Diary of a benefit claimant.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Never heard the expression but how very true.
Though sometimes it’s hard isn’t it. X

It is, yes.
I do get slightly fed up when told "oh, you're not eligible" for support that I could really do with, but I have enough problems, so I don't want to add jealousy into the mix.
The pip award will open a few more doors with things I need. Thats the main thing.

MissA I had been told for 34 years sorry no name you can't claim anything. Now I have a name to my condition I am going after everything I can get. My savings should last until I get my state pension in 2024 but if I get any PIP it will help and stop me worrying about money.

It's horrible when you see people who don't have the problems you have everyday get everything. Just because they have a name for what's wrong. Because my condition is rare it is only detected by genetic blood testing. Thank goodness I move to the north west where the health care is better. My old neurologist never mentioned the testing or putting me on the tablets I am which have stopped my limbs jerking and the seizures.

Shows how different health care is in different areas.

Just in case anyone thinks things are now settled - no sign of the pip award in my account yet, and I am now trying to deal with the council, who want my 5 last payslips.
Difficult to get them as my nose pours with blood as soon as I exert myself.

I managed to get a taxi today (with a tissue up my nose!) as I had expected some extra money in my account.

Have you got telephone banking? I have had telephone banking for years and I find it very effective.

No.
I have long fought against technology taking over life, and now I'm reaping the results of being so stubborn.

I suppose telephones aren't as bad as "the internet" though.

youtu.be/ExWsjO1otog

You can see where people get the idea of "lifestyle choice" from.

> there's further we can go

Maybe to the Chiltern Hundreds.

I'm a bit lost, now.
Chilton Hundreds?

Oooh I see!
Yes, I've a few suggestions as to where she could go, too.

LINK >. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiltern_Hundreds

Ah, I didn't know anything about that.
Something else learned.

MissA sorry you are still having to fight for things. Nose bleeds are a bother it's not as if you can put a plaster over your nostrils. I hope you managed to get sorted and soon will have the money in your account.

I used to do telephone banking and found it easy . But once I found out about the Barclays app someone at the bank installed it for me and showed me how to use it. I wouldn't be with out it. I had to embrace technology but with Covid don't know how I would have coped without it. I do everything on my smartphone. Can't do everything but can do banking,shopping and emailing. I can take photos on it but still no idea how to do a video ?.

I've had a text today, with an appointment at the job centre tomorrow.
That should be fun.
It is honestly like contemplating a mountaineering expedition, just to get ready and walk down the path to a cab.

Oh Miss A, you’re having a real time of it - here are some for you x

Best wishes from me, too.
They really are dragging this out, aren't they. Perhaps if you have a nosebleed in the job centre they'll approve everything in double quick time just to get you out of there?

Ah, thank you.
It's all very difficult, too, because I MUST try to do things.
I can't stay holed up indoors forever, but it's quite horrible to admit to myself what has become of me.
I find it unbelievable really.

The nose seems ok today.
It's the memory that's difficult of late.
The walking is always difficult, which is a bit annoying, to think I was awarded less points than people who can at least get out and about.

It's as if they're having to take the money out of their own purses to give to you!

Trying to get a Blue Badge is bad enough. Apparently if you can dress yourself, do an online grocery order and heat up your own microwaveable meal, you're fit enough not to qualify for one.

The blue badge seems to vary from place to place from what I can remember of a discussion on here before.
The world and his wife seem to have them, here.

Reduced mobility should be enough, I would have thought.

It's a strange system, for sure.

Too right.
Callistemon I don't see the relevance of those activities to mobility issues for a Blue Badge. Are you sure ?
I know there are only very specific parts of PIP which will qualify you automatically for a BB, but if you don’t have them there are other ways to qualify, but each local authority has its own ways of assessing them.
Sorry, I don’t wish to sidetrack from MissAdventure’s issues. I guess it is your Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment tomorrow? I hope it goes well.

I've had that, Cabbie.
That was the one where the assessor took one look at me and sent me home.
I haven't had official news yet, but it was "indicated" to me that I have been put into the correct group.

MissAdventure

I've had a text today, with an appointment at the job centre tomorrow.
That should be fun.
It is honestly like contemplating a mountaineering expedition, just to get ready and walk down the path to a cab.

Hopefully it will be good news and you will not be required to do any work or work-related activity.

However, ...

Just in case they want you to do work-related activity and basically expect you to make an instant decision, here is something that you could have ready to say if the need arises and if you choose to use it.

You could suggest becoming a writer, writing short stories and poems and sending them to magazines and trying tp earn money that way. In the long term in parallel with that writing novels and screenplays for television and movies.

The thing is, you could do it from home and even if it were to become your regular job you could still do it from home.

And if you need to send hardcopy letters you could use Royal Mail Parcel Collect to send them (it includes sending letters as well as parcels) without leavimg home to do so.

I remember years ago reading, basically in an article by an indignant taxpayer moaning about them doing it or similar, that there is a fund that can the jobcentre staff can use to get people back into work. Apparently one man had had a suit bought for him, one woman had going on a slimming course paid for her because shops would not employ her because they did not have a uniform that would fit her.

But there are probably lots of others that really help people that are not as good "indignant journalist" fodder.

So maybe (if such a fund still exists) they would buy you a £250 computer (known as "a laptop" but don't use it on your lap, stand it on a flat surface), and an internet connection service to use it.
,
I don't know if this is relevant but just in case it helps you, I remember a television interview, years ago, of an indignant journalist with a woman who had been awarded a lump sum of £2000 by DHSS as it then was. Worth far more then than now.

I don't know why he was interviewing her, I thought such payments were confidential, but it was happening.

So the indignant journalist says something like "It includes money for ^gardening tools!^"

So the woman, living in a council house, says that in the terms of her tenancy it says she must keep the garden in a reasonable state, so to do that she needs gardening tools.

Then he says to her somethig like "What would you say to someone who says that you shouldn't be getting all this money?"

And she says that she would say that Parliament has made the rules, so if you're not happy, write to your MP about it, not go on at me.

You might like to have a look at this page.

LINK > www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/creative-writing-and-critical-reading

If you are pushed to instantly say what you will do, you could, if you so choose, say that you will start by studying the Open Learn course on Creative writing and critical reading.

Now whether you could do that on the way you access the internet I don't know.

Registring is free, I have been registered for a while, I have been looking at other courses.

I have only found that course literally a few minutes ago, but your meeting is today so I have posted what I have found.

LINK > www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

I hope this helps.

I know it rambles, but I wanted to get something posted in the thread before you need to go to the meeting.

Oh the thread needs a bump to get it into the Active list.

Hopefully one bump will do!