Open University and ESA

FBaby

If you read my first post, I mentioned I had an abusive childhood, I didn't ask for it and I didn't ask to have all these problems that go with it. I didn't choose any of this SO why do I have to suffer for all these problem and others don't?

But what you need to appreciate is that many people - not everyone, that's granted - struggle with things in their lives they haven't asked for. Life is not about deserving things because of the lack of changes you had in your life. Whatever has happened to you, it's about how you take control of your emotions and allow them to direct your life the way you want it to go.

The reality is that everyone gets obstacles thrown in the way of what they want to do. Some people work very hard to achieve something, for months, years, to have it all thrown in their faces, a lot of time through no fault of theirs. They have to get up and start again. So if you want to study, but you can't at the moment, then you need to find another way to do it. Maybe you can start studying without actually doing the degree, so that when the time comes, you will find it easy. Maybe you need to accept that you can't do it now, but working with your counsellor to get better, you might be able to get a part-time job and then start studying then.

Very few people get everything they want it. Those who are successful though are those who don't let setbacks control their lives, but face challenges so that they become stronger when faced with yet another one.

BlueEyedGirl

1) You are bashing the disabled with the tone of your post, you also come over as someone very bitter.

2) Many people with mental health problems do voluntary work, this helps them and in many cases the local community. I personally set up a forum for my local mental health wards and became the vice chair, in order to give inpatients a voice and a chance to speak out. Six years on it is still going strong. Or perhaps you would consider that to be pointless!

3) I would welcome more checks on people claiming disability benefits, but the system cannot cope. I should have been reviewed in July, two years after my last review but it has not happened. Please blame the Prime Minister for this not those claiming benefits.

4) You cannot possibly know that those people using Motability cars in the supermarket you work at are faking. Not everyone needs a wheelchair or has a visible physical illness. However, you might be super clever and be able to see inside people's bodies or mind read. Someone with a transplant does not usually physically show they have a donated organ, but they still may need to park in a disabled place because of walking difficulties.

5) If you are so JEALOUS of your neighbour (and that shiny new car) and you think they are faking the system then you have a responsibility to report them for benefit fraud. No point having a moan unless YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

controversy

I understand this. Its just that when you come across as being critical of peoples views people like myself and others would suffer from some form of emotional distress. The past 5 years have been hell for the genuine disabled. Its came to the point now where most of us just shut down completely or fight back over the smallest comment.

This isn't your fault though but I hope this explains why we act this way.

The trouble is with this a lot of us are born with our conditions. I personally can never be cured of my disability because I was born with a genetic defect. There is no hope of recovery for me.

Now I've tried to bend the rules of my disability. I've took a lot of different kinds of jobs but during every single one of them I have been a threat to individuals.

This isn't exaggerated though. Its all over my medical records. I even have had dealing with Oxford Universities department of genetics in their quest to understand what causes a person to be a Psychopath.

I think the only way for people like me to become productive is to use our interlect online via a computer or do some form of manual labor where we are chained up.

To be fair its not about being tested for a disability. Its the tests themselves. You need to understand that the Work Capability Assessment isn't based on any medical assessment what so ever. It is a check list assesment system which anyone can do.

Go here and see for yourself.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/start-the-esa-test

It basically set most people up to fail due to not understanding how the system works.

You would be shocked to know that 2 out of 3 appeals are successful. This is because a health proffesional is at the tribunal where as when the DWP make the decsion it is just a member of DWP staff who has little medical experience making the decsion.

This is why there has been such a rise of disabled people sticking together and forming group up and down across the country.

I am a member of Disabled People Against Cuts.

I can understand how you feel. My Dad has Emphysema. His breathing is very hard. He'll probably be in a wheel chair in 5 years time. He does have a motability car but I don't think he'll be able to use it in a couple years time. He gets really upset when there isnt a disability space because just walking from the parking space to the supermarket puts a huge burden on his lungs.

This also makes it harder for me too because we use to go to the supermarket together. I hardly have that luxury anymore. Sometimes I get to go but only when I have took like 5mg of Risperdone which is a Anti-Psychotic form of medication.

This will probably add to your anger. I appologize for informing you of this.

My Dad can just manage getting out and doing a bit of gardening in his green house. Car boots are that much of a struggle for him these days that his mate has too walk along side him in case he falls over.

I think your concerns are genuine because there are some people fiddling the system and the hate mail always comes back to people like my Dad and myself.

The only way to fix this problem is to bring in proper medical tests. Not the rubbish that the Tories and New Labour are responsible for.

I'll tell you what happened anyway.

ESA was made by Labour but they abandoned it. They basically ended the ESA project in 2010. Then the Conservatives restarted and rolled it out nationwide knowing that it wasn't fit for purpose. The Conservatives then copied the same testing assessment system from ESA and applied it to PIP/DLA.

And people wonder why disabled people like myself have been screaming about it?

If you have any questions don't feel ashamed to ask. Your paying so state dependents like me can have some form on life.

controversy

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

1) You are bashing the disabled with the tone of your post, you also come over as someone very bitter.

To be honest that is the tone of the whole country due to Rupert Murdoch's newspapers & Channel 5's selective benefit programs. If we meet people with hostility they too are going to hostile back. Its a repetitve cycle which we need to break.

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

2) Many people with mental health problems do voluntary work, this helps them and in many cases the local community. I personally set up a forum for my local mental health wards and became the vice chair, in order to give inpatients a voice and a chance to speak out. Six years on it is still going strong. Or perhaps you would consider that to be pointless!

That is good. I'm a big fan of unemployed workers groups etc.

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

3) I would welcome more checks on people claiming disability benefits, but the system cannot cope. I should have been reviewed in July, two years after my last review but it has not happened. Please blame the Prime Minister for this not those claiming benefits.

I'm also expecting a review. Got to ring DWP to see when I am going to get a letter.

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

4) You cannot possibly know that those people using Motability cars in the supermarket you work at are faking. Not everyone needs a wheelchair or has a visible physical illness. However, you might be super clever and be able to see inside people's bodies or mind read. Someone with a transplant does not usually physically show they have a donated organ, but they still may need to park in a disabled place because of walking difficulties.

You do have a point there. I guess TEABAG needs to deal with his prejudice but when you work 12 hour shifts a day its rather hard to be open minded.

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

5) If you are so JEALOUS of your neighbour (and that shiny new car) and you think they are faking the system then you have a responsibility to report them for benefit fraud. No point having a moan unless YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

True.

Indie_Kid

ToriP wrote: »

Does an OU degree actually get you anything apart from a nice use of your time?

It gets you a degree plus valuable skills.

Confuseddot

Indie_Kid wrote: »

It gets you a degree plus valuable skills.

Such as ? And to be honest everyone seems to have a degree nowadays not sure its much help in gaining employment.

Nobody_knows

Confuseddot wrote: »

Such as ? And to be honest everyone seems to have a degree nowadays not sure its much help in gaining employment.

I spoke to my tutor about this while doing an access course and she said an OU degree was held in higher value, as it shows time management skills as there isn't a set time table so you have to figure it out yourself how much time you need and nobody teaches you like in a classroom - you have do that mostly on your own. You have to motivate yourself most of the time and it also shows you are dedicated and committed etc.

Mrs_Ryan

My tutor at college had an OU degree. They can and do lead to jobs. I could say the same thing about some brick uni degrees- what are the point of them exactly?

Part of me wonders if Tea-Bag demands of everyone who buys something in his shop 'are you working?' And if the answer is no then the retort is 'benefits are not for luxuries' as obviously everyone who is not working is on benefits

Both me and my partner claim DLA/PIP. However we took his car to have a tyre done and KwikFit were puzzled why our car wasn't on their system and couldn't grasp that it was a private vehicle because I'm on crutches. Even if I was entitled my partner says he would rather pay for his own car, which he does, from his wages.

When tea-bag goes on a rant about people on benefits getting everything free- total myth, not always!! Personally, I don't get HB or CTB. I pay for my own glasses and eye tests (eye tests £25 a time, ive recently had new glasses which give or take were £80) I pay to go to the dentist- I have something called TMJ which is a jaw disorder and causes me a lot of pain in my mouth, each time I see my dentist I have to pay. I have to pay for my own wigs and the upkeep of them. I don't get NHS help for any of them as I am not entitled. I have a medical exemption card for prescriptions and a concessionary bus pass, but that's it. I don't get all these perceived perks that people on benefits get and as I said, I don't have a blue badge or mobility car. But that's what my ESA and PIP are for. To pay for the costs of my disabilities.

But of course no-one deserves these benefits as we're all faking controversy, don't waste your breath on him. I understand your illness totally- I live with someone with psychosis and have worked with very many people with psychosis, some of these people are on a locked ward for a reason. Tea-Bag doesn't get the fact that there are such things as 'forensic' patients, people who are genuinely a danger to themselves and other people..

controversy

People say don't bother with those who are bitter about disabled people. Well I am afraid I can't just forget it because these are the people who vote Conservative which always leads to a period of hell which disabled people go though.

Confuseddot

Nobody_knows wrote: »

I spoke to my tutor about this while doing an access course and she said an OU degree was held in higher value, as it shows time management skills as there isn't a set time table so you have to figure it out yourself how much time you need and nobody teaches you like in a classroom - you have do that mostly on your own. You have to motivate yourself most of the time and it also shows you are dedicated and committed etc.

Not sure about the higher value part. All the things you mention are the same as being at a decent brick university but with the added bonus of being able to interact with people.

You get a 1 or 2 hour lecture sometimes in a lecture theatre of around 400 people and then maybe a tutorial once a fortnight but its your responsibility to learn the topic, turn up etc. Maybe there is a bit more hand holding now but when I went no-one cared whether you were there or not.