DWP

It's despicable that any person in this country has to rely on a food bank. Whatever the media and government tell us, in reality we're not a poor country. There is plenty of money but the government choose to use it to help their mates rather then ordinary people.

Just announced that they are going to cut corporation tax to the lowest in the G20. Much more important than giving the poor enough to live on and get rid of foodbanks. No help for those on benefits.

We may not be a 'poor' country but it's hardly realistic to expect the need for food banks to disappear overnight.

There are food banks in countries much richer than ours, including the USA.

Cutting corporation tax helps businesses.What's bad about that?

What's BAD about that?

Why is it unrealistic to expect food banks to disappear? We are the seventh richest country in the world. There is more than enough money to take care of the people of this country. The government simply choose to spend it in a different way. The same goes for the USA.

You talk about food banks as if they're an acceptable thing. Have you ever used one or known anyone who has had to use one? Do you have any idea what it's like to not be able to feed your children?

I have just read those stupid reasons Durhamjen. It makes me so angry. Mu DH also had the putting coat on and off thing, although he too wasn't wearing one at the time, also was told he was Tidy and well presented!! Why would he not be??, also the rocking back and forth thing in the chair, the fact that he wasn't proved he had no anxiety,the whole form was filled with so many lies.

I could not believe my eyes when I read about the sitting in the gutter for a rest, just where the hell are these awful people coming from? I don't know how they can do the job and sleep at night.

My housing benefit saga continues. Yesterday I was told it would be sorted out by today so I phoned to check. Today's support officer was an arrogant t*at who wound me up and triggered a personality change (I have a rare form of DID). Firstly he reckoned I'd given him the wrong reference number even though the other three people I'd spoken to had found my details with no problem. Then he told me that the supervisor had sent it to the assessor. I told him that the man I'd spoken to yesterday told me it would be sorted out by this morning. He told me that he would be very surprise if a colleague had said something like that to me. That's when I flipped and demanded to know if he was calling me a liar. He started to backpedal but it was too late. He said that he hadn't called me a liar but let's be honest if someone says that what you have described couldn't have happened then they're saying that you've made it up ergo you are a liar. Things went downhill fast after that. I asked to speak to the assessor but apparently that's not allowed. The man said it's his job to be the go between. So I suggested he do his job and go between me and the assessor to find out what is happening as £200 may not be much to him but I have to pay my rent next week and I'm £200 short. After a few more minutes of this DH realised I'd had a personality change and who it was so he took the phone. The man immediately told him that he hadn't called me a liar even though DH hadn't mentioned that. What he didn't know was that the call was on loud speaker and DH knew everything that had been said.

The upshot was that I have to phone tomorrow by which time his supervisor will have spoken to the assessor and should be able to tell me what is happening. I won't hold my breath.

You are not on your own, vampire.

voxpoliticalonline.com/2016/11/24/brown-envelope-day-and-the-horror-it-holds-for-sick-and-disabled-people/

There should be a form to fill in at the end of this, as information is being collected for proof of such moments. If you can summon the energy for a rant.

Sorry, that's a different form. That's for organisations that should be able to help you.

I saw this article. My heart went out to the woman. I knew exactly what she meant. DWP letters are like the sword of Damocles and I can't relax in a morning until the postman has been.

www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2016/11/30/the-government-doesn-t-care-about-the-impact-of-sanctions-th

Just what some of us suspected all along.
May lied about it on PMQs today.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/30/cruel-benefits-sanctions-dwp-job-advisers-evidence-work

vq, I seriously suggest you get the CAB or a 'free' solicitor involved. You're never going to win with an emotional argument. You've admitted that you 'flipped' and were verbally offensive. It won't win your case.

I have been shocked and saddened to read this thread. I confess I feel ashamed too, that I had no concept just what some members are coping with day in and day out, and the battles they're having to get the right kind of support whether financial, physical or with specialist teams.

That's only those represented here on GN, so there must be literally thousands more out there. It's very troubling that office automotons are dealing with real people in such an off-hand and uncaring manner. Do you think they have to shut off in order to deliver the top-down Government directives?

Deepest respect to you all.

This is a bit worrying for any pensioner couples who claim pension credit.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/12/01/is-hmrc-engaged-in-a-policy-of-victimisation-for-the-sake-of-achieving-meaningless-performance-targets/

Daphnedill I wasn't verbally offensive. Sorry I should have explained. 'Flipping' is the term we use to describe when I switch from one personality to another. I have a rare form of DID (used to be called multiple personality disorder).

The housing benefit saga continues still. Now it's not the fault of the DWP but HMRC. The assessor has the claim on her desk....they told me today and it will be dealt with by next week. I'm not holding my breath.

Today I played the MH card. I didn't like to because I know there will be other even more desperate people waiting for their claims to be sorted but it's going on too long. So I told them that the stress was making my condition worse. Not a lie. I've been sleep walking even more than usual which is a sure sign that my mh is deteriorating.

It's not the fault of the people in the office. They're understaffed and over worked. The system kills people. I'm juggling money but at least I have some payments. When people get sanctioned they have nothing.

voxpoliticalonline.com/2016/12/03/blind-man-sanctioned-because-he-couldnt-read-dwp-letter-as-tory-minister-talks-out-anti-sanctions-bill/

Here is another report on Mhairi Black's Private Member's Bill.

She hoped to make the sanctions system slightly fairer for those affected, but the Bill was talked out so was not put to a vote.

www.thenational.scot/news/14944217.Parliament____wastes_opportunity____to_stop_misery_of_sanctions_as_Tories_block_Black_s_private_Bill/#comments-anchor

I've just been assessed for Pip by a mental health nurse. I'd been out of hospital 2 days, had pneumonia as well as all the other stuff and a week previously they were signing a DNR form for me. I cannot imagine how she could understand my problems, plus I am in a wheelchair. I wait to see what they come up with
My carer lives here with me and has literally saved my life 4 times.

I hope they passed you miep. It's such a worry waiting for some unknown person behind a desk to pass judgement on you.

You need a lot of time to read this, particularly if you follow up the links.

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2016/12/05/the-governments-in-work-sanctions-are-incompatible-with-halving-the-disability-employment-gap-and-other-ideological-problems/

DWP staff get bonuses for sanctioning.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-staff-received-almost-140-million-in-bonuses-over-the-last-three-years-a6725371.html

Apparently one job centre had a poster on the wall showing ESA claimants as space invaders. Little aliens to be shot and destroyed.

Yes, I remember that, vampire.