General Chat

Joy I too agree with what you said. Mark this day on your calenders. :-D :-D

i sure will LOL XX :-D

Would not like to be on any panel deciding whether somebody can work or not. I guess people on welfare fall in 3 groups:
1. Cannot possibly work in foreseeable future (next 12 months)
2. Not sure if they could work in next 12 months.
3. Could work
My gut feeling is that roughly a third fall in each of those groups. And if ATOS divided like that, it would not be so bad. No one would need to appeal in Group 1, but a lot of them in Groups 2 and 3 would appeal, and I think those are the ones we should concentrate on.

There will always be plenty of stuff to complain about even if the process was fair and professional. And our newspapers will be full of it. But we have demanded action to control our welfare bill, through the ballot box. And many of us talk about scroungers and want them sorted out.

It was always going to be a rocky road to target this welfare budget fairly. "He died 4 months after declared fit for work" is a typical reaction, aimed at tugging our emotions. But we do die at some point. Sometimes the same day we are declared fit for work. My dad was running a course when he collapsed and later died, for example. Death is part of life.

I have had two ATOS medicals and fortunately my claim was allowed.

However, in April I lost my contribution based ESA as it suddenly became time limited. In effect if I had been receiving income based I would have continued to be paid. Because I had the utter cheek to have always worked I would be penalised.

I appealed the decision and asked to be placed in the support group. Countless phone calls, copy letters from my consultants and regular updates when I had another consultation and months later my application was approved.

The stress was dreadful and I do not have any stress related illnesses apart from the odd bout of depression.

It doesn't matter what the applicant is suffering from, ATOS have targets to reach and by targets I mean the number of applications that have to fail.

On the floor below my nephew's office (he is in benefit fraud) is an ESA appeal team of 70 -80, they cannot cope with the number of appeals and with the time delay this simply causes more and more stress for genuine applicants. It also costs an enormous amount of money.

I want the scroungers indentified and their benefit stopped but the percentage caught is so small it's much easier to target everyone.

Re John's point about cleaning toilets, it's a job!!! When I ran a 77 bedroom hotel I cleaned toilets, all management did. Pride in your job means you do whatever necessary to make the guests happy.

Vast numbers of applicants for jobs isn't anything new. 17 years ago when hubby's current job was advertised there were 400 applicants.

You cannot get people into work if there are not enough jobs and any work is good work if you want to be employed. So ATOS are just pushing sick and disabled into a very difficult job market where able bodied are struggling, they stand no chance.

What Sue says :-D :-D

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/9949228.Soldier_loses_leg_in_Afghan_bomb_blast___but_told_he_cannot_claim_benefits/


a fine way to treat our soldiers

HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME MR CAMERON :-(

Well, you have to feel sorry for the soldier who has lost his leg in battle. But 2 things come to mind:
1. Many very badly injured WW2 men had brilliant careers. The top Tesco manager in 1971 was at Crawley, a store on 4 or 5 floors. He had lost a leg. He worked harder than anybody and never mentioned his disability. I can think of several more who just got on with it despite disabilities that were quite serious.
2. He wants to work and he has a business idea. I cannot understand why the banks and welfare agencies don't support people with a business idea. Some will be brilliantly successful and will create wealth and a future for their families. Some will fail, but at least they will have tried. But that approach will get jobs going - it can be something as simple as a sandwich bar with fresh hot pork sandwiches with crackling. Or pig's trotters.

I would say that anyone who can tap away on a computer can work and should not be reliant on state benefits.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/09/26/disabled-middlesbrough-teen-told-he-may-have-to-prove-he-is-unift-to-work-84229-31908876/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

heres another example what job could this poor boy do??? :-(

John ( I would say anyone who can tap away on a computer can work and not be reliant on benifits)

Do you work for ATOS

Best go now, husband taking me for my medical will let you all know how I get on.

John I will agree with your second point, it is not made easy to start a business or become self employed in some way.

There was an item on my local news last week, a small business, that now employs ten people making a product sold through well known London retailers, needed more equipment to meet demand...could they get a loan from the banks? No. Fortunately a local trade initiative, I suppose you'd call it, stepped in. If the banks won't lend to a solid, up and running business what hope for a 'start up'.

Good luck Sylvia :-)

Sylvia

No, don't work for ATOS. Not in Wales according to AnnC. Do not support their approach at all. But tapping away on computers can be for social reasons, fun or work. Lots of paid work can be done sat in your room with a computer.

Proof reading, family history research, copy writing, writing a novel. My dad's hobby used to be sending short bits off to magazines. He would often be paid a few guineas.

I do find it difficult to understand many in this welfare culture. I have had to use it once or twice, but for very short periods. But always thought that you had to pay in before you drew out - obviousloy not. One young lady I know deliberately got pregnant, got a nice little house all paid for and she has lived very well for many years on the state. I doubt she is the only one. She has never paid a penny piece in, so why is she getting money out?

GOOD LUCK SYLVIA

by the way john i am able bodied
i do have a few health issues but dont claim benefits for them

but can still see the injustice disabled and the genuine sick people face :-(

John with respect, do you know how much a proof reading course costs? or to learn sufficient skills in coding, PHP, CSS etc to set up a professional looking web site? or start up cost of buying in stock if one is selling? My son assures me that people make money with affiliate marketing, but you do have to know how to do it, and do it effectively...and in the mean time it won't pay the bills.

Genealogy , yes ok , one 'could' make money at that, but it is very competetive now...not to mention the ease with which one can DIY now.

Looking at many of the 'home' businesses they are a sale away from disaster in some cases and with paypal fees, ebay fees, and a deflated market it's not necessarily going to keep you fed and housed, believe me.

ROFLMAO @ John and

QUOTE:
Lots of paid work can be done sat in your room with a computer.
END QUOTE

Yes I do write copy for web sites (unpaid, as a favour and to keep little grey cells ticking). I write letters on behalf of disabled people also gratis. Plus researching for family and friends - unpaid.

None of these require a deadline or time management commitment! Self employment does require a regular amount of hours (whoever employed my services wouldn't be too impressed with a late submission due to an hemiplegic episode or fatique due to acute pain).

I wonder if I am living on a different planet?

I read that article about the young boy with interest, Joy. We all just want to protect him and help his parents to give him the best quality of life possible, I'm sure.

Employment benefit seems inappropriate in his case. Is there nothing else for him to proceed to?

I read that a few days back Joy, yes it was a 'standard' letter...and that is my gripe about 'generalisations', people on benefits or NOT on benefits just don't fit into neat little pigeonholes where one letter or one solution fits all.

http://www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants/faq
What qualifications and experience do health care professionals (HCPs) have?

Doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council and have a current licence to practice, nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and physiotherapists with the Health Professions Council.

All our health care professionals (HCPs) must have 3 years post-registration clinical experience and must successfully complete a rigorous, comprehensive training process before they can be approved to work in this area.

This is reflected in the fact that only a small percentage of applicants are successful. Our HCPs are specialists in disability analysis, focussing on the effects of a condition, not on the condition itself.

Thanks Ramblingrose and Joy.
I am back. It took a while, with a long wait before I got in to see the health person.

She was lovely!!!

Went through most of my ailments, but the most important ones are the cancers and surgeries which is my main concern. So now I wait and see what happens. I have no idea how long it will take to get back to me.
Talk soon
Sylvia x










#Well