Fed up with DLA and ESA

lorica

I'm so fed up.... Last April I applied for DLA, I was rejected first time round, so I appealled twice more, still rejected, so 6 months ago I got a letter to say my DLA case was going to tribunal, and im still waiting for a Tribunal date, again 6 months ago my entitlement to SSP ran out, so that money stopped, so i was told to apply for ESA, so I applied. I was granted the 'Pre-assessment' part of the benefit. I had my assessment and yet again was turned down, I was told to get back to work, I was only given 6 points. Yet the report was so inaccurate it was unbelieveable, when i had the assessment I was in so much pain, and they made me walk to the furthest consultation room, it took my ages to hobble around to the room, and on the way I had to stop one or twice, but it wasnt mentioned in the report, the fact I have to walk with a stick wasnt mentioned, I was asked if I could bend down or kneel I said no way, and the fact I have to use a grabber to pick things up off the floor, never mentioned in the report, my depression and the fact im on anti-depressants never made it into the report, as well as several other omissions. I was told if I appealled my case it would be looked at again and a decision would be made. I spoke to the DWP earlier this week to be told it had gone to tribunal and it would be several months before a decision would be made. They are still paying me the 'pre-assessment' part of the benefit (£130 per fortnight.....) Yes my wife is working but her wage is just enough to pay the household bills and what i get pays for food, and a couple of bills and then I have several debt collectors after me for money, how do they expect you to live? I dont get any other benefit.... this is stupid, i can no longer afford to get a pre payment cert for my meds, only good note is in april all perscriptions will be free in scotland, but that still means i have to restrict my meds for two months (Im on 6 tablets a day for 5 days a week, on 1 day i take 7 meds and one day I have to take 12....) this is so stupid :x :x

Yet the other day i was talking to a young lad who was on ESA due to him being alcohol dependant!!!

Im so angry I could scream.....AAAAAGGGGHHHHH..... :x :x :x

lorica

Hi Delboy, yer ive been to CAB and they helped with the appeal letter but I understand theres nothing much else they can do for me

dreamdaisy

Contact your MP, get him involved. What about the local press, too? These beaurocrats do not like being named and shamed, so do so. Their reports are shoddy, their procedures are far too slow (OK they may well have some volume of work but they create that due to their inability to work well in the first place) they are quite happy to leave you (and no doubt a few others) in limbo and should be forced into actually doing their jobs to earn their wages. Go public. I wish you well. DD

caterina57

Hi
I am so sorry that you have had this awful eperience. Last year I applied for DLA and was refused (is everyone refused at their first attempt?)I am in the process of applying again, but this time a local Advice Centre is going to help me fill the forms in. I am still receiving SSP but yet may have to run the gauntlet of ESA.
I agree with DD contact your MP and fight the good fight.When the report is done do you sign it for accuracy? I would also make a complaint re the innaccuracies and ommissions via their complaints procedure and follow that through as well
I can fully understand your anger - I have come accross folk who have managed to claim various benefits and I have seriously thought Why? How?

Anyway I wish you Good Luck!

tkachev

I am sorry that you are having such a lengthy wait for the benefits you are clearly entitled too. I know they have targets to meet and are on a mission to get people back to work regardless of their condition. I think you will have to continue appealling, you are getting closer each day. Are you able to access any hardship funds? They are meant to exist but whether they are a minefield like all the benefits sick pepole are supposed to get I do not know.

It is an unfair system.

Elizabeth

tkachev

I am sorry that you are having such a lengthy wait for the benefits you are clearly entitled too. I know they have targets to meet and are on a mission to get people back to work regardless of their condition. I think you will have to continue appealling, you are getting closer each day. Are you able to access any hardship funds? They are meant to exist but whether they are a minefield like all the benefits sick pepole are supposed to get I do not know.

It is an unfair system.

Elizabeth

frogmorton

Hi Lorica

I am with DD on this one another persin on here was being treated this way too so obvioulsy wrongly too.

Her MP did a fabulous job for her and got it all sorted very quickly. Please do it - do not worry what party he stands for just call him/her. They are paid to represent you.

In teh meantime there is nothing i feeel I cansay to help you money wise as i bet your belts are so tight on both you and your wife.

CAB can advise re batting off debt collectors though. and were you paying your pre-pay by direct debit monthly?? Are you eligable for the HC2 free prescriptions??

Love

and worried hugs :sad:

Toni xx

traluvie

Hi Lorica,

That is awful to hear that you have been turned down regardless of the fact you obviously need it..
It seems so unfair that other people who have the ability to get around and still do the things they want can get the benefit and get away with it .. yet there are others who are suffering terrible have to go through all the stress of going for the asessment to be turned down and then have to appeal again..
I understand that they have new legislations and guidelines in place .. but why don't they scrap dissability for certain medical conditions(they call medical conditions) and concentrate on those that really need it..
I know of someone who was refused because he could lift his arms above his head.. he was classed as fit to work although he had major kidney problems and was on the urgent list for a kidney transplant.. he was so weak and struggled with everything... he appealed and was turned down.. it was only through the tv show that he got it in the end...
I agree with DD too you need all the people you can on your side.. has the doctor wrote a letter supporting you too???
Hope you can get something sorted..
Keep us posted..
Take care
Tracy
xxxxx

Dibbler

Hi,
Sorry to hear you are having these problems, it is such a common thing for many of us to have this sturggle, it certainly isnt made easy, yet others who have self inflicted problems, eg alcohol and drug abuse etc seem to breeze through the whole process. I have, only a few days ago written to my local MP who I have been told should be able to help me.
It angers me so much I can hardly talk about it with family, and it does feel like a very lengthy and stressful process, which is the last thing any of us need on top of the illness.
It can't hurt to give that a try too although im not holding my breath yet!
I was put on higher level then when it came up to renewal I was moved to the lowest level, despite my disease becoming much worse as of the past year, I think they must have trained (or more likely untrained) monkeys reading our forms! I can't get my head round how stupid the whole system is. Persevere though don't let it drop, i think the only way is to fight their wrong decisions, repeatedly if necessary.
Good luck i hope it works out for youI'm watching the post each to see if a decision is made but its all so slow.

lorica

Thanks to everyone for their comments im going to try and write to my local MP and see what she can do.

Ive been on the phone to Jobcentre+ to find out if im entitled to free perscriptions, but im not as im on the contribution based ESA, think i need to start cutting down on the pills.... While I was on the phone I asked if i could have a copy of the full report sent to me to be told by the untrained monkey that i wasnt allowed to have a copy! now have to wait for a phone call to tell me if I can have a copy sent to me or not.

My GP has given me a letter for the DLA tribunal, but my Rhummy wants a solicitors letter requesting the report, but the down side to that is I was turned down for legal aid because to them me and the wife have too much money! think im going to have to re open my swiss bank account!!!,
but if I needed help with a criminal conviction that would be ok I could get it.... :sad:

Mark

claire68

Hi, sorry to hear about you problems. I too am on contribution based ESA and this means you are not 'automatically' entitled to free prescriptions but i completed an HS1 form (which you can get a Doctors or Job centres) for being on a low income and i have been granted an exemption certificate for free prescriptions with no problems.
The certificate they give you is for 12 months and you then have to re-apply for a new one.. im on my 2nd year now.
Hope this helps.. its worth a try.

frogmorton

[but if I needed help with a criminal conviction that would be ok I could get it.... :sad:

Mark[/quote]


To bl**min' right :sad:

My friend whose husnabd die of cancer a bit back - she had to dispose of a load of meds as no-one else could have them

Disgusting isn't it??

Love

toni xx

lorica

Thought I would give you all a little update. I wrote to my local MP, but so far I have had nothing back from her.

I spoke to the Tribunals Service the otherday to find out if there was any news regarding my hearing, and the woman on the other end of the phone said "its funny you've called today your date has just been listed today..." (The date of the hearing is actually 16 days before the 1 year anniversary of me applying!)

I also have spoken to Job Centre Plus regarding my ESA appeal, they appologized my case should have gone to the dept that reconsiders the decision before gowing to a full blown appeal. So it has now gone to the correct department, but they are 3 months behind! but because of my complaining and the fact it had gone to the wrong dept they would pull mine from the pile and look at it next week!

So finally things are beginning to move again, but for how long nobody knows...

Mark

bertyboy

hope its a good result for you on both counts x

Maori

Heya

i'am going though the same thing and you are entiltiled to the full report i just got mine sent to me and have also asked for an independant doctor to be sent to me via a home visit the lady i spoke to said she ws putting that down but dosnt know if they will send one

lupin15

lorica wrote:

Thanks to everyone for their comments im going to try and write to my local MP and see what she can do.

Ive been on the phone to Jobcentre+ to find out if im entitled to free perscriptions, but im not as im on the contribution based ESA, think i need to start cutting down on the pills.... While I was on the phone I asked if i could have a copy of the full report sent to me to be told by the untrained monkey that i wasnt allowed to have a copy! now have to wait for a phone call to tell me if I can have a copy sent to me or not.

My GP has given me a letter for the DLA tribunal, but my Rhummy wants a solicitors letter requesting the report, but the down side to that is I was turned down for legal aid because to them me and the wife have too much money! think im going to have to re open my swiss bank account!!!,
but if I needed help with a criminal conviction that would be ok I could get it.... :sad:

Mark

Hi i am sure that under the freedom of speech or what ever it is called you are entitled to have any documents or letters. The could be difficult and make you put this request in writing and make you pay for copies but i do not see what you should need a solicitor.
Sorry to be nosey but do you have any health issues some allow you free prescription.