£100 lost by not attending ESA appointment

red_devil

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Yeah, and without even leaving their home. No need to prove that you've been looking for work, just collect the money into your bank account forever. Great idea! :rotfl:

you could still prove you have been looking for work without going in and seeing a hitler.

SnooksNJ

red_devil wrote: »

you could still prove you have been looking for work without going in and seeing a hitler.

It's amazing what you learn on the Money Saving Expert site. Up until today I had no idea it's DWP's policy to send millions of people to the gas chamber.

Bogof_Babe

dktreesea wrote: »

If people are too ill to work, and signed off as such by their doctor, why wouldn't they get ESA? surely that's the very situation it's designed for?

It has to be assessed independently, as GPs are not always thorough if they are busy, and might issue sick notes just to get rid of persistent complainers. Even if they suspect a malingerer or hypochondriac, they don't always have the time or the inclination to argue with them, and will dish out a note just to get on with seeing their genuine patients.

Some people refer to their GP as a "family friend". What friend is going to tell you they don't want to collude in dishonestly claiming benefits, and send you on your way?

dktreesea

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

It has to be assessed independently, as GPs are not always thorough if they are busy, and might issue sick notes just to get rid of persistent complainers. Even if they suspect a malingerer or hypochondriac, they don't always have the time or the inclination to argue with them, and will dish out a note just to get on with seeing their genuine patients.

Some people refer to their GP as a "family friend". What friend is going to tell you they don't want to collude in dishonestly claiming benefits, and send you on your way?

Are ATOS or whoever has come in their place any better? At least the GP is qualified to make a medical assessment.


Do you think this crowd are fit for purpose? I don't based on the Channel 4 programme that is being referred to. I thought the assessor they focused on undercover, meant to be one of their best ones, was a disgrace.

Bogof_Babe

dktreesea wrote: »

Are ATOS or whoever has come in their place any better? At least the GP is qualified to make a medical assessment.


Do you think this crowd are fit for purpose? I don't based on the Channel 4 programme that is being referred to. I thought the assessor they focused on undercover, meant to be one of their best ones, was a disgrace.

Yes I do agree that the idiot they featured is not fit for purpose, but he may have been playing up for the cameras. If he genuinely behaves like that all the time then he won't have a job for long.

The principle of independent assessors is sound, it's just the practice that needs serious improvements.

nannytone_2

i agree with bogof.
a GP is not the person to assess people for fitness for work.

there is a relationship of trust between a doctor and their patient ( or there should be), for the doctor to have to assess their patients need for state benefits in an honest and impartial way is unfair.

do you honestly think a doctor/patient relationship will remain intact oif the GP refuses them benefit?

missapril75

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

The principle of independent assessors is sound, it's just the practice that needs serious improvements.

Not so much the practice, perhaps, more the way the government appoints these bodies in the first place.

Whether it be 'training' agencies or assessing ability to work, put the profit motive in place and you just get dodgy individuals creating bogus organisations creaming off the money to be made and one scandal after another...as with A4e and Atos.

red_devil

SnooksNJ wrote: »

It's amazing what you learn on the Money Saving Expert site. Up until today I had no idea it's DWP's policy to send millions of people to the gas chamber.

people have died after being sanctioned by the DWP.

Confuseddot

red_devil wrote: »

people have died after being sanctioned by the DWP.

People have died after going to work.

People die thats a fact of life it may be there time or it may be the sanction or it could be the bus that run them over.

Alice_Holt

Confuseddot wrote: »

Benefits and work and CA beg to differ where is your info from ?

The sanction should last until you go to and take part in the interview or activity that you missed. They also add on extra time, depending on whether it’s the first time you’ve missed something, or if it’s happened before:

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1482-employment-and-support-allowance-esa-sanctions

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/esa-sanctions/

My info is from CPAG and I have amended my original post to include a quote and an example from CPAG.

I think it important that this is known, as job-centre staff / work providers may also be unaware of this and give (unwittingly) misleading information to Esa claimants.