos seems to have issued some edict forbidding assessors to give their name and qualifications.
You may find the following link helpful in terms of how his disability may be viewed by the DWP/Atos:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/...al-conditions/bipolar/prognosis-and-duration/
Atos have shown the assessors do not seem to grasp that those with mental health disorders have consequent disability. They seem to be of the opinion that if there is no physical disability, there is no problem full stop. Watch out for them concentrating on the purely physical aspects of your friend's disability.
@Puddy_Tat: make sure you or he have a list of all the meds he is on.
Out of interest, who filled out the form for him?
he got the push from his last job because he lost his temper (verbally but fairly comprehensively) with a colleague, and so on...
And don't trust them, however nice they seem. They're not there to help your friend.
@bakunin cause he's bipolar and has been through the assessments.
I'm wondering how to fit in the difficulties in controling his temper into this. cause that could be considered associated with bipolar, in that he has difficulties controling the full range of his emotions. at the very lest it is 'disinhibited behavior', but there could be more.
http://www.esahelp.co.uk/mental-assessment.php
Here's the ATOS assessment criteria for workplace interaction with colleagues:
20. Propriety of behaviour with other people.
Hope this might help.
Best of luck for your friend, Puddy_Tat.Thanks - we know that bit already, but the rest is good
thanks - that sounds the kind of thing I was after.
From what I gather, the trick is to covertly record the session, but take notes (or pretend to). Then you can transcribe your recording, which makes it automatically admissible at tribunal. Maybe if your mate is in on this, it might help him behave well enough for the benefit of the recording, which will probably benefit him in the long run.A friend (bi-polar and assorted stuff including depression that certainly isn't helped by the crap he gets from the benefits system) has an ATOS assessment thingy for continued ESA later this week
I've offered to get him there (partly, to make damn sure he does get up and get there, and also think it may be a bit in his favour if he says he needed someone else to make sure he got there)
We're considering whether I should go in with him as a witness / observer - from this thread, I gather that's OK (Is this still the case?) and do we need to tell them in advance?
And anyone know what a witness is allowed to do? Am I allowed to take notes? Am I allowed to say anything? (I'd rather not, but on some occasions he's a bit British about things and might not tell them stuff they ought to know, there's also a risk he'll lose his temper with the alleged 'health care' person...)
Best of luck for your friend, Puddy_Tat.
From what I gather, the trick is to covertly record the session, but take notes (or pretend to). Then you can transcribe your recording, which makes it automatically admissible at tribunal. Maybe if your mate is in on this, it might help him behave well enough for the benefit of the recording, which will probably benefit him in the long run.
Atos would likely stop the session if they thought you were covertly recording. Contemporaneous notes are usually ok from what I've seen.thanks
I'll think about that - I've got an analogue mini cassette thingy - don't know how good it would be from a coat pocket. I'll have a play with it tomorrow.
I thought that you couldn't use covert recording in evidence? Or do you just mean that my 'contemporaneous notes' will be better?
Will we be in loads of trouble if we get found out, though?
I've just got back from a wrag interview thing at the jobcentre.
I didn't realise when the year of contributions run out you have to chase to be income assessed - the starting assumption is that you don't need the money.
Puddy_Tat said:thanks
I'll think about that - I've got an analogue mini cassette thingy - don't know how good it would be from a coat pocket. I'll have a play with it tomorrow.
I thought that you couldn't use covert recording in evidence? Or do you just mean that my 'contemporaneous notes' will be better?
Will we be in loads of trouble if we get found out, though?
Yeah. I would think so. You get a year of contributions based money and then become income assessed. Except you aren't automatically income assessed - you have to be proactive about getting the form.I am aware that my WRAG only lasts 365 days but have no idea what that means practically, I've a feeling its related to this.