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DWP try to make it even harder for the disabled (shock surprise)

6 replies

MurderOfGoths · 27/02/2013 23:48

Link here

"Claimants could be left without any income replacement benefit at all when challenging a decision that they are fit for work, the government has confirmed. Once the new system of mandatory reconsiderations before appeals is introduced, employment and support allowance (ESA)claimants will lose their right to be paid the assessment rate when they first challenge a decision.

Instead, they will have to try to sign on as available for work and claim Jobseeker?s Allowance (JSA) or manage without either benefit until the reconsideration has been carried out. Only once an appeal has been lodged will they be able to reclaim ESA"

So for those not already familiar with the assessments, if you are declared fit for work (as often happens wrongly) then you will have to go for a second mandatory assessment, and until you've had the second assessment your income will be cut off entirely.

That's disabled people with no income at all.

The most vulnerable in society unable to pay for basics.

That is until the second assessment, which could take god knows how long. (Oh and crisis loans have been got rid of)

It seems they want to move people on to jobseekers allowance. Now I'm sure some people will say, "well in that case they will still have an income, what are they complaining about?"

Think about this,
"In addition, some people attempting to claim JSA may find Jobcentre Plus staff attempting to refuse to accept their claim on the grounds that, because of their health condition, they are not available for and actively seeking work."

And of course if you are on JSA and not looking then you get sanctioned. And if you are looking (even if only to stop the sanctions knowing that you couldn't work) then they would likely use that against you in an appeal against being found fit for work.

It feels a lot like they are trying to con vulnerable people.

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lisad123everybodydancenow · 28/02/2013 00:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dawndonna · 03/03/2013 13:50

Dhs appeal for dla (which we won) also took nine months.
Bastards!

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Darkesteyes · 03/03/2013 18:00

A comment appeared in my Twitter feed yesterday that a woman tried to commit suicide after her Atos assesment for depression/PTSD which was caused by domestic abuse.

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JuliaScurr · 03/03/2013 18:13

And this is just the benefits specific to disability - the other stuff like Bedroom Tax (no spare room for occasional overnight care, partner to sleep undisturbed or storage for equipment); Universal Credit (lose premiums for severe disability for adults and children, paid to main earner so puts disabled partner in weaker financial position); Council Tax benefit cut and means testing results in no benefits if partner earns more than £8k (?)

All in this together
Oh, my sides

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MurderOfGoths · 03/03/2013 18:14

It was about 9 months here too :(

It's a joke, a sick fucking joke.

OP posts:
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CFSKate · 07/03/2013 12:06

diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/esa-sos-starting-gun.html

Not sure what it is about, but maybe of interest.

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