Anyone who has ever lived in rented accommodation will know how hard it is to get the land lord to do anything, however my landlord takes the biscuit. Not one tiny little rich tea either ohhhh no the whole contents of Burtons biscuits.
Over a year ago the woman who owns the flat downstairs came up and told us we had a leak, we called out the plumber who eventually found it under the bath, after much pulling humming and hawing and blaming my youngest kid saying she had flooded the bathroom during her bath. Erm NO SHE DIDN'T. I know she didn't cos she is still being supervised during bath time.
Its OK love (I hate being called love btw) its fixed, so the plumber said. The joiner however argued and said he had had the same problem and needed to replace the bit pipe going from the bath drain to the waste pipe outside, but no the plumber knows best so it was taped up.
Less than 2 months later knock knock at my door again we had flooded downstairs, but this time it wasn't a small leak drip drip dripping ohh no it was their whole bathroom ceiling being in their bath!!!!!!
Again we called them out again the plumber said he had "fixed" it again all he had done was tape up the join, this time however he admitted it would just cost £2 for a piece of pipe longer than the one there at present. Did he replace it?? Did he heck as like.
Guess what a short time later we heard the familiar knock knock at the front door. Again we were flooding the flt downstairs.
Now not being plumbers we wont attempt to fix the problem we could make it a whole lot worse. So every time we get the knock at the door we do as we are supposed to do and call out the housing association, who send out a joiner (to take the bath panel off) and a plumber (to re tape up the join where the pipe has moved) and every time we are told its not a temporary join its a permanent fix!!!
I got so peeved off with this happening, because we cant use the bath when I know we are flooding downstairs, which of course means my kids cant be bathed nor can I keep my HS areas clean which can mean bathing twice per day, I called out the housing inspector.
Trevor came out (not bear in mind he has never worked as a plumber or joiner he joined the housing assoc as a housing inspector with no formal training in housing repairs) he tells me the tape on the pipe is not a temporary repair it is a permanent repair. I know what the plumber told me, I also know what will happen again and again but what do I know I just live here wondering what will happen next.
Will one of my children be in the bath when it falls through the floor?? Will we end up staring down a gaping hole in the floor at the bathroom downstairs??
All I know is I am sick of the constant calls to the housing association with their lackadaisical attitude towards repairs.
As long as Trevor can't see the problem it doesn't exist. I have called them out about the windows rattling as they are opened, its OK Trevor can open and close them using brute strength that neither of my children nor I have, the heating "seems" to work when he is here so of course it does all the time. I have cupboard doors opening all by themselves, no problem there of course its because the flat was built in 1958.
Well I have lived in flats older than this and never had the problems. Could it be the fact that the housing association couldn't organise a drunken night out in a brewery?? Could it be the fact that they will pick the cheapest contractor not the one with experience of dealing with rented properties??
Then I call them up and ask when repairs are going to be done and I get told "we don't know what we are doing with the flatted stock" which basically means they couldn't care less as long as we pay them the rent each and every month.
Well here is a novel idea if you don't want to be held responsible for the repairs sell the flats back to the council, they at least made sure the flats were habitable and weather proof, ohh and they do repairs.
Maybe then we wouldn't keep flooding the guy downstairs meaning the housing assoc pays for a new ceiling for them, costing much more than a £2 piece of pipe!!!!!
Saturday 1 October 2011
Thursday 22 September 2011
Today I read in the guardian that the DWP are STILL harassing claimants of ESA (Employment and Support Allowance). They are doing this by sending out letters to contributory claimants, this is the benefit you would get if you have paid NI contributions through working but have either some savings (under £3000) or someone in your home who works earning over £6000 per year.
Now most single people are automatically put on contributory ESA if they have been signed off work due to an illness or medical condition which means they cannot work. It is up to the individual doctor how long they sign you off, there is no difinitive rule on how long someone will be signed off work for as each person will respond differently to different conditions and illnesses.
HOWEVER the DWP doesnt think that is right, ohh no the DWP thinks if you are ill for whatever reason then you are fit for work within X time frame simply because thats what the IT company they pay to do the "medicals" say.
Now ATOS for anyone wishing to do their own research as I have had to do, is easily googled and well to be quite frank take a note pad and pen because it will leave you confused and befuddled. There is much anicdotal evidence of people who have taken their own lives due to ATOS and the DWP threatening them, not to mention the Tribunal Services having to employ many more people to deal with the hundreds of thousands of appeals. The cost of the appeals is somewhere in the £400 million range at present.
Now the article does say contrabutery ESA not income. Now for the very interesting quote see if you can spot the mistake and it is quite glaring:
"We must ensure that the benefit system has to be fair to taxpayers as well as disabled people."
Hmmmmmm isnt the very fact that its contrabutery not income related means its UNFAIR to the taxpayers????
Also to be noted is the DWP rule that terminal means death within 6 months, now anyone who has ever seen a doctor will be able to agree that sometimes they dont have a flying figs idea of what is wrong with you and therefore cannot give a proper diagnosis, or in the case of some cancer patients telling them they have less than one year to live could mean less than 3 months but then again could mean 10 years. Its often down to how someone responds to treatments and how early the cancer was caught.
Another thing to note is the letters being sent out are telling people their benefit will be stopped soon possibly within 6 months. HOWEVER the DWP are still in consoltation with the public so it has NOT passed as law as yet.
No matter how much the DWP and Mr Iain Duncan Smith wishes it to be true the government cannot arbitrarily stop peoples money when they are ill.
Now anyone can say "ohh but I know someone on the fiddle" of course you dont you just think you do. Its easy to point the finger at someone and say "look at them they don't look disabled or ill" when you dont have access to all the facts.
I have lost count of the times I have been asked why I'm not working, why dont I just get a job because I dont "look" disabled.
Well anyone is welcome to swap places with me for the day. I will be generous and even make it a good day when I can do *some* things for myself such as walk myself to the bathroom. I wont make it a bad day when I scream in pain and cant move because every movement makes me cry out and lash out at my family for trying to help me.
Remember that next time you see someone "faking" an illness, also remember that a lot of medical conditions are NOT DWP sanctioned a fair amount are not on their tick box system and thats before I even get to the debunkle that is ATOS Origins.
I am waiting on my letterbox rattling with another letter from the DWP telling me that since I have no savings (we used them all to get me back and forward to various doctors and specialists at many different hospitals) and ATOS say I'm fit for work, that I will have to find a woefully unsuitable job, which will make me much worse than I am at present.
Anyone know of a job where I can do little and get much re-numeration??? ohh wait I do MP . . . . I couldnt do a worse job than this lot could I??
Actually I would probably do a much better job since I feel threatening ill people (whatever the illness) is wrong and quite frankly bang out of line, someone needs to give government a reality check.
Remember Mr Camerons pledge that disabled people were safe with him?? Yeah O.K. then Mr PM you lied then and are still lying now.
What about all the "we will look after the most vulnerable in society" claptrap because that's exactly what it is claptrap, rubbish said to get him into number 10 Downing Street.
If terminally ill people aren't the very most vulnerable of society who are?? If we cant look after them who honestly thinks anyone will give two hoots when you become ill??
Better make sure you look both ways when crossing the closed road just in case a drunk driver doesn't see the signs and drives up the road and runs you down, better not go outside in case a bird drops half a sausage roll and it causes you to slip and fall breaking your hip, better not stay inside the home either since 60% of all accidents are done there, don't drive drink smoke walk run jog breath air polluted with car exhaust fumes the list goes on and on of things we shouldn't do because they "could" make us ill maybe not now but later in life when there will be NO help for us.
As for me I'm waiting on my next appointment with ATOS to prove I'm well and healthy as they said I would be 18 months after my first so called medical with them, even though I'm worse than I was then and now use a walking stick to get around. But of course who cares I am a faker who is putting it on so I can claim ESA and DLA, which will also be gone within the next 4 years to be replaced by PIP (personal independence payments) which will not allow most of the people presently on low rate for care and / or mobility to claim.
Think I'm scaremongering???
When all the "fakes" like me have been tortured to death by the system who will be there to fight for you and yours???
Use the brain you were born with Messers Cameron, Duncan Smith, and Grayling see what you are doing is NOT good for the economy but more likely to bring it to a stand still.
Of course if the DWP pull millions of people off benefits there will be more money to swan around taking many holidays while Britain crumbles around us.
Maybe you should take up the fiddle then you can really go down in the history books just like Nero . . . . .
Wednesday 24 August 2011
The Joys Of Living In A Housing Association Property . . . .
Years ago we were council tenants and thought the councils were slow at repairs and tried any excuse to get out of actually doing the repairs, that was until we took a housing assoc flat.
We moved in just over 5 years ago, we were over joyed at moving to an area where my children could go outside to play unharassed by drug paraphernalia where they could play in areas designated for them, areas that were safe.
What I didn't know was the lack of care toward tenants by the HA. We pointed out a few repairs when we viewed the flat, ohh no problem those will be done as soon as you take the property. Hogwash.
Here we are 5 years down the line and still the boiler (roughly aged about 15 years old by the many gas engineers sent to service it each year) needs condemned, it only seems to work when there is a howling gale threatening to break the kitchen window, and maybe for long enough for the pilot light to light then it switches itself off and refuses to come back on for at least a week. One repairman told me (a woman who can't reach up to press the button on the boiler) to "press here next to the switch and it will come one as long as you press firmly" yeah O.K. then wait while I get my teenager she can climb up on the work top and risk falling out the window to press firmly on a part of the boiler I didn't see because his body was in the way, or maybe just fix the thing??? Ohh no the repair men got it working for all of 2 minutes therefore it clearly works all the time doesn't it? Even though he saw it go back off and he ordered parts which didn't help make it work more often. Of course this was after the engineer who said "there isn't a drop of water in the boiler I have to re-pressurise it love" then swore loudly and repeatedly because he had BROKEN it 3 weeks no boiler again. When there was snow on the ground and they couldn't be bothered ordering the part as anything other than routine . . . snow on ground no heating no hot water and he wanted to switch my gas supply off???? Never gonna happen at least I could still get the teenager to put the fire on to heat the living room!!!
Now to be honest I wouldn't complain so much but its a combi boiler which means if it wont go on we can't get hot water to wash, never mind heat for the flat.
I still have what I call trampoline floors, which is to say when my youngest child walks down the hall the floor dips and sags. I complained and eventually they sent out joiners, who lifted the old floorboards tutted over and over and swore a few times about "cowboys". I asked outright what they were on about and got the following answer - "the idiots who did the central heating cut through every single joist love that means no matter how we fix this the problem will return because you need the joists repaired and we are here to replace the floorboards", now I have taken out many swear words here the joiners were livid as was I. This repair lasted less than a month.
A few months later I asked the local housing inspector to come out about the many repairs I thought needed, he told me over and over the joiners, gas engineers and various other workmen that had been out to my home had no idea what they were talking about and he who hadn't seen any of the repairs done, and had never worked as a repair man, knew best there was nothing wrong with my flat.
He could open and close the windows, regardless of the creaking and rattling of the glass panes, so it could be done of course it didn't matter that he is able bodied and quite strong and had to rattle the windows a few times before they opened even the smallest amount. He saw the boiler light (on first time of course) so nothing wrong there, but he would speak to the company when he had lunch with them the following week and get back to me . . . . . at least a year and a half later I'm still waiting!!!!
This week I got a letter from the local council asking me to fill in and return and one of the questions was how much was my rent per calendar month, so here I am on hold waiting for them to deem me important enough to answer and put me through to the housing officer to tell me how much they charge me for this leaky, cold, non weather proofed, rattling windowed flat. So far I have been on hold for over 20 minutes with the constant disembodied voice telling me my call is important and they will answer as soon as they can . . . . . . ohhh wait the one and only person answering the phone finally answered and tells me I have to go through and leave a message and they will get back to me as soon as possible. O.K. I leave a message and call back to speak to repairs about everything else, ohh sorry call the gas repair company we don't have any workmen to do the gas boilers you need to take it up with them. O.K. what about when they hang up on me?? You will need to contact them. O.K. what part of they hang up on me don't you understand??? I will pass you over to my colleague she can tell when they have had calls from you. O.K. at the risk of repeating myself AGAIN they HANG UP ON ME they do not come out they do not answer the call they do not log the complaint, so a fat lot of good it will do checking the system when they don't actually answer my report of problems with the boiler. Ohhh goody she is going to check and call me back . . . . . when is any ones guess however because I'm still waiting on the inspector getting back to me about the thing 2 repair companies ago!!!!!
Every time I call up and ask about the double glazing I'm told "sorry we don't know what we are doing with our flatted stock" which is just a fancy way of telling me they don't care as long as they get the rent money each month. Now this excuse has worn thin (very very thin) since its all I have been told for the last 3 years, while I watch other properties owned by the same housing assoc get new kitchens new central heating new windows, in some cases properties have had 3 sets of double glazing while the tenants of these flats are told they are the only one with the problem of the windows and floors not to mention the boilers.
The properties getting all the work done are in walkable distance to the office so of course they will get the repairs done because they can easily go to the office and complain, which those of us miles away can't. We get fobbed off with excuse after excuse while the HA hope we don't actually speak to each other and see we are not alone in this.
I am sorry councils I unreservedly apologise I was wrong to move out when you actually did the repairs. I had a warm double glazed solid floored home where my children could be children without fear of falling into the downstairs neighbours flat by simply walking to their bedrooms or the bathroom. I did not have to worry about them sleeping near windows, which stupidly is the only place my youngest childs bed can actually go because of a built in cupboard taking up valuable space. I didn't have to worry about my kitchen worktops falling off or the cupboards opening all by themselves.
And now I'm stuck I am not disabled enough to need to move out of the flat, simply because DLA does not take into account going up and down stairs, and I am sat here with a duvet wrapped round me and 3 layers of clothing on because of the howling gale coming through my windows. But its O.K. I have 3 bedrooms and I have a kitchen and a bathroom, who cares that during the winter we all huddle together under duvets in the living room????
We moved in just over 5 years ago, we were over joyed at moving to an area where my children could go outside to play unharassed by drug paraphernalia where they could play in areas designated for them, areas that were safe.
What I didn't know was the lack of care toward tenants by the HA. We pointed out a few repairs when we viewed the flat, ohh no problem those will be done as soon as you take the property. Hogwash.
Here we are 5 years down the line and still the boiler (roughly aged about 15 years old by the many gas engineers sent to service it each year) needs condemned, it only seems to work when there is a howling gale threatening to break the kitchen window, and maybe for long enough for the pilot light to light then it switches itself off and refuses to come back on for at least a week. One repairman told me (a woman who can't reach up to press the button on the boiler) to "press here next to the switch and it will come one as long as you press firmly" yeah O.K. then wait while I get my teenager she can climb up on the work top and risk falling out the window to press firmly on a part of the boiler I didn't see because his body was in the way, or maybe just fix the thing??? Ohh no the repair men got it working for all of 2 minutes therefore it clearly works all the time doesn't it? Even though he saw it go back off and he ordered parts which didn't help make it work more often. Of course this was after the engineer who said "there isn't a drop of water in the boiler I have to re-pressurise it love" then swore loudly and repeatedly because he had BROKEN it 3 weeks no boiler again. When there was snow on the ground and they couldn't be bothered ordering the part as anything other than routine . . . snow on ground no heating no hot water and he wanted to switch my gas supply off???? Never gonna happen at least I could still get the teenager to put the fire on to heat the living room!!!
Now to be honest I wouldn't complain so much but its a combi boiler which means if it wont go on we can't get hot water to wash, never mind heat for the flat.
I still have what I call trampoline floors, which is to say when my youngest child walks down the hall the floor dips and sags. I complained and eventually they sent out joiners, who lifted the old floorboards tutted over and over and swore a few times about "cowboys". I asked outright what they were on about and got the following answer - "the idiots who did the central heating cut through every single joist love that means no matter how we fix this the problem will return because you need the joists repaired and we are here to replace the floorboards", now I have taken out many swear words here the joiners were livid as was I. This repair lasted less than a month.
A few months later I asked the local housing inspector to come out about the many repairs I thought needed, he told me over and over the joiners, gas engineers and various other workmen that had been out to my home had no idea what they were talking about and he who hadn't seen any of the repairs done, and had never worked as a repair man, knew best there was nothing wrong with my flat.
He could open and close the windows, regardless of the creaking and rattling of the glass panes, so it could be done of course it didn't matter that he is able bodied and quite strong and had to rattle the windows a few times before they opened even the smallest amount. He saw the boiler light (on first time of course) so nothing wrong there, but he would speak to the company when he had lunch with them the following week and get back to me . . . . . at least a year and a half later I'm still waiting!!!!
This week I got a letter from the local council asking me to fill in and return and one of the questions was how much was my rent per calendar month, so here I am on hold waiting for them to deem me important enough to answer and put me through to the housing officer to tell me how much they charge me for this leaky, cold, non weather proofed, rattling windowed flat. So far I have been on hold for over 20 minutes with the constant disembodied voice telling me my call is important and they will answer as soon as they can . . . . . . ohhh wait the one and only person answering the phone finally answered and tells me I have to go through and leave a message and they will get back to me as soon as possible. O.K. I leave a message and call back to speak to repairs about everything else, ohh sorry call the gas repair company we don't have any workmen to do the gas boilers you need to take it up with them. O.K. what about when they hang up on me?? You will need to contact them. O.K. what part of they hang up on me don't you understand??? I will pass you over to my colleague she can tell when they have had calls from you. O.K. at the risk of repeating myself AGAIN they HANG UP ON ME they do not come out they do not answer the call they do not log the complaint, so a fat lot of good it will do checking the system when they don't actually answer my report of problems with the boiler. Ohhh goody she is going to check and call me back . . . . . when is any ones guess however because I'm still waiting on the inspector getting back to me about the thing 2 repair companies ago!!!!!
Every time I call up and ask about the double glazing I'm told "sorry we don't know what we are doing with our flatted stock" which is just a fancy way of telling me they don't care as long as they get the rent money each month. Now this excuse has worn thin (very very thin) since its all I have been told for the last 3 years, while I watch other properties owned by the same housing assoc get new kitchens new central heating new windows, in some cases properties have had 3 sets of double glazing while the tenants of these flats are told they are the only one with the problem of the windows and floors not to mention the boilers.
The properties getting all the work done are in walkable distance to the office so of course they will get the repairs done because they can easily go to the office and complain, which those of us miles away can't. We get fobbed off with excuse after excuse while the HA hope we don't actually speak to each other and see we are not alone in this.
I am sorry councils I unreservedly apologise I was wrong to move out when you actually did the repairs. I had a warm double glazed solid floored home where my children could be children without fear of falling into the downstairs neighbours flat by simply walking to their bedrooms or the bathroom. I did not have to worry about them sleeping near windows, which stupidly is the only place my youngest childs bed can actually go because of a built in cupboard taking up valuable space. I didn't have to worry about my kitchen worktops falling off or the cupboards opening all by themselves.
And now I'm stuck I am not disabled enough to need to move out of the flat, simply because DLA does not take into account going up and down stairs, and I am sat here with a duvet wrapped round me and 3 layers of clothing on because of the howling gale coming through my windows. But its O.K. I have 3 bedrooms and I have a kitchen and a bathroom, who cares that during the winter we all huddle together under duvets in the living room????
Friday 29 July 2011
ATOS???? Happy happy joy joy
Today I have received a lovely letter.
ATOS want me to go back and see them.
Now just over a year ago, march 2010 I went for my first "medical" assessment. It said I was able to be back at work within 18 months. Uhuh not going to happen. I appealed based on that, and I won. I won last December.
Today July 29 2011 I get a letter telling me:
"We need some information
Dear Mrs *******,
We have sent you a medical questionnaire with this letter. It is important that you fill in this questionnaire. " and on and on until it says the following:
"What happens next
Depending on the level of you illness or disability you may be asked to come to a medical assessment. The medical assessment will help the Jobcentre Plus make sure you are getting the right amount if benefit. If we need you to come to a medical assessment we will contact you to arrange an appointment."
Medical assessment, erm thought it was a Work Capability Assessment?? I was told by the first ATOS person I saw that "this is not a medical its a test to see how well you will cope in a work situation" well make up your minds for goodness sake its either a "medical assessment" or its not!!!!
This is also worth repeating (well I'm angry and its getting late and its my blog so I'm allowed to repeat myself) there is NOTHING remotely "medical" about the test apart from the person doing the tick box assessment will claim to be medically trained (coff coff not always true coff coff) and quite frankly the mouse clicking could be done by an untrained monkey.
I also noted the thinly veiled threat, "will help the Jobcentre Plus make sure you are getting the right amount of benefit." this translated means of course that ATOS disagree with the Tribunal about the group I am in, and want me to go through the seventh circle of hell that is the appeal again.
Ohh and another little gem, the form I was sent with the letter from ATOS, is a Jobcentre Plus form. Hmmmmm why are ATOS sending the forms?? Why are the JCP not sending the forms???
Well the simple answer is ATOS are doing the dirty work of the JCP, it also saves time if I send the form back to ATOS and not to the DWP. This means the mail room (OK the Royal Mail who open all DWP letters and put them aside to lose all pertinent information) wont have to be employed and cuts out the need to pay actual people to actually deal with claimants , not customers, personal and highly sensitive information.
If I send back any reports from any doctors dealing with my condition, they will be "lost" in the system, and I will have no proof of sending them since proof of posting counts for precisely squat with DWP and ATOS.
Well this time I am ready for them. I know that my condition has not changed, maybe that will miff them off since it was an ATOS employee who said I will be back to work within 18 months. I know this is not about me anymore this is about ATOS being angry at me appealing and more importantly winning last time and I expected this. I have been telling my husband that "there will be an ATOS letter anytime now" for the last month, well they did keep me waiting for a month how inconsiderate of them to make me wait!!!!
I noticed on the letter there is a date to send back the form, the date is the 12 September, now that will make very close to the 18 months that I have heard bandied about that if you appeal and win ATOS make you wait before pulling you in again. All this will mean is again this Christmas I will not be able to relax with my kids, I will not have a decent nights sleep, I will barely eat again. All because again I will have this hanging over my head. I will become snappy with anyone who so much as looks at me the wrong way again. But I am prepared this time.
I will however look forward to the changes supposedly brought about by the Harrington Review, within the "medical assessment" this time since my first two were before the review was published late last year.
The fight goes on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ATOS want me to go back and see them.
Now just over a year ago, march 2010 I went for my first "medical" assessment. It said I was able to be back at work within 18 months. Uhuh not going to happen. I appealed based on that, and I won. I won last December.
Today July 29 2011 I get a letter telling me:
"We need some information
Dear Mrs *******,
We have sent you a medical questionnaire with this letter. It is important that you fill in this questionnaire. " and on and on until it says the following:
"What happens next
Depending on the level of you illness or disability you may be asked to come to a medical assessment. The medical assessment will help the Jobcentre Plus make sure you are getting the right amount if benefit. If we need you to come to a medical assessment we will contact you to arrange an appointment."
Medical assessment, erm thought it was a Work Capability Assessment?? I was told by the first ATOS person I saw that "this is not a medical its a test to see how well you will cope in a work situation" well make up your minds for goodness sake its either a "medical assessment" or its not!!!!
This is also worth repeating (well I'm angry and its getting late and its my blog so I'm allowed to repeat myself) there is NOTHING remotely "medical" about the test apart from the person doing the tick box assessment will claim to be medically trained (coff coff not always true coff coff) and quite frankly the mouse clicking could be done by an untrained monkey.
I also noted the thinly veiled threat, "will help the Jobcentre Plus make sure you are getting the right amount of benefit." this translated means of course that ATOS disagree with the Tribunal about the group I am in, and want me to go through the seventh circle of hell that is the appeal again.
Ohh and another little gem, the form I was sent with the letter from ATOS, is a Jobcentre Plus form. Hmmmmm why are ATOS sending the forms?? Why are the JCP not sending the forms???
Well the simple answer is ATOS are doing the dirty work of the JCP, it also saves time if I send the form back to ATOS and not to the DWP. This means the mail room (OK the Royal Mail who open all DWP letters and put them aside to lose all pertinent information) wont have to be employed and cuts out the need to pay actual people to actually deal with claimants , not customers, personal and highly sensitive information.
If I send back any reports from any doctors dealing with my condition, they will be "lost" in the system, and I will have no proof of sending them since proof of posting counts for precisely squat with DWP and ATOS.
Well this time I am ready for them. I know that my condition has not changed, maybe that will miff them off since it was an ATOS employee who said I will be back to work within 18 months. I know this is not about me anymore this is about ATOS being angry at me appealing and more importantly winning last time and I expected this. I have been telling my husband that "there will be an ATOS letter anytime now" for the last month, well they did keep me waiting for a month how inconsiderate of them to make me wait!!!!
I noticed on the letter there is a date to send back the form, the date is the 12 September, now that will make very close to the 18 months that I have heard bandied about that if you appeal and win ATOS make you wait before pulling you in again. All this will mean is again this Christmas I will not be able to relax with my kids, I will not have a decent nights sleep, I will barely eat again. All because again I will have this hanging over my head. I will become snappy with anyone who so much as looks at me the wrong way again. But I am prepared this time.
I will however look forward to the changes supposedly brought about by the Harrington Review, within the "medical assessment" this time since my first two were before the review was published late last year.
The fight goes on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday 27 July 2011
I am angry . . . . .. . .
I am angry at my stupid useless body, the pain I am in, the fact that it's tea time and I'm still in my jammies, they are rather nicer Betty Boop ones but jammies none the less. I have done nothing today except sleep. I watch my husband running around doing the housework while I stay stuck on the sofa, unable to do what I once did.
I am supposed to be going out tomorrow, will I be able to muster the strength?? Who knows because I don't!!!
I am sick to my back teeth of having to live with half my brain racing with all the thoughts and the other shouting shut up and rest.
I am angry at having to ask my husband to make me a cup of coffee, my meals. I cannot trust myself with a butter knife to make a sandwich, or the kettle to make the afore mentioned coffee since last time I did try I burnt my foot as I spilled boiling water all over the counter top and myself.
I get irritated over the smallest thing these days, all because I am angry at myself for allowing this to control me and not the other way around.
The last time I saw my plastic surgeon he said "you need to get the infection under control" aye OK then because its as simple as that isn't it?? I have tried all antibiotics that are used for HS, none worked. Well maybe Roacutane might have had it not been such a trial for me and my family, but since it was I had to come off it before anyone could work out if it was working or not.
I rattle when I do manage to walk due to the amount of pain meds I am popping like smarties right now. Pity they don't taste as nice actually!!
Today is becoming normal to me, my bad days are out numbering my good days.
That is why I am angry today I am sick of feeling useless and helpless. I want to be how I was before HS stole my life.
I am supposed to be going out tomorrow, will I be able to muster the strength?? Who knows because I don't!!!
I am sick to my back teeth of having to live with half my brain racing with all the thoughts and the other shouting shut up and rest.
I am angry at having to ask my husband to make me a cup of coffee, my meals. I cannot trust myself with a butter knife to make a sandwich, or the kettle to make the afore mentioned coffee since last time I did try I burnt my foot as I spilled boiling water all over the counter top and myself.
I get irritated over the smallest thing these days, all because I am angry at myself for allowing this to control me and not the other way around.
The last time I saw my plastic surgeon he said "you need to get the infection under control" aye OK then because its as simple as that isn't it?? I have tried all antibiotics that are used for HS, none worked. Well maybe Roacutane might have had it not been such a trial for me and my family, but since it was I had to come off it before anyone could work out if it was working or not.
I rattle when I do manage to walk due to the amount of pain meds I am popping like smarties right now. Pity they don't taste as nice actually!!
Today is becoming normal to me, my bad days are out numbering my good days.
That is why I am angry today I am sick of feeling useless and helpless. I want to be how I was before HS stole my life.
Tuesday 26 July 2011
http://www.nao.org.uk/publicat
if you click on the pdf file for the full report you will find some erm how do I put this ohhh yeah "interesting" reading.
Such little gems as :
"The Department does not yet have a sufficiently detailed model of how it
wants to run in the long term
15 Through having a clear vision of how the organisation will operate in future, senior managers are more likely to be able to prioritise what changes are needed and to explain to staff what their role might be. The approach can be referred to as defining a Target Operating Model. The model is, in effect, a vision of how an organisation will look in future given its objectives and will enable the Department to identify those areas that can be trimmed to reduce costs. The model should be supported by a detailed outline of how it will operate in practice. At the outset the model can be defined in broad terms and include some areas of uncertainty, such as how Universal Credit might be implemented. Such a model should then be refined through regular iteration as the Department’s analysis of information develops. For example, the confirmation in
May 2011 that Universal Credit will initially be delivered by staff from the Department and HM Revenue and Customs means that the model can be refined further."
Which is basically saying the DWP will not be implementing the change over to Universal Credit but the HMRC will. Now these are the people who lost the Child Benefit information a few years back, so excuse me IF I don't hold my breath for ease of transition. The HMRC is also the people who deal with CTC and WTC (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) also notorious for making mistakes.
It also states it thinks that streamlining services and relying more on online services is the way to go . . . . . a few problems with that pensioners, and anyone who cannot rely upon the internet such as those who use libraries to access the internet, of course that's not even mentioning people with such conditions as Dyslexia who may find it much much harder to do the form filling online and not in person, or even over the phone.
Much as though I have reservations about the "cost reductions" I fear the people who have never claimed before will lose out.
I also fear that those the planned changes are aiming at stopping (the fraudsters) wont be stopped they know the system they can get around it, not so with people who don't even know they can claim that little bit of help such as DLA, or Pensions such as State Pension and Retirement Pension.
According to the ONS own report on spending in 2009/10 the pensions I mention above are under paid to a much higher rate than the overpayments the government is trying to stop.
Also remember that under payment is seen as "administrative error" and often not put right as seen by the earlier ONS report showing £100 million is under paid to one of the pensions alone!!!!
Now when you remember that :
"The vast majority of reductions will be to expenditure on benefits and pensions, rather than administrative spending. These payments are not within the Departments direct control as they must be paid out the those who apply and are eligible. the reductions therefore depend upon the policy changes announced in the June 2010 Budget, the subsequent Spending Review and the March 2011 Budget, reflecting for the most part adjustments in benefit rates and entitlements."
We should be very very afraid. As I understand the above statement, taken from the linked report. Tough cheese if you need we are saying the pot is empty so instead of putting taxes up and creating jobs as the government did when we had the highest deficit right after 1945 and built houses, roads and gave tax breaks to companies coming here, we are going to change the rules of entitlement. That means even though you have paid in all your live tough cheese no pension, mind you that's if you even know to apply in the first place.
I also note that there is to be a headcount reduction, does this mean that staff will go, apparently so, the report says there will be a reduction of Benefit Delivery Centres, now remember these took over from Benefit Agency offices. This of course meant you could no longer take your evidence to the local office and get them to photo copy it and add it to your file there and then, now you sent it to a BDC wait 4 weeks for it to be found and placed on a desk, ignored for a month, and only when you call up and ask if your evidence has been dealt with can you expect some one to actually deal with it.
Also if there are less staff, we will have to wait longer and longer to have any claim seen and read never mind actually processed.
Ohhh and how will the benefits of the people no longer working for the DWP be paid if there is to be reductions to benefits and pensions????
A very sad day indeed I feel. . . . .
if you click on the pdf file for the full report you will find some erm how do I put this ohhh yeah "interesting" reading.
Such little gems as :
"The Department does not yet have a sufficiently detailed model of how it
wants to run in the long term
15 Through having a clear vision of how the organisation will operate in future, senior managers are more likely to be able to prioritise what changes are needed and to explain to staff what their role might be. The approach can be referred to as defining a Target Operating Model. The model is, in effect, a vision of how an organisation will look in future given its objectives and will enable the Department to identify those areas that can be trimmed to reduce costs. The model should be supported by a detailed outline of how it will operate in practice. At the outset the model can be defined in broad terms and include some areas of uncertainty, such as how Universal Credit might be implemented. Such a model should then be refined through regular iteration as the Department’s analysis of information develops. For example, the confirmation in
May 2011 that Universal Credit will initially be delivered by staff from the Department and HM Revenue and Customs means that the model can be refined further."
Which is basically saying the DWP will not be implementing the change over to Universal Credit but the HMRC will. Now these are the people who lost the Child Benefit information a few years back, so excuse me IF I don't hold my breath for ease of transition. The HMRC is also the people who deal with CTC and WTC (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) also notorious for making mistakes.
It also states it thinks that streamlining services and relying more on online services is the way to go . . . . . a few problems with that pensioners, and anyone who cannot rely upon the internet such as those who use libraries to access the internet, of course that's not even mentioning people with such conditions as Dyslexia who may find it much much harder to do the form filling online and not in person, or even over the phone.
Much as though I have reservations about the "cost reductions" I fear the people who have never claimed before will lose out.
I also fear that those the planned changes are aiming at stopping (the fraudsters) wont be stopped they know the system they can get around it, not so with people who don't even know they can claim that little bit of help such as DLA, or Pensions such as State Pension and Retirement Pension.
According to the ONS own report on spending in 2009/10 the pensions I mention above are under paid to a much higher rate than the overpayments the government is trying to stop.
Also remember that under payment is seen as "administrative error" and often not put right as seen by the earlier ONS report showing £100 million is under paid to one of the pensions alone!!!!
Now when you remember that :
"The vast majority of reductions will be to expenditure on benefits and pensions, rather than administrative spending. These payments are not within the Departments direct control as they must be paid out the those who apply and are eligible. the reductions therefore depend upon the policy changes announced in the June 2010 Budget, the subsequent Spending Review and the March 2011 Budget, reflecting for the most part adjustments in benefit rates and entitlements."
We should be very very afraid. As I understand the above statement, taken from the linked report. Tough cheese if you need we are saying the pot is empty so instead of putting taxes up and creating jobs as the government did when we had the highest deficit right after 1945 and built houses, roads and gave tax breaks to companies coming here, we are going to change the rules of entitlement. That means even though you have paid in all your live tough cheese no pension, mind you that's if you even know to apply in the first place.
I also note that there is to be a headcount reduction, does this mean that staff will go, apparently so, the report says there will be a reduction of Benefit Delivery Centres, now remember these took over from Benefit Agency offices. This of course meant you could no longer take your evidence to the local office and get them to photo copy it and add it to your file there and then, now you sent it to a BDC wait 4 weeks for it to be found and placed on a desk, ignored for a month, and only when you call up and ask if your evidence has been dealt with can you expect some one to actually deal with it.
Also if there are less staff, we will have to wait longer and longer to have any claim seen and read never mind actually processed.
Ohhh and how will the benefits of the people no longer working for the DWP be paid if there is to be reductions to benefits and pensions????
A very sad day indeed I feel. . . . .
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new
Hmmmmmmm I'm confused today, those who know me will say that's nothing new for me but this is worse I promise.
I know we arent allowed to be homophobic, racist or ageist, and these are good things however it appears to be we can still be disabledist (ok I know not a real word but I'm claiming it as a "me" word) it seems people are allowed to belittle and humiliate disabled people. WHY????
Because its the last taboo, always something that will happen to someone else. Well I'm living proof that it can and does happen to anyone. I never thought I would be as bad as I am, in fact I never thought I would be anything other than able bodied.
So with that in mind why am I surprised when I read the comments posted on the Daily Mail??
The plain misinformation spouted there is alarming to me.
It seems we who claim (and rightly claim) DLA are liars and frauds. No we are disabled that's what the D in DLA stands for.
DLA = Disability Living Allowance.
Not - I think I shall fake an addiction allowance, or I shall go tell my GP I have a bad back and no testing will be done allowance, or as many seem to think some sort of out of work benefit.
DLA is paid to those who are in work as well as those who cannot work, its paid to recognise people need a bit more help than able bodied people. Its there to help with mobility aids, or carers, or whatever extra help a disabled person needs to make their life a little more tolerable.
In my case it helps pay for the extra clothing I need and when I have to go out (for instance to hospital or doctor appointments) pays for my taxis there and back and I can state it does not pay for holidays and days spent in the pub.
It is not easy to get DLA, you are made first of all to fill out a large form, often needing the help of professionals. Stating things such as how you bathe, use the bathroom, get dressed, shop for groceries, cook, feed yourself, how you take your medications - the dosages, the side effects and all manner of other questions which intrude on how you live your life.
Then you get doctors reports.
Then you get checked out, this may be just a phone call or it may be a medical. I was lucky I didn't have to go through the indignity of ATOS calling me a liar for DLA my doctors were believed, but its coming soon when PIP starts.
Then and only then after you have satisfied all the required tests and your doctors have sent back all reports backing your claim, you might get some DLA.
So you see its not easy to fake and pass all the tests, and to make sure everyone IS treated as a fake until the reports and corroboration is approved by the DWP. I may not agree that people should be treated as a fraud but it seems that's what helps keep the fraud rate for DLA at around 0.5%. Lower than any other DWP benefit and certainly much lower than the fraud rate of MPs expenses claims.
I see misinformed people claiming they know fraudsters who have numerous holidays a year, or they have a new car every 3 years.
Well I don't know about the cars since I don't drive nor does my husband, but I suspect, it may be that a newer car is less likely to break down, or need repairs, so may be a condition of getting the mobility car. I am happy to be corrected on that point as I say I don't know for sure because I don't have a car.
As for the holidays well how do they know the person isn't saving hard and doing without other help to have the weekend away twice a year?? Maybe they are saving up their Child Benefit, after all that's is supposed to pay for the needs of the children and not supposed to be used to pay bills. Maybe they have a friend or relative who owns a caravan at a holiday park, maybe they have a friend or relative who is putting them up for a week to give them a change of scenery.
I also noticed a comment by someone saying they know someone who uses a "sympathy stick" (their words for a walking stick not mine) and claims they see the person walking unaided, well I can categorically state I see more elderly people faking when it comes to walking aids than any working age person. Walk down my local high street on a weekday, and see it for yourself. The pensioners practically running down the road in case they miss a bargain at the market, in most cases they walk faster and easier than me, and I don't have any walking aids provided by the NHS. Then I see people claiming they are frail and need to push in front of everyone waiting on a bus, but they are quite capable of carrying a large shopping bag full to over flowing with groceries. What about the pensioners who demanded I move from the disabled seat on the bus, when I was still able to use public transport?? They look as able as I do.
Now here comes the fancy bit so pay attention . . . . . . JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE A DISABILITY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE.
I don't call the DWP fraud line and tell them about the people I have seen racing about with heavy shopping bags, why, because I don't know for a fact that's it's not a great day for them. I don't know they aren't normally housebound, and that's why they are racing so they can be home before the pain medications wear off.
So my advice to the Daily Mail readers - walk a mile in someone else's shoes before you cry fraud.
Maybe the person is a fake maybe not, if you seriously think someone is committing benefit fraud call the claim line it's found on the DWP website, and let them earn their wages, instead of whinging and using the "I know someone is a fake because they have a holiday / I know they are a fake because they can walk unaided when I see them once a week" lines.
Maybe pay as much attention to your own life before you point the finger of fraud. I often wonder how the supposed taxpayers can be sat on websites such as the Daily Mail one, spouting off about all the frauds they know if they are working the 40 or more hours per week they claim to be doing. Maybe I should call them on their stealing from the company they work for. That's what being paid for working and fannying about online not for work is you know, theft.
So who really is the fraud???
Plenty people don't LOOK disabled, I don't, but I am. Come visit me for a day see how able I am to do the things you can. Have your eyes opened to how much I rely on other people for basic things such as bathing, eating and drinking, dressing, walking and most importantly taking my medication. Come see my finances, see how "rich" I am, see how much of a fraud I am.
Sadly I doubt it will change any, even one, of the Daily Mail readers minds.
Years ago I heard someone say "a lie gets half way round the world before the truth has its shoes on" and it's true and it seems that if a lie is repeated often enough then it gets stuck in the subconscious of the public. So the Daily Mail and other so called newspapers of its ilk repeat the lie that DLA claimants are frauds and the public start feeling resentful of disabled people, that leads to hate crimes towards disabled people.
Don't forget it's alright to hate us, remember its alright to call us frauds, the papers say so. It doesn't seem to matter that you actually don't know the millions of people who are disabled, you "know" someone who is a junkie who has a mansion, 3 holiday homes, brand new cars and not forgetting the obligatory 50 inch plasma T.V.!!!
Hmmmmmmm I'm confused today, those who know me will say that's nothing new for me but this is worse I promise.
I know we arent allowed to be homophobic, racist or ageist, and these are good things however it appears to be we can still be disabledist (ok I know not a real word but I'm claiming it as a "me" word) it seems people are allowed to belittle and humiliate disabled people. WHY????
Because its the last taboo, always something that will happen to someone else. Well I'm living proof that it can and does happen to anyone. I never thought I would be as bad as I am, in fact I never thought I would be anything other than able bodied.
So with that in mind why am I surprised when I read the comments posted on the Daily Mail??
The plain misinformation spouted there is alarming to me.
It seems we who claim (and rightly claim) DLA are liars and frauds. No we are disabled that's what the D in DLA stands for.
DLA = Disability Living Allowance.
Not - I think I shall fake an addiction allowance, or I shall go tell my GP I have a bad back and no testing will be done allowance, or as many seem to think some sort of out of work benefit.
DLA is paid to those who are in work as well as those who cannot work, its paid to recognise people need a bit more help than able bodied people. Its there to help with mobility aids, or carers, or whatever extra help a disabled person needs to make their life a little more tolerable.
In my case it helps pay for the extra clothing I need and when I have to go out (for instance to hospital or doctor appointments) pays for my taxis there and back and I can state it does not pay for holidays and days spent in the pub.
It is not easy to get DLA, you are made first of all to fill out a large form, often needing the help of professionals. Stating things such as how you bathe, use the bathroom, get dressed, shop for groceries, cook, feed yourself, how you take your medications - the dosages, the side effects and all manner of other questions which intrude on how you live your life.
Then you get doctors reports.
Then you get checked out, this may be just a phone call or it may be a medical. I was lucky I didn't have to go through the indignity of ATOS calling me a liar for DLA my doctors were believed, but its coming soon when PIP starts.
Then and only then after you have satisfied all the required tests and your doctors have sent back all reports backing your claim, you might get some DLA.
So you see its not easy to fake and pass all the tests, and to make sure everyone IS treated as a fake until the reports and corroboration is approved by the DWP. I may not agree that people should be treated as a fraud but it seems that's what helps keep the fraud rate for DLA at around 0.5%. Lower than any other DWP benefit and certainly much lower than the fraud rate of MPs expenses claims.
I see misinformed people claiming they know fraudsters who have numerous holidays a year, or they have a new car every 3 years.
Well I don't know about the cars since I don't drive nor does my husband, but I suspect, it may be that a newer car is less likely to break down, or need repairs, so may be a condition of getting the mobility car. I am happy to be corrected on that point as I say I don't know for sure because I don't have a car.
As for the holidays well how do they know the person isn't saving hard and doing without other help to have the weekend away twice a year?? Maybe they are saving up their Child Benefit, after all that's is supposed to pay for the needs of the children and not supposed to be used to pay bills. Maybe they have a friend or relative who owns a caravan at a holiday park, maybe they have a friend or relative who is putting them up for a week to give them a change of scenery.
I also noticed a comment by someone saying they know someone who uses a "sympathy stick" (their words for a walking stick not mine) and claims they see the person walking unaided, well I can categorically state I see more elderly people faking when it comes to walking aids than any working age person. Walk down my local high street on a weekday, and see it for yourself. The pensioners practically running down the road in case they miss a bargain at the market, in most cases they walk faster and easier than me, and I don't have any walking aids provided by the NHS. Then I see people claiming they are frail and need to push in front of everyone waiting on a bus, but they are quite capable of carrying a large shopping bag full to over flowing with groceries. What about the pensioners who demanded I move from the disabled seat on the bus, when I was still able to use public transport?? They look as able as I do.
Now here comes the fancy bit so pay attention . . . . . . JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE A DISABILITY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE.
I don't call the DWP fraud line and tell them about the people I have seen racing about with heavy shopping bags, why, because I don't know for a fact that's it's not a great day for them. I don't know they aren't normally housebound, and that's why they are racing so they can be home before the pain medications wear off.
So my advice to the Daily Mail readers - walk a mile in someone else's shoes before you cry fraud.
Maybe the person is a fake maybe not, if you seriously think someone is committing benefit fraud call the claim line it's found on the DWP website, and let them earn their wages, instead of whinging and using the "I know someone is a fake because they have a holiday / I know they are a fake because they can walk unaided when I see them once a week" lines.
Maybe pay as much attention to your own life before you point the finger of fraud. I often wonder how the supposed taxpayers can be sat on websites such as the Daily Mail one, spouting off about all the frauds they know if they are working the 40 or more hours per week they claim to be doing. Maybe I should call them on their stealing from the company they work for. That's what being paid for working and fannying about online not for work is you know, theft.
So who really is the fraud???
Plenty people don't LOOK disabled, I don't, but I am. Come visit me for a day see how able I am to do the things you can. Have your eyes opened to how much I rely on other people for basic things such as bathing, eating and drinking, dressing, walking and most importantly taking my medication. Come see my finances, see how "rich" I am, see how much of a fraud I am.
Sadly I doubt it will change any, even one, of the Daily Mail readers minds.
Years ago I heard someone say "a lie gets half way round the world before the truth has its shoes on" and it's true and it seems that if a lie is repeated often enough then it gets stuck in the subconscious of the public. So the Daily Mail and other so called newspapers of its ilk repeat the lie that DLA claimants are frauds and the public start feeling resentful of disabled people, that leads to hate crimes towards disabled people.
Don't forget it's alright to hate us, remember its alright to call us frauds, the papers say so. It doesn't seem to matter that you actually don't know the millions of people who are disabled, you "know" someone who is a junkie who has a mansion, 3 holiday homes, brand new cars and not forgetting the obligatory 50 inch plasma T.V.!!!
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