The Forgotten

Neilg

My wife had one of those so called medical assessments 2 years ago. She was awarded nil point as a result of this. We appealed and she was awarded 15 points but not the support group. No problem with that, just wanted justice. The people at the tribunal said that she wouldn't be called back for another medical as she was obviously ill and unable to work. Lo and behold my wife has not had any communication from the social security albeit she is supposed to be in the wrag group. Wonder why that is? Hmm! Got it! My wife does not receive benefits as I work full time which precludes her from the former. Not !!!!!ing or moaning but had she received benefits she would have to go for work based interviews and assessments as she did when she did receive benefits. I now support my wife with her illness and financially. Again, I am not moaning as I remember my wedding vows taken 34 years ago, " for better or worse" My wife worked full time from leaving school, like myself. She only took maternity breaks before going back to work. We have 5 grown up children who have been brought up with the same work ethic we had. They all have jobs and have children of their own. I know the benefits system needed sorting out but so do the bank and the tax avoiding corporations and pop stars (great role models eh!). The thing is that people in need are easy targets and as such vulnerable. The television programmes about so called benefit scroungers don't help either. I have read many threads on this forum and felt disgusted at the way people have been treated by the government departments we as taxpayers pay for!! Without these forums many people would not get what they are legally entitled to. When we appealed my wifes initial ESA appeal I used this forum for reference and advice. It was invaluable. Bet there are many ( Forgotten) people out there just like my wife. They don't exist until the politicians need your vote to "make a better Britain" , Parasites!

nannytone_2

this post should really go into discussion time.
i hope it doesnt though because then you will really see the venom which is pointed towards the sick and disabled because they are, as we all know, benefit scroungers!
( i hope you detect the sarcasm and dont think i am one with that opinion )

Neilg

Yes I observed an extremely well veiled hint of sarcasm in your reply! I'll check out the discussions forum methinks! Speaking of banks, I got a letter from the bank telling me I was overdrawn again. Made an appointment to see them and subsequently got to see the bank rep. They said that my overdraft facility was being stopped. I said to him, why are you taking the umbrella? He looked at me and said what do you mean? I replied, when it was sunny you gave me an umbrella and now its raining you want it back! He didn't laugh! I said good day to you! Roll on judgement day eh?

tomtontom

If your wife wants to attend work focused interviews she can call the JCP and arrange to do so. She can also attend the Work Programme if she wishes to.

In some cases people are excused from attending WFIs, perhaps she is one of them?

Neilg

Yes my wife whilst receiving benefits was compelled to attend the job centre for work related activities. However all they had her doing was working on computer skills. This did not take into account the injuries my wife received as a result of the accident at work that were known by the training staff but not taken into account when deciding a training program. These symptoms are severe depression, migraine, tinnitus, vertigo and probable risk of an epileptic fit. In short they were indifferent to her needs. My point is that they never really cared, they were going through the motions and now they have no financial handcuffs metaphorically speaking they are not bothered. As I said before "The Forgotten" No cost - No problem.

Indie_Kid

I personally would avoid the work programme. I've been on it (I am disabled and was on JSA and now receive ESA) and it was hell. No amount of quoting the Equalities Act worked.

On a somewhat unrelated note - does your wife receive DLA / PIP?

Neilg

Hi, No she gets 10%of nothing. Yes these programmes are useless. The place where she went was a dump, the computers were useless. She hated going there. It looked like something out of a bad 70s American crime movie. Dark and dingy, not a good learning environment.