ESA coming to an end, but too ill to work

anguk

Just...Yvette wrote: »

I am interested that you find it 'immoral' to claim a benefit which a person is entitled to, and which they've worked and paid contributions towards.

Can I ask - do you also find those claiming CB ESA in the support group immoral? The only difference between those in SG and WRAG being that the deeply flawed ATOS system has put them in one or the other. A recent newspaper investigation using the Freedom of Information Act found that 32 people die a week after being placed in the WRAG. Terminally ill people have been placed in the WRAG.

Do you also find a pensioner claiming contribution-related retirement pension immoral? Because that's not means tested, and they may be living with partners who work and have savings and property too.

I agree with what you're saying but I do think that newspaper article was scaremongering, they give very little facts. For example did the 32 people who died each week die of conditions that put them in WRAG or did they die of something completely unrelated? My husband nearly died 2 years ago but it was because he had a ruptured appendix and had septicaemia & peritonitis, it was nothing to do with his ongoing health issues or his disabilities.

And I'd guess that more than 32 healthy, fit people who work die each week, but the newspaper article didn't mention that.

There are some massive mistakes being made with ESA and ATOS and people are being put into WRAG when they should be in the support group but I don't think the media help with their scare stories.

Edinburghlass_2

fogartyblue. wrote: »

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Simple, because whilst I was claiming unemployment benefit I was working trying to set up a business.

The business made no money for the first few years and there were weeks when there was no work so I went looking for more contracts.

The DHSS at the time said that I was working full time even though they accepted that I made nothing for nearly three years. They demanded the return of all of the unemployment benefit I had received.

In closing they also said that it did not matter if I earned anything, that was my choice.

So yes, I have never been unemployed. Looking for work being self employed yes, but never out of work,.

so your were claiming unemployment benefit while working, immoral or what :rotfl::rotfl:

Just...Yvette

After reading the sticky 'It's about helping people get their entitlement...' I won't be taking part in further discussion regarding the politics of ESA.

I will only be using this board to seek help for my own difficulties in getting reassessed.

ALIBOBSY

Whilst I realise anyone losing money is of course going to be upset. The reality is the intent of ESA was to move benefits for the disabled/ill more in line with JSA.
Like it or not for many years people did try to get on the old IVB to avoid signing on and sat their for many years (to be frank governments at one point encouraged it as it artificially reduced the unemployed figures). I know for a fact many unions would advise anyone over 50 ish being made redudant to "get on the sick" to take them through to retirement.

The new system means, like cont based jsa you can only claim for a limited period then your benefit is looked at from an income based postition. Just like on JSA if you have a partner who works full time and/or earns more than the "minimum the law says you need to live off" you can't claim.

The only other option for those who are just above the earnings level for the income based benefits is working tax credits.

If you earn above this level then unfortunately all you can do is budget for the new income its hrd but can be done. My Oh has gone through 2 redundancies in 2 years and we had to cut right back. We are now working hard to start our own buisiness as the job situation is so dire and we want to get out their and support ourselves.

HOWEVER I want to say I have utmost sympathy with the OP over the treatment she had from the DWP she should have been able to ask for a reassesment based on a worsening in her condition. The problem may stem from the fact that if she mentions the fact she disagreed with the group from the start the staff will look at it as an appeal. Best bet may be to do a complaint in writing, just state simply "I want a reassement as my condition worsened from xxxxxx I do not want to appeal my original assesment and withdraw my appeal which I was wrongly advised to make by DWP staff".

Ali x

Boots888

The new changes in Contribution ESA ending after a year are affecting an awful lot of people in different circumstances.

I think if they were going to end this benefit they should have made it to new claims only, given years of proper consultation and notice to the public and certainly not made it retrospetive.

I thinks all benefits should be means tested, but not for those who are sick and unable to work, and certainly not implented so quickly and retrospectively.

The fact is it's going to cost the taxpayer a hell of a lot more in appeals etc.

redundantjune09

"Go back to work maybe? I wish a 'pot' was my only problem, I would go back tomorrow just to get out of the house! "

To Parva - there is more to my current situation then "just a pot" - however I didn't want to go into chapter and verse. Also, if you read it I have said I had surgery twice and still waiting for another. Correct me if I'm wrong but you don't have surgery 3 times for the fun of it - and you have obviously not spent 6 months with you leg in a cast and having to keep it elevated!!! I could also say the same to you - get back to work so you can get out of the house - why wait til tomorrow. I worked constantly for 28 years and as soon as I am able I will be going back to work - I don't want anything for nothing - I just want help now whilst I need it and think after paying in for 28 years I should be entitled to that

Boots888

redundantjune09 wrote: »

"Go back to work maybe? I wish a 'pot' was my only problem, I would go back tomorrow just to get out of the house! "

To Parva - there is more to my current situation then "just a pot" - however I didn't want to go into chapter and verse. Also, if you read it I have said I had surgery twice and still waiting for another. Correct me if I'm wrong but you don't have surgery 3 times for the fun of it - and you have obviously not spent 6 months with you leg in a cast and having to keep it elevated!!! I could also say the same to you - get back to work so you can get out of the house - why wait til tomorrow. I worked constantly for 28 years and as soon as I am able I will be going back to work - I don't want anything for nothing - I just want help now whilst I need it and think after paying in for 28 years I should be entitled to that

The thing is the NHS are obliged to give free medical attention at the point of delivery, they don't promise to deliver at the point of need. That's why a lot of people are still ill and often their conditions have got worse.

That's why there's a lot of anger, cause who knows how peoples health could have improved if only they were helped initially.

Boots888

Mind you the same could be said for a lot of other services proved by the state ie, education, housing, crime.

They all need to be dealt with more swiftly to those who need it.

- ie, not so many sick people who find they are now having to battle against the system and justify their mere existence

- not so many ferral kids who can't even read or write, bunking off school and causing antisocial behaviour within thier neighbourhoods.

- Not having people in despair cause they've nowhere to go or no roof over there heads and not having the homeless whose only choice is to sleep on the streets and get only hope out of a bottle

- and criminals costing a fortune every day they are in prison or out in the community running riot

The state is there to handle all these issues, payed for by taxpayers, to make the country run smoothly. It's a tough job, granted, but they fail miserably in every way.

fogartyblue.

Edinburghlass wrote: »

fogartyblue. wrote: »

so your were claiming unemployment benefit while working, immoral or what :rotfl::rotfl:

No, the regs allowed me to work up to 16 hours which is what I did. I complied with what was required of me and notified them on a 2 weekly basis what my net income (loss) was everytime.

They saw different. I couldn't prove that it was only 16 hours. It was their word against mine. I had more important things to worry about than their arguments so agreed to repay everything which they accepted. That was in the mid 80's.

Looking back, it does make me wonder what I was supposed to live off, but it didn't matter as the business took off shortly afterwards and I sold it a few years later for quite a healthy sum.

fogartyblue.

Boots888 wrote: »

I thinks all benefits should be means tested, but not for those who are sick and unable to work, and certainly not implented so quickly and retrospectively.

.

Why are you thinking of just those groups? Those that claim JSA & ESA are widely known to be the two main benefits that are over used and abused.

Benefits should be means tested across the board. That is what they are for. To help those that find themselves without money.

Not pay benefits to some whilst their respective partners may be earning £50,000pa +