Been called for medical - not happy

krisskross

deleted as wrong quote

krisskross

MUMZ2BEE wrote: »

There was a story in today's Daily Record about another ATOS sham where the gentleman died just after being found fit for work. Now one or two mistakes can happen, but unfortunately they are happening all to often where ATOS is concerned. By all means have a WCA, but these must be done honestly.

There is also a case in the paper today of a man claiming disability benefits because he couldn't walk up and down stairs, bath unaided and walking 80 yards took him 5 minutes. All lies, he was filmed completing a 15 mile triathlon in two and a half hours. He claimed £17K of taxpayers money dishonestly.

It is the cheats and the dishonest amongst benefit claimants that do the damage and who knows you or anyone else could be exaggerating your health issues to ensure you don't have to look for work. So perhaps claims should be made honestly as well.

ETA: The somewhat biased article does say the man died of a heart attack. No mention was made of any history of heart disease. Seemingly fit people die every day from sudden no warning cardiac events. The A&E I worked in had at least one patient a week having a heart attack from the local fitness centre.

Bigmoney2

mazza111 wrote: »

I don't grudge pensioners getting their £2 a week. I grudge those not in need getting it. There is a difference. Yes, I can afford to run my car, not because I'm getting ESA, but because I use my retirement money to do so. And definitely not covetous. I just don't see why, when the country is in such a mess, as they keep telling us, that the worse of in society are getting less, when the rich are getting benefits, whether that be the WFA or the CWP, free tv license or free bus travel.

You know I couldn't tell you the last time I used my car for my own use? If it wasn't for the dd and the dm then I would probably get rid of it. Because you are saying that, does that make you covetous? Of course not, so please do not imply that I am covetous of any pensioner getting what they get.

You seem to be very objective of people getting sickness benefits or disability benefits, but as soon as someone mentions pensioner benefits, we are covetous?? Seriously, think what you write on here most of the time.


Do those pensioners with hundreds of thousands sitting in the bank really need these benefits? I'm not talking borderline cases here, I think if you care to read back, I said WEALTHY pensioners.


No one likes those who don't work who can and the ones playing the system. Unfortunately, it's those who are sick or disabled who are paying the price for a system that's not working for them.

There was a story in today's Daily Record about another ATOS sham where the gentleman died just after being found fit for work. Now one or two mistakes can happen, but unfortunately they are happening all to often where ATOS is concerned. By all means have a WCA, but these must be done honestly.

The thing is that it is cheaper to give it to everyone regardless.

Means testing costs money, and there is a risk that those who really need it do not claim due to pride. So the means testing doesn't actually save any money for the government.

Better off pensioners also have the extra personal allowance (over 65 rate) eroded away so are effectively paying back the heating allowance anyway.

PippaGirl_2

It's cheaper to give it to all than means test it as that costs money ... hmmm interesting thought, now they have brought in means testing for child benefit - they can do it when they want to.

MUMZ2BEE

krisskross wrote: »

There is also a case in the paper today of a man claiming disability benefits because he couldn't walk up and down stairs, bath unaided and walking 80 yards took him 5 minutes. All lies, he was filmed completing a 15 mile triathlon in two and a half hours. He claimed £17K of taxpayers money dishonestly.

It is the cheats and the dishonest amongst benefit claimants that do the damage and who knows you or anyone else could be exaggerating your health issues to ensure you don't have to look for work. So perhaps claims should be made honestly as well.

ETA: The somewhat biased article does say the man died of a heart attack. No mention was made of any history of heart disease. Seemingly fit people die every day from sudden no warning cardiac events. The A&E I worked in had at least one patient a week having a heart attack from the local fitness centre.

This type of benefit fraud makes me so angry as well.

I have had heart problems since birth, and my medical notes at the doctors surgery are very lengthy of ALL my problems!!

Its people like this claiming benefit dishonestly that makes it hard for genuine claimants!!

krisskross

PippaGirl wrote: »

It's cheaper to give it to all than means test it as that costs money ... hmmm interesting thought, now they have brought in means testing for child benefit - they can do it when they want to.

I think it will happen. The present system of clawing back child benefit is much too cumbersome and must cost more than it saves with all the self assessment forms to be checked and analysed. Child benefit only payable to those eligible for child tax credits perhaps?

Or of course payment limited to 2 children would be popular and make people take responsibility for some of their choices

PippaGirl_2

It is happening kriss. From Jan 7th anyone who earns £50,000 or more will lose some or all of their child benefit. Stupid thing is one family where the Mum is a sahm and the husband/father earns £50,000 will lose some CB (all if their wage is £60,000) whereas a husband and wife both earning £49,000 can keep theirs in full. Too expensive to make the system fairer apparently.

mazza111

krisskross wrote: »

There is also a case in the paper today of a man claiming disability benefits because he couldn't walk up and down stairs, bath unaided and walking 80 yards took him 5 minutes. All lies, he was filmed completing a 15 mile triathlon in two and a half hours. He claimed £17K of taxpayers money dishonestly.

It is the cheats and the dishonest amongst benefit claimants that do the damage and who knows you or anyone else could be exaggerating your health issues to ensure you don't have to look for work. So perhaps claims should be made honestly as well.

ETA: The somewhat biased article does say the man died of a heart attack. No mention was made of any history of heart disease. Seemingly fit people die every day from sudden no warning cardiac events. The A&E I worked in had at least one patient a week having a heart attack from the local fitness centre.

He was paralysed on one side of his body before going to the WCA?? Yes it's sensationalised to make better reading by the fact that they have blamed ATOS. But surely the stress of finding yourself found fit for work could have contributed. I don't see it as biased if he was paralysed down one side of his body for goodness sake, surely that in itself should say that he's not fit for work.

He was left paralysed down his left side, unable to speak properly, blind in one eye and barely able to eat or dress.

Whether ATOS contributed to his death is neither here nor there imo, the fact that he's yet another one who's been found fit for work when clearly he's not is the main factor. I'm sure the stress of his benefit being stopped certainly didn't help things.

krisskross

PippaGirl wrote: »

It is happening kriss. From Jan 7th anyone who earns £50,000 or more will lose some or all of their child benefit. Stupid thing is one family where the Mum is a sahm and the husband/father earns £50,000 will lose some CB (all if their wage is £60,000) whereas a husband and wife both earning £49,000 can keep theirs in full. Too expensive to make the system fairer apparently.

Yes I am aware of this but as I said the child benefit will still be paid but clawed back through information on a self assessment form.

This won't last long and all the anomalies will be sorted out the next time and I think it will only be paid to those who are eligible for child tax credits or simply capped at 2 children.

Thing is no one cares about the middle income people who are losing their child benefit because they are seen as rich. In reality, even with a £60K salary, if they have 1 wage earner and 3 children they are probably poorer than the equivalent family where no one is working.

mazza111

Bigmoney2 wrote: »

The thing is that it is cheaper to give it to everyone regardless.

Means testing costs money, and there is a risk that those who really need it do not claim due to pride. So the means testing doesn't actually save any money for the government.

Better off pensioners also have the extra personal allowance (over 65 rate) eroded away so are effectively paying back the heating allowance anyway.

I know, I just hardly think it's fair, that those sitting with thousands of pounds in the bank get this when there are plenty worse off. I don't begrudge anyone benefit's who needs them. I just don't like the way the under 25s are targeted because not a lot of them vote, but they know taken more off the wealthy pensioners would cost votes so they don't target them.

I know of a few pensioners who are sitting with wads of money under their mattresses so not to have too much in the bank so they can get benefits, I tried to encourage them to bank it, but to no avail, so the next best thing was to get them to install a safe in their homes as under the mattress was just not a good idea!