IB medical assessment

krisskross

I don't think I have 'judged' anyone, simply pointed out that none of you need advice about benefits. I have no doubt you all know Incapacity Benefit rates etc inside out. What you are looking for is reassurance that you really are ill and how to convey this to the ATOS medical personnel. This therefore is not the right board.

I am a she by the way not a he.And I still maintain it is very very simple to get started on the sickness benefit route.

honeyD

Hi krisskross, Ive avoided replying to you as I wasnt sure what you were really trying to say. I started this thread as I had got my medical appointment quicker than I have before but its turned into others also adding their own stories about their illnesses and so on. I do not feel I have to justify my illness to you, but I will say that I do know what I feel and what I go through each and every day as do others here and I dont know what you aim to achieve by saying what you are, all it will do is upset those who genuinely do have a problem which I hope isnt what you are aiming for. I can assure you I am not writing in this thread to get benefit advice. I had a medical, I was failed because the ATOS nurse wrote my answers differently to what I had stated in the medical interview. So I guess I should just not appeal, and take it on the chin because she obviously knows more about me and my illness than I do? Is that what you mean? This thread is here for advice for those who have had medicals and those who are waiting to go to one, which you dont seem to be either so Im not sure why you are here other than try to upset people.
You obviously have an opinion of people on benefits but I dont think you can really know about any of the people here when you dont personally know them so I feel its wrong for you to say what you are saying.
All I am getting from your posts are "I have an opinion, everyone who is on benefits for depression is faking". Well if that is what you think then if I could I would invite you to stand in mine or anyone elses shoes who do suffer from depression and see how you feel then.

krisskross

honeyD wrote: »

All I am getting from your posts are "I have an opinion, everyone who is on benefits for depression is faking". Well if that is what you think then if I could I would invite you to stand in mine or anyone elses shoes who do suffer from depression and see how you feel then.

you obviously do not read my posts correctly then.

I have no issue at all with genuinely ill people who are unable to work receiving money via the benefit system.

I have also said I have suffered with a mental health problem myself.....in fact I still do everytime I get stressed or anxious.

I have worked in a mental health unit so am not completely without knowledge on the subject. You would perhaps be surprised how many patients we had'booking themselves in' because they had serious arrears on everything, such as rent, utilities etc. They used to joke about it.....just come in for a little holiday while the social workers sort everything out.They certainly could fake it beautifully.

I never said any of you are faking, just that depressive type illnesses are the easiest thing in the world to fake and the ATOS people will be very aware of this. Plus you must all be aware that the criteria are being tightened as it is now being looked at from a different angle. The idea is to find what you can do, rather than write you off.

josie75_2

honeyD wrote: »

All I am getting from your posts are "I have an opinion, everyone who is on benefits for depression is faking". Well if that is what you think then if I could I would invite you to stand in mine or anyone elses shoes who do suffer from depression and see how you feel then.

Thank you honeyD its certainly the impression I got too.

krisskross

josie75 wrote: »

Thank you honeyD its certainly the impression I got too.

I do, can you not read? Although because i do not endlessly moan about it I suppose i can't have any problems. If I told you what situations caused my PTSD and what I have seen thousands of times as flashbacks you probably still would not believe me.

Still you go on in your little worlds of dreading every medical because you think you will lose your benefits. If I was as ill as you lot think you are I would be confident in having sufficient evidence from the health care professionals treating me to prove that I was unfit for work.

ETA: you do know what PTSD is don't you?

healy

krisskross wrote: »

I do, can you not read? Although because i do not endlessly moan about it I suppose i can't have any problems. If I told you what situations caused my PTSD and what I have seen thousands of times as flashbacks you probably still would not believe me.

Still you go on in your little worlds of dreading every medical because you think you will lose your benefits. If I was as ill as you lot think you are I would be confident in having sufficient evidence from the health care professionals treating me to prove that I was unfit for work.

ETA: you do know what PTSD is don't you?

People may well have enough evidence to prove they are unfit for work but due to their anxiety they may not be confident about this. As someone with mental health problems I would have thought you would have awareness of this.

josie75_2

Do you know I nearly put on the end of my last post "Or can I not read too"

Ive had enough of this now Im not being drawn by your incitive comments any more.

[Deleted User]

This thread is frightening me.

I had my appt letter last week but had to call them today to change to an afternoon appt and ask for a female doctor. The person on the phone was really tetchy wanting to know if I need a female dr because of 'medical or religious reasons'. Why should it make a difference?

I have nothing to hide but am so anxious about the medical. Esp after reading that alot of what other people here have said in their medicals has been 'misrepresented' (I'm being diplomatic) by the assessors.
I really feel like phoning them back and saying i'll be taking a tape recorder wiv me...which will def' p*** them off. But I don't want them lying about me either. But I will be going to the medical alone so it will be like my 'independant witness'

I have depression,PTSD, anxiety, raynauds, arthritis, lupus/fibro, a gastric ulcer, high blood pressure, insomnia....and take about a dozen pills a day. Sometimes I can't get out of bed or my flat for days, I live alone so have nobody to rely on. I have a motability car, which is my lifeline. So that I can attend a night class for 2hrs a wk, which is the sum of my social life apart from going to my therapist!

I haven't worked for approx 5yrs. I need to have the heating on 24/7 and am up to my ears in debt. I can't cope if they take my benefit away. I have worked and paid into the system I'm not a benefit cheat!!!! I was awaded DLA for an indefinte period because my GP and consultants were able to show that my illnesses were progressive and enduring. Why should some jobs-worth who doesn't know me have the right to contradict them?

I feel like crying and I haven't even been to the medical yet.

Sorry this wasn't meant to be a 'poor me' rant but....grrrr

SomeBozo

bushbaby1103 wrote: »

. Why should some jobs-worth who doesn't know me have the right to contradict them?

I have stayed off this thread, but have to come in now.

What do you think gives you the right to call someone a "jobs worth".

Its their job to ensure to check that people are claiming correctly. I think its great that the government is checking claimants.

Your calling someone names "jobs-worth", would you like it if people here started calling you names because of what you do day to day?

It always annoys me that people claiming these benefits can feel like they can call the people charged with organising it "jobs-worths".

Bozo

[Deleted User]

SB- since you have taken offence on someone else's behalf, the reasons I used that term:

1) because of the attitude of the person I spoke to this morning who said "if you change the appt your benefit can be stopped" before asking me why I needed to change it. I then rang a very polite and helpful person at the DWP who said that wasn't the case, as I had a good reason to change the appt. Definitely not a JOBS WORTH! I have a condition which gives me constant pain which is worse in the mornings. Changing an appt' in advance makes more sense than being late or missing it completely. Wouldn't you agree?

2) Being rude and doggedly insisting on wanting to know why I needed a female assessor - I didn't want to tell him it's because I have been sexually assaulted in the past which is the cause of my depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The thought of being in a room alone with a man I don't know asking me personal Q's terrifies me. Again a little forward planning avoids potential problems. Explaining that on an anonymous forum is very different than telling an unfriendly, officious, patronising person on the phone.

3) Having read some of the posts in this thread I am deeply concerend about the accuracy/objectivity of some of the assessors and the information recorded by some of them 'Jobs-worth' is as polite as I could be because I have only read other's experiences. If I'd called them 'liars' instead, I'd have taken your criticsm on board.

Can I ask why you have "stayed off this thread, but have to come in now"...any particular reason other than 'offence by proxy?

Do you really have the right to tell me which terms I can use in my post? Was my post "spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libelous"?

By the way, I must say that your sig' has a certain irony...have a lovely, pain & stress free day. I hope that I do.