The state benefits system mega-thread.

[Taf]

Originally Posted by peanut

Good luck, just plough through it.

I went through it with his twin sister exactly 2 years ago. And I help people on a FB forum that formed to help people through the process. Especially when the goalposts get moved by DWP...

Now that I know how the descriptors work, we will tailor our responses to match what they are looking for, that way it'll be easier to take her case to MR or Tribunal if required.

Bl**dy stressful though, especially getting the supporting evidence in time.

[Jimmy-J]

If you're having problems filling the forms in and gathering information, just phone the DWP and tell them you need more time, at least a week or two more.

[Taf]

A DWP spokeswoman said: "We deeply value the welfare of our serving personnel and veterans, and we encourage anyone in need to take advantage of the range of support available.

"This includes our two 24 hour helplines which can provide advice on topics from mental health to housing and finances.

"We are also committed to ensuring disabled people get the right financial support."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-45990287

3 ex-comrades were refused PIP. 2 are now "hospitalised", the other one is having a very hard time with bills. They go through the same process as civilians, with no leniency it appears.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Taf

3 ex-comrades were refused PIP. 2 are now "hospitalised", the other one is having a very hard time with bills. They go through the same process as civilians, with no leniency it appears.

l cannot say l am surprised at that Taf as my Dad served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Falklands and after he left the services he went down to the local DWP job centre and their attitude was appalling to say the least so much so that he vowed he would never go down there again as he felt they belittled him and humiliated him.

[Taf]

After a mad scramble to get all the supporting evidence together, my daughter's PIP application form is now on its way to the DWP. Next step will be the face-to-face assessment.

I've felt sick to the stomach with anxiety the past few days, even though she qualifies according to several online questionnaires.

I noticed that the First Class Freepost envelope is now Second Class.

[Jimmy-J]

Originally Posted by Taf

After a mad scramble to get all the supporting evidence together, my daughter's PIP application form is now on its way to the DWP. Next step will be the face-to-face assessment.

I've felt sick to the stomach with anxiety the past few days, even though she qualifies according to several online questionnaires.

I noticed that the First Class Freepost envelope is now Second Class.

Did you send it recorded or signed for? Because they sometimes tend to go missing.

[Taf]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

Did you send it recorded or signed for? Because they sometimes tend to go missing.

Signed-for of course. I've had DWP forums "disappear" before. And all scanned onto a USB stick just in case.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by denphone

l cannot say l am surprised at that Taf as my Dad served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Falklands and after he left the services he went down to the local DWP job centre and their attitude was appalling to say the least so much so that he vowed he would never go down there again as he felt they belittled him and humiliated him.

I can believe it. Veterans get no special treatment from the DWP whatsoever, in fact an ex soldier was sanctioned and literally starved to death by David Cameron's new benefit regime (largely unchanged by Theresa May):

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-new...oldier-3923771

By contrast, in America, I believe that veterans are treated with a lot more respect e.g. being allowed onto planes first, free drinks etc.

---------- Post added at 21:22 ---------- Previous post was at 21:18 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

Signed-for of course. I've had DWP forums "disappear" before. And all scanned onto a USB stick just in case.

Yep, if they lose the forms it's your fault!

There have been several cases where the DWP were insistent that paperwork hadn't been returned to them. The claimants were given the run around and experienced delays, had to fill in duplicates and had to go through the hassle of appealing the start date.

Then the paperwork was found within the DWP office...

[Jimmy-J]

Originally Posted by Taf

Signed-for of course. I've had DWP forums "disappear" before. And all scanned onto a USB stick just in case.

Do you get copies of the face-to-face assessments?

[Taf]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

Do you get copies of the face-to-face assessments?

After the palaver with her brother's claim I most certainly will.

---------- Post added at 10:09 ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 ----------

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Yep, if they lose the forms it's your fault!

Renewal DLA claim forms for BOTH our twins "were not received". I had copies to resubmit, but the day the new forms arrived, the originals were found to have been "sent to archive" instead of to an Decision Maker.

Similarly, photocopies of my bank statements, etc., made in front of me, failed to "enter the system" and a threat was made to cease my Benefits. That took weeks to sort out despite me taking all the paperwork in for recopying as soon as I was told.

[Taf]

Our son's Disabled Bus Pass stopped working, so he took it for exchange at the council offices.

He was told that the criteria is PIP-and-DLA-based only now, 12 points required (cannot walk at all, can only walk up to 20 metres, must be escorted to even places he knows well). This also allows for an escort to travel free with the holder.

There are 2 other levels of PIP that they will accept at a "lower level" (cannot communicate - 8 points, and moving around - 8 points).

They do not care that his GP was the one who organised it for him (many years ago) when he was on High Mobility DLA as they have no record of that information.

The only hope he has is the one other thing that still remains, "driving licence rescinded or refused due to a condition other than alcohol or drug dependency". But so far I have waited on the DVLA's (expensive) phone line for ages only to be cut off. They should have a record of the form his doctor sent to them, stating that he was unfit to drive.

[RichardCoulter]

It's still happening...

Six stone man with COPD found fit for work. Despite letters from his doctors, he was forced to leave hospital to appeal against this decision:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/10...nsion-benefits

[denphone]

Its sadly been happening for quite a while as it was Labour who first introduced ESA and the Conservatives once elected followed on from them.

When claimants are assessed its nothing more then a tick box exercise where normal human common sense goes out of the window and replaced with ruthless callousness.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by denphone

Its sadly been happening for quite a while as it was Labour who first introduced ESA and the Conservatives once elected followed on from them.

When claimants are assessed its nothing more then a tick box exercise where normal human common sense goes out of the window and replaced with ruthless callousness.

It was initially a tax free payment called Invalidity Benefit. In 1993 the Thatcher Government changed it to a less generous, taxable and harder to get payment called Incapacity Benefit.

When Blair came into power in 1997, they introduced ESA and said that this would focus on what the sick & disabled can do as opposed to what they can't do.

In 2010, when Cameron became PM, he made the most savage cuts to sickness/disability benefits ever known in the past. Some people had their ESA stopped immediately, others kept it for up to a year and some have had their payments slashed by 1/3. This is the first time ever that an extra amount to help cope with the extra costs of sickness/disability has not been made to many people. Even the first incarnation of social security had provision for this in the form of 'outdoor relief' (as opposed to indoor relief- the workhouse).

In addition, Cameron introduced a 'stricter benefits regime' (including extra and more prolonged benefit sanctions) and made massive cuts to the budget for ESA, which is why we keep seeing these cases where people have been found dead after starving, this 64 year old gentleman having to leave his hospital bed etc.

May has said that she intends to look at stopping the needless repetition of tests for ESA & will look into simplifying renewal claims for PIP for the most severely disabled.

[Taf]

The changes (ESA and PIP) were brought about to reduce costs, including fraud. But the method has been too harsh, punishing the innocent along with the guilty. And it's costing them (us) more.

The wait for Tribunals, which often overturn the DWP's decisions, are rapidly rising. 18 months in some areas, so the DWP wants Tribunals to be switched to online. Imagine waiting 18 months to fight your case, unable to work, unable to claim Benefits, and sometimes all alone with no support, financial or emotional.