Changes to the Benefit System

Grrrrrr
I have had 3 interviews, countless depressing forms to fill out and a medical. Then I got my benefits and they change the benefit system and I have to do it all again....why o why can't they just check the original form for the answers..chances are I am going to have to answer the exact same questions over again anyway on the new one.

They say it's to see if there is training I could do to get me in to work....laughs...that'll be the job with no dark nights (my horners syndrome means I have poor night vision and can't drive at night).
No artificial lights.
Limited VDU work
Very quiet
Allows me a day off every week for my numerous appointments.
and an employer who will let me lie in a dark, quiet place whilst I try to make my brain function as it is silently screaming in pain.

Sorry I can't do my job right now as (tick as appropriate)

I am going to throw up
Blackout
Lose my eyesight
Not string a sentence together
Fall over for no apparent reason
Cry

Deep breath

Sorry it just makes me so angry I have to keep justifying my inability to go to work when I would love to have a normal life, job, income, social life and independence. I am not a sponger, just ill.

Sorry rant over...it just really gets to me.

Hey - How about a bat cave keeper?????

But on a serious note the change in the system stinks, they have the information, they have the doctors reports - do they not think we want to get better and have a life????

Tee wrote:Hey - How about a bat cave keeper?????

But on a serious note the change in the system stinks, they have the information, they have the doctors reports - do they not think we want to get better and have a life????

I like bats..YES dream job..I couldn't even hear them squeaking.

I did have that particular rant at them on the phone but the stock reply was:
'if you don't comply we will consider stopping your benefits''...I actually felt sorry for the poor lass who told ne she had to do 29 calls like that per day..in the end I had he laughing. I did work at Jobcentre Plus in a previous incarnation and I know what it's like...

it's like the biggest, ugliest pants you ever wore.

I have to go for a job assessment interview on the 2nd of june to find out what type of work may suit me!!!! May just say a bat cave attendant! To be honest want my old job back and my old life but hey hoe!
But before that.
1 Is 2d of June going to be a good day?
2 Will I have to go in with dark glasses and be able to answer question and even process them?
3 will I be able to string two words together? Or will I just sound like a moron.
5 Will I be fine and seem like there is sweet F all wrong with me!!!!
Oh I could seem fine and just have aura and look just a bit lop sided and drool a bit LMAO x x x
Sheena x x
Not funny Really But give us a break here. I wish I had a bad back sometimes x

I know I understand. I have sent my forms off and got a little sarcastic towards the end when my will to live was leaving me (around page 22).

Just sitting tight waiting for the call to another job focused interview or medical. The last medical was a farce..part of the test was 'can you touch your toes'
answer
'Yes I can but it will hurt like hell to lean over with a migraine this bad'
She was great about it and said I didn't have to and 'I can see you are clearly too ill so don't worry about anything for now'

...and now I am doing it all again hummph. Good luck and remember part of the remit is to get ppl with a working partner in to work focused groups ..once you have been in those groups for a certain length of time and if you don't get a job then they expect your partner to support you... that's how it was explained to me so please check that to cover yourself..I may have misunderstood. Don't get pushed into something where you are in a corner once the ball starts rolling etc...if all esle fails..appeal, appeal, appeal.
Jane
x

Thing I cant understand is ,if I have only 3/4 good! (if you can call bearable) days out of 10 how am I now meant to be fit to work? Do i apeal that?
I wasnt fit to work last year and nothing much has changed!
Maybe I filled the form in wrong DOH!
I have trouble enough reading never mind filling in forms and being put on hold..... plus I have this slight agressive problem ive been told....cant see it myself....just cant tolerate fools. Something to do with some pills I take maybe.
I do exagerate of course what really happens is I get cross and slam the phone down and cry!!!
Thanks for the Appeal tip will try that
Sheena x

It hard not to get irritated when you have to listen to terrible musak then constantly repeat yourself. Don't fill the forms out yourself next time..take eveything to the CAB or ask at social services for a welfare benefits worker (they come to the house and help you). I have worked with a few W Benefits people in the past over various things and they have been fantastic.

Infact Sheena..ring them asap and have a word about what your next move should be. You could also enquire about an advocate. This is someone who gets to know you and speaks on your behalf about issues effecting you..could be liaising with benefits, talking to Doc etc...they cover most things.

If you have a local DIAL they are fantastic to..you don't have to do it all yourself..just plan ahead as they get booked up.

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/yourself/help-for-you/Pages/Advocacy.aspx
http://www.dialuk.info/

Thanks for that Jane
Just tried to clear some ironing but as usual the tingling in my hands go so bad I had to stop but I think thats the Topiramate that does that. If I use them for too long or walk to far hands and feet tingle like mad.
So taking in washings out the question as well!

Just had a call off DWP..I have been called for a medical examination to assess my work capability..sigh..my review wasn't supposed to be until Dec 2012..yet here I am being dragged to yet another review just 7mths since the last ones ended.

I don't know how the hell they do it. On TV and in the press they keep saying, we are calling all the people who's review dates are nearest first..and yet it's just not happening that way.

I am SO fed up..when they rang I had to ask the guy to repeat everything 3 times before I could make head or tail of what he was asking me...they are just going to look at all the medical evidence they already have all over again..what a waste of time and money..and a shed load of anxiety for me.

SOrry..it's been a hellish couple of weeks and I think that was the straw that broke this camel.

Jane
xxx