Triage strikes again!

[Deleted User]

As usual, I attended my weekly meeting at triage. Its always a group session or, a one to one with a member of staff to see how things are going

Had a 1-2-1 with a member of staff I had never met before. She said straight away that, she wants me to start working. I politely told her that, I am not fit for work. She instantly said "having depression is no excuse for not being able to work"

I then informed her that, I have a few other illnesses aside from depression. She said that, all they had on their system was depression and 1 other thing for me

She then said to me, is it just ESA you get? I said no, I get ESA, DLA and have just been awarded carers allowance. "I have already told them before a few times I get DLA"

She asked me exactly what I get for each benefit. So I told her. She screwed up her face and said "that is over £700 a month!"

I said yes and then she said "I think you will find that the job centre will come back to you, and want you to go out working, going by these rates"

Once I got home, I phoned up the ESA and the person I spoke to said that was completely unacceptable for her to have spoken to me like that and said she would get somebody to call me back. I got a call at the end of the day and the other woman agreed. She said that is unprofessional, and that she has no right to accuse people of depression being able to work, and also should not have been asking me how much money I get. She gave me the number for my local job centre and I have to phone up Monday to make a complaint. She also said I should complain to Triage but, is there really any point complaining to Triage too?

The company are just as bad as ATOS. At a group meeting a couple weeks ago, the person running the group that day said something interesting. She said that Triage, like any other company has "quotas" to make and if they don't make them, they dont get paid. Sounds familiar to Atos??????

I also found this interesting article online just now about Triage.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/fury-as-taxpayer-funded-firm-are-accused-of-insulting-1561240

cifpower

I tend to agree with her though.

I was on Incapacity Benefit and DLA for 5 years due to depression which was rediagnosed as bi-polar (now I am deemed to have cyclothymia). I didn't want to work. Believed i was not ready for work. Had no need to work as my benefits were more than full time on minimum wage.

I had an IB medical and the result was I never needed to have an IB medical again. I could have sat on sickness benefit claiming money and would never have had to see a doctor or have my claim discussed.

5 years ago I decided to get a part time job. I was bored. My life was empty and had no meaning. I was on different drugs apparently treating different things (lithium & olanzapine) the only thing I had to remember was a blood test once a month.

Since starting the job and being promoted my mental health has never been better, I am no longer on any medication and my life has purpose.

Just my experience obviously but I do not think getting some kind of work should be so readily dismissed.

tomtontom

Given that you are able to provide care for someone for 35+ hours a week, does she not have a point? She phrased it poorly, but I can see where she is coming from.

rogerblack

Caring for someone does not mean you are able to reliably care for them to a professional level.
Caring for someone doesn't mean meeting new people.
Caring for someone isn't learning new things.

There are many reasons why caring for the purposes of CA can be considerably easier than work for some people.

However, to the OP.
Complain to management.
The worker does not know the law.

'Snapping out' of depression happens to some people.
And yes, activities can help.
But they can also deepen depression in others, and cause unfortunate thoughts and actions.
'I may improve and get work' -> 'I can't cope at work, and will never be able to, what's the point in going on'.

Voulunteering can be a good slow reintroduction, and limited permitted work can be done while on ESA.

Indie_Kid

Depression is different for everyone. Some people will find that working with depression is helpful. Others will find that, depending on their situation, it makes their depression worse.

tomtontom

rogerblack wrote: »

Caring for someone does not mean you are able to reliably care for them to a professional level.
Caring for someone doesn't mean meeting new people.
Caring for someone isn't learning new things.

There are many reasons why caring for the purposes of CA can be considerably easier than work for some people.

However, to the OP.
Complain to management.
The worker does not know the law.

'Snapping out' of depression happens to some people.
And yes, activities can help.
But they can also deepen depression in others, and cause unfortunate thoughts and actions.
'I may improve and get work' -> 'I can't cope at work, and will never be able to, what's the point in going on'.

Voulunteering can be a good slow reintroduction, and limited permitted work can be done while on ESA.

No wonder that genuine carers get such a hard time when the threshold for CA is set so low. Legitimately caring for someone is a massive learning curve, and involves dealing with lots of unfamiliar people - health care staff, the DWP etc. If the 'carer' cannot do those things, then why are they claiming CA?

WillowCat

If you have just been awarded carers allowance (for providing 35+ hours per week caring for someone else) then you are no longer available for work or related activity and can opt out of any sessions.

You will need to formally tell them of your entitlement to CA - I did this when I was called to interview as a partner of someone on ESA.

rogerblack

tomtontom wrote: »

No wonder that genuine carers get such a hard time when the threshold for CA is set so low. Legitimately caring for someone is a massive learning curve, and involves dealing with lots of unfamiliar people - health care staff, the DWP etc. If the 'carer' cannot do those things, then why are they claiming CA?

No, it doesn't.
It may do these things.
It would significantly improve my life if I had someone watching over me and able to say 'no, you shouldn't do that, you're too tired'.

To the point that I would be attempting permitted work, with a view to coming off ESA, rather than requesting a transfer into the support group because I repeatedly overdo things because I'm not thinking clearly and worsen my condition for several days.

Caring for someone means that you are providing meaningful support that genuinely improves their lives significantly from a very low level.
It doesn't mean that you need to do any specific thing.

pmlindyloo

Since you are receiving Carer's allowance I am wondering if you would be better off (financially and otherwise) claiming Income Support as a 'top up' to your CA instead of claiming ESA.

Since you are on low rate care DLA you would receive a Disability Premium on Income support (currently £32.25 a week) This isn't available on ESA (WRAG) unless you are on middle rate care DLA. However, on ESA you get an extra £29.05 WRAG group component.

Doing the sums I think you would be better off on Income Support by about £3.20 a week.

The CA would still be treated as income for IS - the same as for your ESA and the basic rates are the same.

Can anyone confirm? (Hope I've done my sums correctly!)

If no one can confirm then go to CAB for a 'better off' calculation.

tomtontom

rogerblack wrote: »

No, it doesn't.
It may do these things.
It would significantly improve my life if I had someone watching over me and able to say 'no, you shouldn't do that, you're too tired'.

To the point that I would be attempting permitted work, with a view to coming off ESA, rather than requesting a transfer into the support group because I repeatedly overdo things because I'm not thinking clearly and worsen my condition for several days.

Caring for someone means that you are providing meaningful support that genuinely improves their lives significantly from a very low level.
It doesn't mean that you need to do any specific thing.

In your effort to prove a point, you completely devalue the work legitimate carers do. They don't get to pick and choose what they do, they do everything the cared for person needs.

"Sorry darling, I can't change your dressings because I can't learn how."
"You can't have your meds today because I can't go to the chemist/ can't contact the surgery to order them."

Neither of the above are providing meaningful support to the person they claim to be caring for.

rogerblack

tomtontom wrote: »

"Sorry darling, I can't change your dressings because I can't learn how."
"You can't have your meds today because I can't go to the chemist/ can't contact the surgery to order them."

Neither of the above are providing meaningful support to the person they claim to be caring for.

You are assuming that everyone has the same needs for caring.
To a large degree, I do not require physical support (it would be nice), but 'watching over', a very physically disabled person could do this.

Similarly, others will not require any support mentally, but may require lots of help physically - which a very mentally disabled or blind person may be able to do, with the aid of the person being cared for.

Carers are not required to do everything for the cared-for person.
Simply to provide care 35 hours a week.

Many people who are being cared for can often do things themselves - and must for their mental health - sitting in a chair being waited on hand and foot is few peoples ideal.
This doesn't mean they don't need help in other areas.