gypsyjanet

pipkin71

FBaby wrote: »

What I am saying is that clearly, she will be sitting standing and walking at home. It might be that she needs to go from one position to another regularly, but she will be either sitting, walking or standing during the day at home (unless she is bed bound, but then I can't see how she would have failed ESA).

The point is, how can she be so certain that there is no job that could accommodate her need to move regularly from one position to another?

I am not saying that she could do many jobs, maybe none would be suitable for some time, but I don't understand how anyone can assume that they couldn't do any work at all so that it is not even worth considering potential options if they've been told they can't claim ESA.

Based on experience, chronic pain can prevent you from working.

I don't know why the OP was refused ESA, nor if pain is the reason for being unable to stay in any one position for long periods, but, if it is down to pain then that does affect one's ability to work.

I suppose, because I experience the same difficulties, the comments never struck me as strange and I can see why that could prevent someone from holding down a job.

fluffymovie

I am sorry that you are finding things tough Gypsyjanet. As someone who works in benefits, I have to say that I wouldn't like someone pulling out a dictaphone on me either. Don't have any issue with putting things in writing but feel that the use of a dictaphone could be why the interview at JCP broke down.

The fact that you have been to CAB and your MP for help means you are doing the right things, reaching out for help but sometimes, there isn't the answer you want and this can leave people feeling frustrated. It's important to try to work to get past the frustration as this puts up a barrier and can stop people being able to give you the help you need. I don't mean to patronise but speak from personal experience.

I understand that you are worried about losing your home but if you rent, you should still be able to receive HB, CTB if you own it so hopefully that won't be the case. If you are falling behind with rent or your mortgage, speak to your landlord or mortgage lender as they may be able to offer some assistance.

The previous advice about a welfare benefit officer sounds brill and I would recommend this but please remember, in these difficult times for those claiming benefits, it is not always possible that you will get the outcome you feel you deserve. ESA is perhaps not going to be paid and so if you wish to claim state assistance, you may have to agree to look for jobs although you feel you cannot at present. The aim is to get you back into work so that you aren't so desperate and frightened.

gypsyjanet

I will let you know thAT I HOME EDUCATED MY CHILD ...I spent years cycling my child to school she has now left home and is working!
I ask for help and get a phsyco analasis of my whole life .I was a
single parent on benefits for years and only because of the predudice that we experienced in our village. I have made complaints to the jobcentre about stuff in the past but I have always been respectfull about advisors in the past, even if I make a complaint it is always attempted that a compliment is given if deserved. If anyone is reading this and you work for the jobcentre(FOR AN EZX...i i i iII i ACANNOT CONCENTRATE this is not deliberte I cannot sit here anynmore so ypu work out it is thids now really hurts me and I cant correct anymore.... short pain spurts!!!!!! do they hurt!!!! but

BigAunty

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sunnyone

gypsyjanet wrote: »

I will let you know thAT I HOME EDUCATED MY CHILD ...I spent years cycling my child to school she has now left home and is working!
I ask for help and get a phsyco analasis of my whole life .I was a
single parent on benefits for years and only because of the predudice that we experienced in our village. I have made complaints to the jobcentre about stuff in the past but I have always been respectfull about advisors in the past, even if I make a complaint it is always attempted that a compliment is given if deserved. If anyone is reading this and you work for the jobcentre(FOR AN EZX...i i i iII i ACANNOT CONCENTRATE this is not deliberte I cannot sit here anynmore so ypu work out it is thids now really hurts me and I cant correct anymore.... short pain spurts!!!!!! do they hurt!!!! but

There is help available for pain, have you been to see a pain specialist?

I will always be in pain but its bareable pain and not the complete agony my injuries/health conditions cause me, even now when my treatment is changing and my new pain meds are being titrated up to level my last pain meds were at Im not climbing the curtains.

You can also have some alternative treatments on the NHS for pain if you want to try that instead of drug treatments.

pipkin71

sunnyone wrote: »

You can also have some alternative treatments on the NHS for pain if you want to try that instead of drug treatments.

This is definitely something to explore - anything that can help reduce pain is worthwhile

gypsyjanet

I have just spent ages writing a reply and got timed out so I will try to keep things short.
I went on sick in 2009 with a condition called" police mans heel " and arthritis of the spine ,at the time my knees were not too bad as I was having the most horrendous injections in one knee. They are so painful that you have to have the knee aneathatised first
I couldnt continue having them as I began having a needle phobia.
When i went to my first assessment that Atos examiner said and I quote " person complains left knee hurts "! This condition is dabilitating at its worst.
When i went to the Tribunal two years later my knees were bad and I had had two arthroscopies and a repair done on the left knee for a maniscular tear. I was not allowed to discuss this at my Tribunal as it had not been put down on the form that I filled out two years previously nor was I allowed to discuss tratment that I had recieved for cancer which had aslo not been put on the original form because I was not suffering with this at the time.

gypsyjanet

It is not suprising then that I also failed the Tribunal Hearing.
I applied to go straight back onto ESA as I had waited two years for my Tribunal hearing. This time I listed every ailment that I had on the form and explained how it effected me.My problem now was getting to the assessment venue. Living in a village with a very limited bus service was a big problem. Atos sent me a proposed bus route which involved taking three buses to a neighbouring town the catching a train to the venue and then a walk that they estimated that a healthy person could do in six minutes. This walk would not take me six minutes and would take me more than the ninety minutes that is reqiured in order to qualify for a taxi. Atos refuse to acknowledge this. My Gp is under the impression that she can only write a letter on my behalf if I am actually registerd disabled but she says that what Atos are trying to make me do is unreasonable considereing they know I have mobility issues.

gypsyjanet

I have literally had my entittlement for ESA stopped because I cannot afford to go to the venue. I wrote to the DWP explaining that if I missed the last bus home then i would have to afford a taxi and I just did not have the funds to do this. They told my MP that I should apply to them for the funds to get to the venue, this I did and sent it recorded delivery but they chose to ignore the request!
This is now why I am now on JSA. I am confused as to why my GP can give me sick note saying that I am not fit for work and yet I find myself in this ridicules position!
I am very upset at the insinuations that I was rude to my jobcentre advisor. I did not go into the jobcentre with the intention of deliberately winding my advisor up and then recording her! She had a problem with me from the start and I really couldnt even get a word in edgeways I was not able to even finish sentences it was most bizarre. She left the room before I could even finish my claim

gypsyjanet

I have since this incident at the jobcentre seen another adviser who was wonderful and when i recieved a letter of appology from the manager I wrote back and made apoint of complimenting this person on their handling of the situation. To give you an idea of the type of person that i am ,I have been told by three people that I would make a good county councillor and I have also been asked by the police if I would like to get in touch with them to discuss being a liason officer for the Travelling community.
I was self employed because with arthritis of the spine I knew that it would be better for me to work when my medical condition allows me to as oppose to me having to work set hours for an employer and having to constantly take time off sick. I was not expecting my knees to deteriorate as they have. I still intend to be self employed and the work I do is very special as its a dying craft and as a female doing it I have recieved a lot of respect from the Travelling community... what do I do ? I make full size horsed drawn gypsy caravans my last one being made for a romany. This involves using some pretty heavy duty tools which is not a good idea to mess around with when you have mobility issues!
The only reason I am signing on JSA is to literally keep the roof over my head as if I dont I lose my entittlement to housing benefits etc.. I have appealed my ESA case but I have no idea how long it takes for an appeal or even if I will be allowed to appeal.
The reason that I have had to wait for my Knee surgery is not because I am obese or smoke it is quite simly because one , I was at first to young. Two , then the county ran out of funds for orthopeadic surgery apparently and were only doing operations that were life threatening, now My GP is even getting fed up of not recieving a response from the consultant surgeon> Its all just too frustrating for words.... My Gp has just phoned me and now confirmed that I am possibly having symptoms of anxiety caused by stress!