Research suggesting WCA linked to increased suicide risk

BucksLady

My heart goes out to all Carers who do such a wonderful job. Such selfless people whose own physical and mental health often suffer as a consequence of their devotion to loved ones. I feel that the government has failed to recognise the contribution they make to our society. The allowance paid is very poor and any help received is dependent upon where they live. Very often they are the ones who have to fill in the forms for their loved ones - as if they don't have enough to do already.

I also feel for those who are sick and vulnerable. The process is extremely stressful and in my opinion a complete shambles.

System

I was at the worst i#ve ver been mental health wise (in 20 years of suffering from it) when i claimed ESA. I never wnat to go back to those days. Was always in the support group due to my suicide risk (and a recent attempt when i claimed). The continous asessments added to that stress. The thought of being found fit for work when i clearly wasn't scared the life out of me, i think every assement i had resulted in self harm and the crisis team being called the stress certainly inscreased my suicidal feelings.

Ames

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I was at the worst i#ve ver been mental health wise (in 20 years of suffering from it) when i claimed ESA. I never wnat to go back to those days. Was always in the support group due to my suicide risk (and a recent attempt when i claimed). The continous asessments added to that stress. The thought of being found fit for work when i clearly wasn't scared the life out of me, i think every assement i had resulted in self harm and the crisis team being called the stress certainly inscreased my suicidal feelings.

Which is why one of the worst changes (IMO) under UC is that people who can't work full time have to go through the work capability assessment to 'prove' that they're ill enough to get what were tax credits.

AFAIK, disabled tax credits aren't being massively abused by healthy people somehow playing the system to work part time.

Glen_Clark

Cyclamen wrote: »

I don't know what the answer is as clearly we need to be assessed.

Neither do I.
Some posters seem to imply they should just give out taxpayers money to anyone who asks for it

System

Ames wrote: »

Which is why one of the worst changes (IMO) under UC is that people who can't work full time have to go through the work capability assessment to 'prove' that they're ill enough to get what were tax credits.

AFAIK, disabled tax credits aren't being massively abused by healthy people somehow playing the system to work part time.

Rbh i am scared witless about that part of UC, it doesn;t take into account at all those of us who can;t work full time due to disability. If they forced me to work full time i'm scared of the impact that would have on my mental health. It literally nearlt killed me last time i worked full time (i overdosed and nearly didn;t make it). I've put everything into staying in my job, i;ve made it to 5 years but only part time. Christ even occ health have said i can;t work more than 20 hours a week. And i have a fit note stating i can;t work mornings or longer than 6 hours so how can they expect me to work full time?

Glen_Clark

Penitent wrote: »

I'm fine with there being some form of assessment system, I'd just prefer it if the system didn't make my health worse or make me harm myself. I don't think that's too much to ask for.

We currently have a system where claimants are being assessed by people who know nothing about their condition and who ignore the advice of specialists. The assessment companies have never met the quality standards for the assessment reports they're producing. There are waiting lists of nearly two years for assessments in some areas. When people do appeal to an independent Tribunal, most of them have the decisions overturned. The system also finds people fit for work even if the work they are fit for doesn't exist, meaning they just end up on long-term JSA, where they are punished for failing to get the non-existant job with sanctions and increasingly onerous work-related activities..

So, yes, we should absolutely not hand out the taxpayer's money to anyone who asks for it...starting with these incompetent assessment companies, who seem to be costing a fortune and doing !!!! all to earn it.

Yes I agree with all that. But what would you replace it with?
Unemployment benefits are below the basic wage to be fair on taxpayers and encourage people to find work. Disability benefits need to be a bit more so there is an incentive for the unemployed to pretend to be disabled.
Doctors seem to have a more personal relationship with their patients, so might be more likely to 'help them out' by signing them off when they could work - Especially if they are being intimidated by the patients friends and relatives?
Wheras proper disability assessors could take a distant, unbiased view.
I suppose like all systems you can't build in enough safeguards to cover every eventality. It will always depend to some extent on the goodwill of the people working in it.