Spitting Feathers

Hopehope, I am not at all surprised you are so angry. Hearing about the way your husband has been treated makes my blood boil. As you say, it's a travesty. I have no experience and no practical help to offer, I'm afraid, but didn't want to go to bed leaving your post unanswered. Sadly, others on GN will have been in this position too and will be here in the morning to offer their support. I hope you get some sleep .

This is a bad state of affairs for you and your DH Hopehope , it's not rare either. It seems the assessors are not medically qualified for the job, I think other GN ers have posted similar terrible experiences. Good luck with everything.

I spent many years locked into similar battles as a social worker for adults with disabilities. I am so sorry that you are having to fight your corner against this crass system.

In the end I used to ask clients (and their relatives) to send me the forms and I filled them in with all the right buzz words and gave it to them to sign.

It is so very stressful I know - and anyone making these applications has quite sufficient stress anyway.

I am glad that Parkinsons UK have a benefits advisor who can help you.

Another travesty. The assessors will fail the claimant on the slightest thing. How in any sense is your DH fit for work? Did they give you a clue?

Luckygirl is right about having to know the correct jargon. I was helped many years ago and keep the original form on file. When they ask me to complete an update I simply copy the original form and tweak it for any changes.....I'm deteriorating. That way if they turn me down and I produce evidence that they accepted I was too ill the previous time based on the same answers.

I hope your DH doesn't get over stressed by this turn of events.

Keep us updated and vent on here as much as you need to.

Your DH has Parkinson's? Was this not part of his assessment?

I find my OH has good and bad days - it drives me nuts when he goes to medical appointments, as he puts on his best bib and tucker and presents a good face. They do not see him awake for whole nights with his tremor bad; or collapsing in a heap through weakness; and shuffling about etc. Superficially he looks reasonable (apart from the obvious tremor) but they do not see how very ill he is.

I can imagine that on a good day he might be passed fit to work (although he is now retired). But 5 minutes after the assessment he could suddenly collapse, as he often does.

It is a silly system; and it was better when it was decided on a doctor's signature - someone who actually knows the person.

So sorry to hear about your DH . I recently failed my re assessment for DLA so know exactly how it feels . I was assessed by a Occupational therapist , no one is assessed by a Doctor anymore as it is too expensive . The Government have set targets to get people off their benefits whether they qualify or not so it does not surprise me that she failed him . I hope you are successful with the Mandatory reconsideration although I wasn`t ( apparently not choking often enough on my food and could walk with a stick for 20 metres ) I do not have the energy to go to an appeal court as it will stress me out so much . All this is happening while the MPs claim thousands in expenses .

So sorry you have both had this experience, Hopehope, but very pleased you have knowledgeable support and advice to turn to. .

f77ms and HopeHope. Please go to appeal. The government is basing a lot of its figures on the basis that if they turn people down they will not appeal so thats the job done and dusted. Someone else off benefits.

Go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and they will be able to help you or point you to a local organisation that exists only to help people with appeals (I have forgotten what it is called.

I have a friend who was a Chairman of Social Security Tribunals for nearly 30 years before she retired. The Appeal Tribunals are entirely independent of the DHSS and have a very good track record for granting appeals. I think most people who apeal, win.

In fact they are so effective (for apellants, not the government that the government tried to abolish them at one point.

I used to accompany people to these tribunals and they are not like courts. Everyone I went to was the appellant and a friend sitting round a table with a properly qualified doctor (no lower grades for cheapness!!), someone with knowledge of disability, not infrequently disabled themselves and a barrister or solicitor as Chairman to make sure everything stays within the law.

HopeHope I am lost for words.
A Travesty indeed .
What planet are these people on??
So sorry that you and your DH are faced with the ordeal of an appeal.
But some good GN advice for you on here
Fingers crossed that a rightful decision is forthcoming.
and a strong

Thank You all, I am sorry I made your blood boil Maggiemaybe, and just at bedtime too! Monica, fret not, if the mandatory reconsideration is not a success of course we will appeal. We said to each other " If the buggers only owed us fifty pence we would appeal on principle alone"

I have some good points ready for the MR, although still waiting for the assessment report, and statement of reason which has not arrived as it should have done, ( No surprise there then). They " lost or didn't bother to send the new medical evidence to the assessor, also they have completely neglected to take into consideration that anything my DH can do ( For an ESA assessment), must be able to be done in a reasonable timescale, repeatedly, and without pain and discomfort. If any of these factors do not apply then they must be considered as not being able to do them, and be marked against the descriptors accordingly. This is actually in their own handbook. They need to follow the guidelines.

Luckygirl, any chance of sharing those buzzwords you mentioned?
F77ms, Is there nobody who could help you with your appeal? take some of the stress from your shoulders, it makes me so sad when People such as yourself are so ill that they have to give up the fight, it is little short of criminal I feel.

I do it all for DH as he cannot use the phone, and can hardly write or type now due to the Parkinson's, and arthritis in one wrist too. It stresses the hell out of me though, and I shall probably go to my grave earlier than I should because of it.

On that happy note I am off to try to get some shut eys.
to all

Good luck with the reconsideration. The Atos Miracles facebook page is a good place for another rant if you feel the need as you will be talking to people who have been through it and understand.

Luckygirl My sister is in the same situation. The people she works with are often in their 60s and so their cares are parents in their 70s or 80s and they have quite enough to deal with without having to go through appeals but they have to prepare people to expect them - and the people she deals with have severe difficulties often with no communication skills at all.

Hopehope I used to work with the CAB and cases like yours happened far too regularly. The distress caused was appalling, and it was understandable why they felt they couldn't do anything about it. I am so glad you are positive, and I wish you and your husband the best of luck (luck? It's not luck you need, but justice!) with your appeal.

Hang in with appeal. Over 90% of appeals in one authority were overturned.

Good luck with the appeal. This is a ridiculous situation!

I was on DLA for several years, forced to reapply for PIP two weeks before deadline for permanent DLA - as usual, turned down and even at Tribunal still turned downw, so immediately applied for AA - no hassle with successful application. Waiting for DH, unable to leave house and more or less bedbound, to be ordered to apply for PIP (indefinite DLA award). But DS was surprised to be awarded PIP for 3 years at least with only initial examinition! No rhyme or reason - so sorry you've been put in this intolerable position - good luck with appeal.

I know very little about DLA, but surely if they are assessing him, it renders the assessment invalid if YOU have to 'translate' for him, due to his lack of hearing!

6. Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.
6(a) Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.

(b) Has significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers.

(c) Has some difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers.

(d) None of the above applies.

15

15

6

0

7. Understanding communication by:

(i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone;

(ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16 point print or Braille) alone; or

(iii) a combination of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii),

using any aid that is normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.

7(a) Cannot understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire escape, due to sensory impairment.

(b) Has significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment.

(c) Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment.

(d) None of the above applies.

15

15

6

0

8. Navigation and maintaining safety using a guide dog or other aid if either or both are normally used or could reasonably be used.
8(a) Unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.
I think this is why he was disallowed

HopeHope you have my sympathy having gone through the process of being assessed for PIP. I was assessed by a Nurse & just scrapped in this time, award for 3 years (I'm 61). I have been on DLA for several years, my first medical was a disaster, he didn't really ask much about the reason for my claim, I have peripheral neuropathy (affects both fingers & feet) also weak wrists & poor balance. I was turned down so I appealed, that was turned down so I went to tribunal, panel was a doctor & solicitor, award granted & I was described as an "honest witness"

The stress is unbelievable going through the proccess, I wish you good luck

Many get accepted on appeal, so go ahead, and definitely use the help from the Parkinson's Society. Buzz words tend to change, so go with people who are up-to-date with filling in forms.

It dos not seem to me that this process is abut genuinely helping people with disabilities back into work and supporting them.Does anyone have a good experience?

What I don't understand about DLA is why alcoholics and addicts get it because more money is not useful to them at all. Yes, they have serious conditions but it really isn't hard to know whee the money ends up.

HopeHope the assessment seems really unreasonable to me and I do hope your appeal goes well.

Skweek1 what benefit are you referring to when you say AA??

Attendance allowance 65+