Benefits problems
 

I had to book an appointment to see one of their drs as my dr point of view isn't good enough. I ended up sobbing down the phone because I couldn't cope. My benefits been stopped because instead of putting my whole address on the letter they put part of it and it got misdelivered and I didn't ring them 'in time'. They accused me of not knowing my address - I live in wales and have a welsh address and their computer is english and therefore thinks I mis-spelt my address.

Got called silly and told to pull myself together and accused of fraud cos I'm not able to attend on the two days their dr comes to this town.

Doubt I will get to keep my benefits if they won't accept my gp/consultants letters. A 10 minute appointment will be taken up with me explaining what all my physical conditions mean (they are quite rare you see).

I rang my cpn sobbing cos they said they were going to tell her to rearrange her treatment of other patients for me (as I've been told not to go without her).

I've got to pay for my travel because there isn't a bus and gp won't give letter saying medically unfit for bus service as there is no bus service from my house to the medical centre and it's a waste of paper.

Now everyone is saying about how I'm a fraud and stealing peoples hard earned money. It shouldn't go to rubbish like me. I can't find my tablets I'm so not with it.

:crying:

I don't know how I'll cope with seeing this dr when I'm like this after trying (and failing) to book the appointment.

I don't know how I can help you with advice on booking appointment etc, all i can say is though, don't let them end the session after 10mintues if you've not been through everything with them. I too have physical health problems that I've had to go through before we get to the mental health section. Quite simply I sat there and cried and felt a fool but I knew that they needed the whole picture.

Is there an option for you to get a taxi and then put in a claim for the expenses back? I don't know how it works in wales or each county for that matter, but in Essex, if there is no bus route or train route then you can get a taxi. You have to get recepit from taxi driver stating miles and they only pay such & such per mile, so you don't necessarily get all of your money back, but its better than a kick in the teeth!

I have moments where I feel like a fraud and I know that people question me and wonder why I don't work anymore. All I can say to you is that you're not alone and as much as it is so hard to do, we need to ignore those comments. We know the truth of our day to day lives, and if those people who are so quick to judge us lived just a few hours in our shoes they'd soon change their opinions.

Try and stay strong and with your cpn's help I'm sure everything will get worked out. *huggles*

*Thank-you Hayley*

I asked about taxi and they said only if gp says I cannot travel on a bus. Then he got really nasty with me because I'm not available on those two days when dr is here - I can't do anything about that.

My cpn/gp/med drs won't change appointments for a benefit dr when they've already sent comprehensive reports saying about my illnesses and I cannot work and do not need a medical. Their point, justly I think, is my conditions are so rare that I need to assessed by a specialist only.

Not coping well anyway and am struggling to hang on.

:crying:

ooh the benefits system is so bloody annoying sometimes when we don't fit in a box to tick!
The only thing I could suggest then, is perhaps seek citizens advice? They are the ones who helped me sort out all the mess of my benefits last year and thanks to them I've been awarded for an indefinate period and I don't need to go for another medical until 2014, whereas before I was having to go yearly to say, amzingly my incurable illness is still bothering me! Raa!!

I couldn't live if it wasn't for the benefits system in this country, but what frustrates me is how some people do manage to cheat the system, and then people who really need the help are penalised when they have complex/rare conditions and don't tick the right boxes! I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. I really hope it works out and that perhaps someone else has some mmore constructive advice for you.

Heh. I've never been a person who ticks any boxes ever. You know those forms which ask you to tick which applies? I'm always the one ticking 'other' ;-)

Citizens advice terrified me. Told me I'd lose my benefits as a result of medical because everyone does and they cannot help me with appeal so I am on my own. They aren't allowed to help anymore because they lost the contract here.

And no, they don't know who has it now.

Grs.

Still good news for you - yeyness!!!

I struggle on my benefits now, but yes things would be much much worse without them. I have no idea how people manage to cheat the system. It must be a full time job in itself, in which case, why bother? Just go get a job and have the satisfaction of having earnt your money, instead of having conned it. Then again maybe cheats don't think like that.

I know from another site I am on people with chronic pain are rarely awarded anything at medicals anymore because the system doesn't recognise it. From what I can tell it seems geared towards acute conditions and not chronic. e.g. conditions that could be temporary not longer term and therefore er actually disabling.

I know it's all part of the government wanting to save money, but for the life of me I don't understand why they don't reduce money elsewhere rather than that given to people who are disabled and already vulnerable and struggling.

Grs for benefit system but yeys for your replies and the good news you have had :-)

just a note, matthew lost his benefits coz he was considered fit by a dr when he was diagnosed BPD and suicidal.

they considered him fit because he wasn't seeing any specialists - his pysch was on leave and his psychologist had just left the area and wasn't being replaced.

so i know how oyu feel.

apart from that... anytime he's been able to claim expenses for appointments they will give him a fixed pence per mile for travelling in car but cannot pay towards parking. we live in wales too.

Mandy, I'm sorry Matthew lost his benefits. That's awful. I hope it's been sorted for him and you both.

I've had another run it with them. Resulted in a slanging match at job centre plus - not not me, but one of JC advisors and the medical people! They sent my appointment to wrong address. Again. I rang them and they told me my address doesn't exist!! Then told me DWP gave them the wrong address and it was their fault - that was when the shouting match happened cos I went to the job centre place and their advisor rang and was having none of it.

My other problem, and it's a big one is I need to know who I am seeing and if they know me or not. I used to work as a teacher in a hospital - and was known for sorting the difficult ones out (yep the drs!!). I am also used as a teaching aid for my conditions. Not allowed to know who I am seeing because of data protection.

Shame they don't feel the same way about data protection for their claimants - they told me the only other person claiming on my road is Mr * at number * and only he could have recieved my notification instead when I said it had been misdelivered and opened by someone on the road. Now I think that is totally wrong. Personally I won't want people knowing I am claiming benefits.

I can't believe how rude they have been to me and I've not even seen them.

So. To update this thread. Got letter saying don't need a medical cos of 'medical evidence'.

*BUT* when i rang them they said that doesn't mean I will be entitled to my benefits automatically and would most likely be referred for a medical again in a couple of weeks because everyone has to be seen regardless of 'exemptions'. The person I spoke to was really nice about it, but I'm really scared. I feel like I'm being hunted down for being a fraud.

I'm also very very confused right now reality wise. I've very little idea of what is going on. My cpn mentioned hospital to me and antipsychotics to help with 'reality' but I'm terrified of that and more importantly if they request a medical and I'm in hospital they'll just stop my benefits.

Sometimes I wonder at our benefit system.

Just read your update. Sorry I've no constructive advice, but I wanted you to know that I am thinking of you and keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that everything works out for the best for you - and soon! *cuddles becca gently*

Went to CAB today and am totally terrified. They have really really scared me. I hate being reliant on benefits some faceless stranger can steal away anytime they want.

CAB said v likely I'll lose all my benefits and have to reapply. But it doesn;t matter because I can appeal and get everything backdated.

But, and here's the terrifying part I will have next to nothing to live on until that is done - over half my income will go. As I am totally on my own, no family, no-one to help me at all I'm really really really scared.

I don't know what to say - that's terrible *huggles*

A quick update. CAB were wrong. Benefit has been granted for a few more months before I have to go through this all over again.