Back on the ESA merry-go-round

Muttleythefrog

Face1992 wrote: »

Now for me it's the other way round, I cannot garden in the front garden because I don't want people looking at me from other houses, or the road, or people passing. Back garden is easier because it is enclosed.

Most people would find that to make logical sense. In fact for people without MH problems the same probably will generally apply. And that's why I gave my example... MH problems do not always play out rationally or logically... I have no difficulties signing karaoke in the middle of an afternoon in the local pub in front of strangers... yet I have difficulty talking to family. To an outsider that would seem nonsensical. So when people relay the actual difficulties they have in relation to MH I tend to give a particularly wide berth regarding expectation. The whole point of the recent Ch4 experiment was presumably to highlight this difficulty in actually understanding the underyling problems from simple behaviour.

Face1992

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

I really don't think we have sufficient detail here to be determining if the Op is a benefit fraudster or not. It seems to me you just want to interrogate them for some reason that only you can confirm. The Op should be aware... if not in the thread or prior to it.. then by me now in saying that DLA and ESA are awarded based on day to day difficulties.. and that if those difficulties claimed contradicted the circumstances of going to Uni then they may have an issue. But one must be careful to make oversimplistic judgements especially without full facts. I get LRM and have problems using public transport... doesn't stop me using public transport.. and the actual reason I get LRM is because I require supervision rather than for the difficulties I claim to have. I have no real difficulties with medical appointments... in fact as noted by one psychiatrist I seem to enjoy playing my role at them... but the ATOS one caused me serious difficulty...so much so I am getting ESA for a reason I'm not entirely convinced is true.

Who said the OP was a benefit fraudster? I certainly didn't!!.

DepressedInsomniac

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

I really don't think we have sufficient detail here to be determining if the Op is a benefit fraudster or not. It seems to me you just want to interrogate them for some reason that only you can confirm. The Op should be aware... if not in the thread or prior to it.. then by me now in saying that DLA and ESA are awarded based on day to day difficulties.. and that if those difficulties claimed contradicted the circumstances of going to Uni then they may have an issue. But one must be careful to make oversimplistic judgements especially without full facts. I get LRM and have problems using public transport... doesn't stop me using public transport.. and the actual reason I get LRM is because I require supervision rather than for the difficulties I claim to have. I have no real difficulties with medical appointments... in fact as noted by one psychiatrist I seem to enjoy playing my role at them... but the ATOS one caused me serious difficulty...so much so I am getting ESA for a reason I'm not entirely convinced is true.

Thank you :A

And if Face1992 would quit with the interrogation and snide remarks just long enough to read what I actually write she would know that I will be travelling alone by train just ONE day per week, in a first class carriage, of which I will most likely have sole occupancy.

Muttleythefrog

Face1992 wrote: »

Who said the OP was a benefit fraudster? I certainly didn't!!.

You didn't... and I deliberately introduced the phrase because of your post 107 to try to deflect you away from this thinking. You're questioning the (in)capabilities of the Op it would seem and raising the issue of the benefits agency being interested in their circumstances.

I think we have to assume the Op won't be so daft as to lie when claiming DLA (or PIP) and having a WCA with regards conveying the circumstances of their daily life whether it does or doesn't include University.

Dunroamin

PippaGirl wrote: »

Why are people so intent on attacking the OP? Is it necessary? Is it Kind? Is it helpful?

I rather felt that it was the OP who was doing the attacking.

xylophone

I don't think I was seeking any specific advice in my original post, more reaching out for moral support and reassurance that everything would be ok. I also hoped somebody might have been through similar and be able to advise how they dealt with it.

Then it might have been better to have made this clear?

DepressedInsomniac

xylophone wrote: »

Then it might have been better to have made this clear?

I'm not quite sure how I could have written my post any differently. As I said before, I didn't ask for specific benefit advice, I made it quite clear all the financial side of things were sorted, I just wasn't sure what I should do if the goal posts were moved due to an unfavourable decision by ATOS. After all, they don't have the best of reputations and having got off rather lightly (I think) in my last dealings with them I expected to go through the full interrogation this time around

I'm sorry if people thought any differently. I'm a very black & white person, I use the facts in front of me and I thought I'd provided sufficient facts relevant to the problems I faced, or feared. I can't help it if people want to read between lines or make up stories in their own head or jump to erroneous conclusions.

DepressedInsomniac

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

I think we have to assume the Op won't be so daft as to lie when claiming DLA (or PIP) and having a WCA with regards conveying the circumstances of their daily life whether it does or doesn't include University.

I have no reason to lie nor would I dream of it. I will, however, be extra careful when filling out the form to ensure there is no ambiguity and they can make a decision based upon fact. I will also supply to them all the evidence and reports I had done by the DSA team to show them how I intend to manage my time at university and the levels of support and adaptions that have been put in place to facilitate this.

DepressedInsomniac

Face1992 wrote: »

OP

Because of the current state of the economy and it not being predicted to be getting better any time soon, will the family business you have pinned your hopes on still be there in 4 years time?

Not sure where you get 4yrs from. Assuming I manage to complete my degree then I shall graduate in a little over two and a half years. And regardless of the economic state of the country at that time I don't foresee any problem. But thank you for your concern

Face1992

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

Not sure where you get 4yrs from. Assuming I manage to complete my degree then I shall graduate in a little over two and a half years. And regardless of the economic state of the country at that time I don't foresee any problem. But thank you for your concern

Fantastic then! It's all rosie in the garden:p