help?

melbi_uk

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

There are times you want to "like" a forum post :P

the Thanks button will do very nicely thank you :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

melbi_uk

MrsManda wrote: »

to follow the previous poster, GPs generally make their decision solely on what employment you already have or if you're unemployed, what employment you used to do. If you cannot do the job you've been doing due to illness, you get a sick note.
Whereas the ESA assessment is there to see if you are capable of doing ANY work.

Yes, I'd quite forgotten that, thanks for reminding me.

When you look at it that way, it makes sense. :T

NASA_2

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

I didn't know that Thank You! I will pass on this info - apologies to people for the multiple posts!

Dont expect the JSA staff to play ball though.

They see a sickline and think 'thank !!!!, we can send them back to ESA' instead of taking the illness into account on the JSAg.

If they read their own guidance alerts.

melbi_uk

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

I totally agree, I was speaking the other day to someone who is obviously up themselves. They said that if they have a problem with esa well they will get their GP to issue stronger painkillers.

How dangerous is that and I hope they never really do need painkillers.

I disagree with this and feel all of us should be seen by an independent GP only then can a true evaluation be done. Same goes also for the blue badge, they should be issued independently of your health centre.

I see my psychiatrist and counsellor too.

Before I was issued with my civil service pension I had to see half a dozen independent specialists before it was passed and I have no problem with the benefits system also doing the same.

The genuine claimants will see nothing wrong with this.

I wish I could see things like this without having it pointed out to me first

dogfish12

Somebody has mentioned independence in benefit decision making. Well, whenever independence is mentioned, my pavlovian reaction is to ask, who pays the wages? Because whoever pays the piper names the tune! So much for independence.

melbi_uk

NASA wrote: »

Dont expect the JSA staff to play ball though.

They see a sickline and think 'thank !!!!, we can send them back to ESA' instead of taking the illness into account on the JSAg.

If they read their own guidance alerts.

What would happen then though?

Blue_Elephant

NASA wrote: »

Dont expect the JSA staff to play ball though.

They see a sickline and think 'thank !!!!, we can send them back to ESA' instead of taking the illness into account on the JSAg.

If they read their own guidance alerts.

I'm advising her to take her sicknote, the letter from ESA, a witness (I don't live in the same area) and ask the JSA staff to either help or put her in touch with someone who can.

dogfish12 wrote: »

Somebody has mentioned independence in benefit decision making. Well, whenever independence is mentioned, my pavlovian reaction is to ask, who pays the wages? Because whoever pays the piper names the tune! So much for independence.

Very true, and that's what's annoying me about the whole JSA vs ESA thing - DWP are having their cake and eating it.

dogfish12

I do not agree that GP'S are being fooled. But don't we all want a quiet life? Would you want somebody in your surgery kicking up a huge fuss for a sick note et al. Easier to give it to them. I can't prove it but certainly suspect it. GP'S are now on an average of well over £100,000 per annum. Why make it difficult for somebody who's on next to nothing.

AnxiousMum

melbi_uk wrote: »

Fair points.

However, surely GP's can tell who is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

Ho hum - it's a strange world we live in.

Before we know it they will be introducing lie detectors into the assessments - now there's food for thought!

Think of it this way.....

For 20 years you've had the same GP......after that amount of time, yes the GP would know your medical history, but if you've been in and out on a regular basis for various ailments, flue, infections etc., there will also be a relationship where the patient begins to consider a doctor as almost part of the family.

If you have built up that kind of relationship with a patient, it must be VERY VERY hard when they come in looking for a sick note, to say NO! Even without that relationship - a GP in many cases is in a situation where if they refuse the sick note claim, they are firstly then open to abuse by some patients, and to a feeling of mistrust/mistreatment by the patient. It's alot easier for the Dr to take the easy way out - give the sick note (after all, the patient has told them they are incapable of working due to their ailment), and let the third party - ie the decision maker, determine whether the illness is enough to render them incapable of ANY type of work. It is not the GPs job to sit with the patient and go through all lines of work to see what they ARE capable of doing, that's the job of the decision maker.

I think that any of us currently working know we could go and get a sick note tomorrow if we really wanted to.......

sunnyone

melbi_uk wrote: »

Yes I realised after I finished typing it.

I remember a lady coming into the waiting room at the assessment centre yesterday, beautifully dressed, every hair in place, make-up done, the type that makes the average looking female feel intimidated let alone someone hid away in the corner hoping nobody noticed me there.

She marched up to the reception and in one very loud (almost demanding voice) asked the receptionist how long she would be as she had only paid for 1 hour on the car park!

The receptionist couldn't guarantee that she would be out before the hour was up. To this the pristine lady announced in her usual loud voice that she didn't want to start becoming anxious worrying about getting a ticket on her return to the carpark.

Now this lady walked very upright, very confidently, no limp, used both arms with no obvious problems, was very confident and loud. My daughter looked at me and said no way would that woman become anxious!

We spent more time on the way home trying to guess why she was claiming ESA than we did my assessment.

Oops I think I've rambled and forgotten the purpose of this post now

Sorry

She may be having chemo or dialysis, she many have continence issues or any amount of other conditions that make her anxious if she cant get back to her car within an hour, you are judgeing her on her appearance alone which is totally wrong because while some illnesses may make it harder to be well turned out others mean that you take comfort in taking pride in your appearance just to hang on to some shread of your former life.