Record Numbers Not Working Due To Ill Health

Franbern
I have wondered about a test so did a search.
I found this. Scroll down to the yellow highlighted piece.

www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/news/identifying-long-covid-blood-markers-which-could-lead-to-diagnostic-test/#:~:text=Dr%20Nyarie%20Sithole%2C%20also%20from,who%20are%20experiencing%20potential%20symptoms.

I have only used my Blue Badge once so far as it only arrived last week. I am very grateful for it; and that the issuers understood that, while I can walk (with a stick and in pain) I need a wide parking space to open the door sufficiently to get out. I am acutely conscious that there are others with far worse disabilities, but this makes a huge difference to me, and I am glad that I live in a compassionate society.

There is no system yet invented that cannot be"gamed". Gaming is not breaking the rules, but manipulating them so as to gain maximum advantage for oneself. Having the intelligence and cunning to take advantage of the loopholes and ambiguities can be a great source of satisfaction to those who were born with that kind of mind.

So making sure they’re all right, Jack, and they’ll contribute as little as possible into the system, and consequently to those less fortunate?

I can’t see anything to admire here. There are much better ways to feel good about yourself.

Cumbrian123

How about benefit payments for those who are Not poorly , only .
I wonder how many folks would suddenly become productive and stop whining- just a thought .
No I’m not from a warm comfortable environment, glass of wine etc etc

Here’s another ‘thought’. How many people do you know of who, in this cost of living crisis, have been unable to use the equipment supplied to ease their condition and make their carers’ lives easier ? Equipment like powered wheelchairs, hoists, oxygen therapy and lots more. All needing a power supply or recharging, and becoming unaffordable overnight. And those whose conditions become much worse in cold conditions who are now unable to use their heating. I volunteer for a disability charity and I see plenty. I see people who have to make life affecting choices just to be able to eat. Would you suggest that they stop ‘whining’ and become productive ?

Because there are millions of genuinely sick and disabled people in this country claiming benefits to which they are perfectly entitled. Yet to look at this thread you’d think the system was populated mainly by scrounging cheats !! There are also benefit claimants who have worked and paid taxes, and who are using the system exactly as intended - pay in when you can so you can fall back on the system when you need to. The ‘cheats’ are not in fact among the sick or disabled - they are able bodied. And as a result of their dishonesty sick and disabled people are viewed with the suspicion and disrespect all too evident on here. Which, in turn, will eventually give the government the mandate to pull the welfare rug out from under everyone.

And for those self employed people working through illness - do you know that if you have paid enough NI in the last two years, you can actually claim new style ESA ? Or that PIP/AA are not means tested or contribution based, so you can claim those accordingly ? Or that there are numerous self employed insurance policies that cover for illness ?

So many of you seem to think that claiming these benefits is a walk in the park and that the DWP are idiots who allow just anyone to claim. I can tell you from first hand experience, neither is the case. It’s a difficult, harsh and frequently humiliating experience and reassessment is ongoing to ensure continuing eligibility.

So just because you can’t see someone’s disability or condition doesn’t mean it’s not there. And someone else’s condition is none of your business, so no, you are not entitled to ask why someone is using a disabled space or the accessible toilet. Any more than you are entitled to scrutinise the benefits they claim, because the you think the little they’ve told you about themselves qualifies you to judge.

Franbern

I have always thought that the mark of a GOOD civilisation was how they treated their old, their sick, their disabled.many of the problems on

I also know of the old fascist method of first dep-humanise any group of people that the State is currently needing to use to blame the woes that that State has brought about.

The last method has been so well used for what are called 'The Boat People'. Those men, women, children so desperate to seek a better life, that they take horrific chances in dinguies across the Channel.

Now that de-humanising finger is pointed at the sick, the disabled etc.

For those of you on here who proudly boast that none of YOUR family are amongst these, just count yourself so very, very fortunate - and I really do hope this lasts for you and yours.

As has been said,- not exactly living the high life on sickness benefit. Indeed, the continuing financial worries of trying to make ends meet, can effectively make other family members very sick themselves.

On Long Covid, as far as I am aware there are actually blood and/or other tests which are used by Doctors before making this condition official for a sufferer.

Very well said. The sick and disabled have been at the forefront of every single round of welfare cuts and have had that ‘finger’ pointed at them for some time. The press and the media are only too happy to support government of any colour in painting a picture of rife fraud in sickness and disability benefits, when the instance of fraud here is actually very low. And the public happily suck up the propaganda and support swingeing cuts to benefits without a thought for the fact that they’re actually supporting the rug being pulled out from under us all. Turkeys voting for Christmas.

Saggi

My whole immediate family has had Covid at least twice ….I’ve had it three times and yes….. weve had all the jabs!! Nobody is long term ill ….nobody is ‘not working’ nobody is not going to school! But then I’m a skeptic and cynic so these folk do t stand a chance with me!!

There are actually blood markers for long covid, so it’s a provable condition.

So many of you seem to think that claiming these benefits is a walk in the park and that the DWP are idiots who allow just anyone to claim. I can tell you from first hand experience, neither is the case. It’s a difficult, harsh and frequently humiliating experience and reassessment is ongoing to ensure continuing eligibility.

Well said. The other thing that nobody takes into account is that the genuinely sick and disabled are already fighting to survive. The added stress of trying to fight for what they are entitled to is so hard when you feel so ill or are in so much pain. So many people are turned down in their first application for PIP, the gateway benefit, even though they have a genuine, medically agreed condition and may wait many months for their appeal to be heard. Meanwhile they sit in abject poverty with all the stress that entails too. I have seen it with several people. Oh, and when you get to a point when you can work a little in order to benefit you and the state, you will find you have to prove your disability all over again with the PIP people even though you might still have to use a wheel chair or find it difficult to dress yourself.

My 41 yr old DS worked through Covid as a cleaner in a hospital. On the minimum wage, living in a grotty flat. Last May he broke his leg badly and hasn’t been able to work since. Believe me, he hates relying on the state and worse, that people might think he was a malingerer. I’m so proud of the way he copes with life. Best not to judge others when we might not know the full story.

I,ve recently retired just before my 70th but all my family are in work both daughter-in-law’s and one grandson work from home occasionally but are mostly back in the office now. Even 2 granddaughters who are at College work part-time. .

Calendargirl

Yoginimeisje

I'm self-employed, so can never take time off or my bills & mortgage [when I still had one] wouldn't be paid. Hence never having any jabs as couldn't risk being ill.

But the jabs may well have prevented you getting ill.

I agree with both sides of this. I am VERY careful about exposing myself to others who might make me sick. Because I'll be sick and screwed, with no sick pay if I do get ill.

But I jumped at the chance of covid vaccinations, to prevent me getting ill. Indeed, when I had covid, I worked through it, because I work online and couldn't infect anyone. I presume the vaccination meant I didn't get it worse than I did. My brothers long covid has effectively ended his working life 10 years early and has also reduced his life expectancy.

Thank you to those who think that there are some of us who are 'deserving', and sorry that I am having a 'rant'!

I've had 24 mostly major surgeries since 1998, and I fear number 25 is upcoming. I am NOT fit to work, although I dearly wish I was, as I am socially isolated and hate this 'existence'!

For those who are deserving, (and I know of someone personally who definitely isn't and has been playing the system for decades, mending his own roof with a bad back! Apparently reported several times, but as far as I aware nothing has changed) it is VERY hard to get sickness benefits - we really do have to jump through hoops! Most people nowadays who claim PIP, are refused. Firstly you are assessed by someone who is a 'Health Professional' someone who is maybe a nurse, paramedic, doctors etc but they are actually trained to deny the benefit and have targets! Some have 'whistle blown' about it and it has been on the tv when someone went undercover on the training course. I could do that job with my eyes shut, I am a nurse, very knowledgeable about a lot of medical conditions, (as I have a lot of them!), and if it weren't biased, and I could work my own hours and do it from home, it would be perfect for me, but my conscience just wouldn't be able to cope with it. Their report is then sent to the DWP - they've been caught out lying many times on these reports, and asking stupid questions like "when will your arm/leg grow back, when did you start having Cerebral Palsy etc so must be failed 'Health Professionals!) and then a DWP Decision Maker decides on it, and it's usually refused. The form needs to be filled in correctly in the first place, and it's often not what you say but how you say it. You then have to go through what's called a Mandatory Reconsideration, where another 'Decision Maker' looks through the application, but only 29% of these are overturned. Your next step is going to tribunal, where 70% of claimants get a reward, (that says it all really ....) The DWP hope that because it is so (deliberately) stressful, that you will give up, which many people do - I know of 2 people who have recently, but am trying to help them with it. The tribunals are independent, and FAIR, which the DWP is not.

In some ways I was 'lucky'. It was DLA that I claimed, and still do, and because I've so much wrong with me, I sailed through the process, but it was easier in those days as well. I'm just crossing my fingers that I don't get migrated onto UC and PIP before I reach retirement age as that would make me worse off than I already am!

Scope, in 2019 published what they called the Disability Price Tag report - in 2019 they researched how much an 'average' disabled person needed in order to make their life equal to a non-disabled person - it was £583. Roll on to 2023 and they have recently published their updated version, and it now stands at £975 a month! We get about £12,000 a year on disability benefits - where are we going to get that EXTRA £12k that we need to have a full life? We can't! I looked into the Rent-a-Room Scheme, wondered if maybe I could help someone from Ukraine - but they will only let me keep £25 a week! That wouldn't even pay for the heating (which has been off all winter as I couldn't afford it) I would also have to pay Council Tax - my £25 a week wouldn't even cover that! Changing my rather odd lifestyle for £25? There is no way I can increase my income without going illegal, and then I don't think I'd be comfortable with that.

Then there is another thing you have to get through - the 'fit for work' assessment, also designed to confuse and refuse ... Here another Decision Maker does an assessment whereby they look to see if you can possibly work, by ....
1 - Using your upper body, or reaching to grab something; ie seeing if you can take a pencil out of a top pocket
2- Your physical ability to use your hands, can you lift a small cardboard box in front of you
3 -Being fully conscious and aware when awake;
4 -Being in control of your bladder and/or bowels;
4 -Understanding communication from others;
5 -Being able to move around and take care of your own safety;
6- The ability to communicate what you want said to others;
7 - Sitting and standing up by yourself.

Also mental activities.
1 - Having appropriate behaviour when being around others;
2 - Being able to engage with and maintain social interactions;
3 - Travelling around;
4 - Being able to withstand change;
4 - Awareness of unexpected hazards in everyday life;
5 - Learning new skills or activities or tasks.

They will award you a point if you are able to do them. If you get 15 points, you will be considered to have limited capability for work. They will then assess whether you are capable of ANY 'Work related Activity'!

The DWP says it takes into account your medical evidence, but you have to get it (things are a little easier now hospitals send you the copy of the letter they have sent to the GP) Some surgeries charge for letters to be written, and copies of medical records used too be about £50, which a lot of people not yet receiving these benefits just can't afford.

IF the Tories get in at the next election then they have devised another 'nasty' plan for us. Medical evidence won't really be that important then. They say they will be "taking the stress that some disabled people have by making it just the one assessment! One assessment, which will be decided upon by new well trained "Work Coaches", who will focus on what you can do, and not what you can't and sod what your GP/Consultant says ... I can't wait!

Anyone have any vacancies for a mattress tester (actually thinking of that one, I couldn't even do that, as I can't get in nor out of a bed, and I sleep in a chair!) or a doorstop maybe?

Just been up the garden to water again my newly planted plants. Am now in a lot of pain, sweating profusely because of it and feel very sick because I've had to stand, walk and bend. Will now be hours before I can manage to eat anything, and have Tesco coming in the next hour so will have that to put away. It's a wonderful life ....

Luckygirl3

*There are genuine people but a load that are not.* ..... a load! Please define a load. Please tell us your evidence.

Exactly - the DWP's own figures are 3% over ALL claims, not just disability benefits.

Thank you to those of you with a bit of compassion ... I actually made the press today talking about disability benefits and having no heating on all winter ....

So existing not living, food and warmth are basic needs. I’m wishing you warm weather to ease the strain. It’s awful how people are so judgemental and ill informed. I hope this thread makes people think. My grandma was petrified she would end up in no he workhouse . Adding fear to an already ailing body and mind is cruel.

the

who remembers the early 80s? fit people put on the sick to massage the unemployment figures, i know and knew many, people given the sick role, lots found it hard to shake this off.Lots of research suggesting ,once someone has been out of work 2 years or more, very hard to get back into it.I knew many that had their dignity etc stripped from them through no fault of their own.Good old divide and rule ,and most people know what shade of politics use that consistantly! I think so many have left the job market ,because they are sick of work and its never ending hamster wheel!

The anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked which find demonstrated to her the beginning of civilisation. She said that it was a leg bone with a healed fracture. Someone must have cared for this individual during his or her incapacity. Civilisation began, she felt, when people looked after each other, even if it caused inconvenience.

Chocolatelovinggran

The anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked which find demonstrated to her the beginning of civilisation. She said that it was a leg bone with a healed fracture. Someone must have cared for this individual during his or her incapacity. Civilisation began, she felt, when people looked after each other, even if it caused inconvenience.

That is so moving.

I can remember when, if you lost your job you would be paid earnings related for the next year while you looked for another job. I can remember when you could go to university to better yourself and not leave it thousands of pounds in debt. When, if you couldn’t afford a mortgage, you could rent a council house for a reasonable amount that was well built and well maintained. I can remember when everyone had an NHS dentist and didn’t struggle to get a doctors appointment if they were ill. I can remember when I lived in a country in which I wasn’t scared to get old. Or sick.

MayBee70

I can remember when, if you lost your job you would be paid earnings related for the next year while you looked for another job. I can remember when you could go to university to better yourself and not leave it thousands of pounds in debt. When, if you couldn’t afford a mortgage, you could rent a council house for a reasonable amount that was well built and well maintained. I can remember when everyone had an NHS dentist and didn’t struggle to get a doctors appointment if they were ill. I can remember when I lived in a country in which I wasn’t scared to get old. Or sick.

👏🏻

Very well said, MayBee!

Hear hear Maybee!

DWP Decision Maker decides on it, and it's usually refused. The form needs to be filled in correctly in the first place, and it's often not what you say but how you say it

Yes I have filled in these forms for myself and others. There is a system and having to use the "correct" terms which the a assessor is expecting is the way to game it. Thats not fraud. It knowing the rules and how to use them to get every benefit you are entitled to. There are websites which will instruct you how to do this - you pay a small fee to join.

Its no different to using an accountant to navigate the tax system and pay as little as you need to.

back in the noughties ,incapacity benefit was changed to ESA along with the testing system. People were assessed by doctors , who were not perfect but used their experience in assessing people.Now it is a tick box system and you only have to view the horror stories of ATOS etc since it was devised. Is it shame on them?

biglouis, there are a lot of people who don't have the energy to navigate those forms or the wherewithal to even know how to access those websites. The system should be fair and not something you have to game it to get what you are entitled to. I have a cousin living on the streets or maybe even dead because he was unable to game the system. Autism and brain damage through medication prescribed to his mother when he was in the womb will not change for him throughout his lifetime but he was still expected jump through the hoops when the system changed in order to keep claiming. Different wording to get the money for a condition that hadn't changed. Absolutely crazy.

So life long conditions are not going to change so should be exempt from re applying. It’s a tactic so people will stop applying as it’s too stressful. Being made to feel like you are begging is isn’t helping an already ailing person. Cruel system, more support needed.

The system should be fair and not something you have to game it to get what you are entitled to

I agree but many things in life are unfair. There is no one up there handing out "fairness" so we have to shift for ourselves and grab what we can in an unfair and corrupt system.

Every year millions of pounds in means tested benefits remains unclaimed for a variety of reasons. Perhaps one of those reasons is the amount of bitterness and envy directed at those who do manage to navigate the system and claim all they are entitled to. A wise person keeps their financial affairs to themselves and does not share with people around them (especially neighbours) the fact that they claim a benefit.