They've Stopped my Incapacity Benefit!

Chrisj

sakara wrote: »

If you were getting incapacity benefit...they stop that, but you can apply for either job seekers allowance or low rate income support.
i went for the income support as i felt job seekers allowance wasnt right. i could not work, so would have to lie when they ask are you fit for work! they say claiming this doesnt go against your appeal, but during the appeal i was asked why i took income support instead of JSA.
the downside of only claiming IS is you dont get your NI paid for as you do with JSA.
I won my appeal and will be getting my IB reinstated plus back pay for the time i was on appeal, minus the income support payments and NI.

Hi Sakara, thanks for the reply i was on ESA and have been told it will be reinstated during the appeal process and backdated to my last payment (11/08). I haven't been claiming Income Support or Incapacity Benefit at all but have been claiming Housing Benefit.Do you know whether my HB will be effected at all during the appeal?

sakara

Chrisj wrote: »

Hi Sakara, thanks for the reply i was on ESA and have been told it will be reinstated during the appeal process and backdated to my last payment (11/08). I haven't been claiming Income Support or Incapacity Benefit at all but have been claiming Housing Benefit.Do you know whetherl my HB be effected at all during the appeal?

hi sorry that i cannot answer as i didnt claim HB. I would say go visit your citizens advice beurau and get a benefit specialist on your case. theyre fantastic.

cit_k

ps - also forgot this site
http://dwpexamination.wordpress.com/

dreamylittledream

cit_k wrote: »

The dwp put profit over natural justice, and the use of LIMA and ATOS has been questioned many times before...

Sorry what???

Are you under the curious impression that the organisation that administers more in payments then the government receives in tax revenue somehow makes money??

cit_k

dreamylittledream wrote: »

Sorry what???

Are you under the curious impression that the organisation that administers more in payments then the government receives in tax revenue somehow makes money??

No they profit from it in the sense they obtain a revenue as they own the software ATOS uses (and develops), and sub-licence atos to resell it to others (co-op, prison service, royal mail, etc)

How much money they make, they will not reveal.

But they do gain a return of money from the relationship, the main definition of the word profit is "1 : a valuable return : gain" according to merriam websters, so its fair to say they profit from the relationship, and as they are putting those commercial interests over the publics right to examine the due process involved in the system, they are therefore putting profit over natural justice.

Its also important to remember - they OWN that software completely, copyright, intellectual rights, the whole lot - and as they own it, unless they are really stupid they will own it for ever. That means if they end their contract with atos to do the medicals, ATOS can continue selling that software to others, and giving the dwp money. Its a relationship that will give the dwp god knows how much money over time. Eventually, it will probably even make a profit over the original development costs (even if it has not already).

They wont release any figures though, nor the software.

Imagine if you can if you were arrested by the police for a crime you did not commit.

You get taken to court - now imagine if the judge just asked some odd questions, that didnt really have much to do with the crime, tapped the answers into a computer and the computer printed out a report that recommended to the judge if you were guilty or not, and the judges took that report as gospel?

Lets say the report was bad, really bad, a work of fiction, that left you speechless at how biased and innacurate it was.

Would you, or anyone else be happy with the fact that your only recourse would be to be found guiilty until you can appeal?

People would be wanting to see the software, to have it examined to find out if the process is fair.

Imagine the uproar if that right was denied because the courts turned round and said, no sorry, we sell the software to other people, so your rights to natural justice are denied - and we think thats fair because you have the right to appeal anyway.

Even though you are guilty until the appeal, and being punished?

Thats the same situation with ATOS and LIMA (the software in question).

imagine how people would feel if it then happened to them again, and again, and again... And showed no sign of ever stopping.

No one is allowed to examine the process, as the money they make is more important than anyones right to question a system many say is not working.

Moanerlissa72

I too have had my incapacity benefit stopped, i'm in total shock as I have severe Crohn's disease, but try to manage my symptoms without the use of drugs. I found the questions at my assessment quite annoying as they seemed to have no bearing on my illness. She just wouldn't listen to me when I said how unpredictable my illness was. Everyday is different. Now I'm having more flare ups because it being so near to Christmas, and getting colder, I'm starting to panic about not being able to cope, will have any money etc..this disease is hard enough to cope with, and considering I have a foot long stricture in my small bowel I've been doing pretty well up until now to try and keep symptoms limited. I feel those who have a genuine illness are being alienated, or perhaps it is the case that they think that we will be so frightened and weak that we won't appeal. I for one will be appealing. My friends father was made medically retired, and has a terminal illness, his disease is degenerative, and still they tried to make him work???? totally baffled