Benefits/welfare problems.

Marylin,
I truly get how w worried you are but worrying won't help you get benefits. Try hard to know there is nothing more you can do right now. Worrying just zaps your energy and you may be worrying over nothing. You could be successful and you will have wasted this time worrying over nothing. Please be kind to your mind. I know what it is like when overdrive hits. Try to d o things that involve using your senses. It w ill help break the thought process if only for 30 seconds at a time. You can handle this!!

It's a wise thing to get a copy of the assessment. That will give you understanding of why they made the decision. Maybe if you could show it to your p'doc/therapist and get them to write your actual capacity.

Deejay has some very good points.

Being proactive helps us to take some control back. When you find yourself being overwhelmed try to check back in with the actual facts. 1. Facts are they did deny your initial claim. 2. You are going to check what the assessment said. 3. You are going to get another opinion from your care providers. 4. Ask for something in writing from your care providers. 5. Nothing has been finalized yet. 6. Until it is then there is still hope.

The whole process is very stressful. No denying that. Try and distract yourself when you find yourself worrying. Cleaning is something to channel your energies into. Plus that is positive and you can feel better about your space. Watching movies or reading a book. What else do you like to do? Make a list of what you like to do and do at least one thing per day

Hang in there.

I got a copy of the assessors report,she is basically calling me a liar,she has given me 6 points for daily living I need 8 for the lowest rate of PIP and she has only scored me 4 for mobility again need 8 for lowest rates,which I was on before they started this process.So now they won't award me if they go with the assessors report.whereas taking all my difficulties truthfully into account I should be getting enhanced rates on both.They will basically be saying with three chronic physical illnesses and limited mobility and two mental illnesses that I am no longer disabled and they will stop my monthly payments and I will also lose £62 a week of my ESA which is a disability premium.I won't survive on that I am currently paying off debts as well,I will go under.I am in shock.I am scared and worried last time I didn't have enough to live on I went into psychosis.

I am going to check out that MIND link someone posted earlier on in this thread to see if they can help me fight this.My heart has sunk I am feeling paranoid and I am very anxious and worried.

Thanks for taking the time to support me.I tend to sink to the depths when things aren't going my way in life,I am in shock tonight but your advice is good.Just because they are halving my monthly income doesn't mean I should let everything around me go to pot and neglect myself and my home and become even more ill.I can fight to get back what I am entitled to and look around see if any people can help.I will get in touch with MIND and email my MP see if he can help...I feel like crying but that is no reason to give up.If anything I know that if they don't award me that that isn't a fair decision so I will have to fight the injustice of that.

I had a mini breakdown today,crying,rang crisis line I felt suicidal and that I didn't have the energy or strength to go on.A bloke on the other end of the phone calmed me down,He said wait for the decision and challenge it meanwhile you are still getting paid so you can appeal if need be don't worry so much.My mum said she will support me and won't let me go hungry or not pay my bills,so I am going to try and keep positive.I am emotionally shook up and drained so need to rest today ,it's saturday, write my letter of complain over the next few days and send it on wednesday.

I had a couple of hours nap.Getting something together for dinner,I will eat then work on my letter to the Assessment services,(ATOS).Gonna find myself some peace.I also emailed my MP for help.I am feeling calmer and not so scared. Surprisingly my narcissist sister who abused me for years has been supportive,I don't mix with her or see her in real life anymore as she almost literally killed me but we talk about mum's care via text and she text to support me over this benefits worry.She is unpredictable can be nice but turns nasty,I think when it comes to me she don't like others to abuse me that's her job.It is all confusing cos I am meant to be no contact with her but she did offer words of support and said she wants to help she can't be let in too far she is not to be trusted but she did give me a link to an electric company that does cheaper electric.

I am still shook up emotionally,even if I win my benefits back they can give it for only a year or two so I will have to have continual assessments and it is scary though I asked the MP to intervene and get me a 10 year award whether that will happen I don't know.I have got to go through the assessors report and point out all the inaccuracies and write them up into a letter of complaint.

I have a lot of fear now whereas I was sorting out therapy the CBT counseller was assessing me to see if CBT was suitable or if another therapy was appropriate and I was going to weight management class.I won't be able to afford it so much now,travel expenses mount up I go everywhere by taxi and can't walk anywhere or use the buses so her lying about my mobility is a massive blow.

I am getting over the shock that I might have my yearly income halved and will start looking for ways to cut my outgoings....I am going to have to adjust cos it could take up to 18 months to get a tribunal date if I have to appeal.I wrote my letter to Atos on Sunday and went and typed and printed it at the internet cafe today.I will send it tomorrow.The wait for a reply and wait for the DWP to send me a decision.I hope with the other evidence they have to consider they may override the assessor's report and give me an award anyway....we will see.I will do MR if they don't give me the same money that I get now anyway.

Today was exhausting I was at internet cafe sorting the letter five hours....I got home 9.30pm cos I saw a film upstairs at cineworld,Avengers Infinity,the end was disappointing,the superheros lost and died and the bad guy won.So I felt horrible evil won in the end...I guess the lesson of the film is that sometimes the bad guys win!How disappointing though,eh?

I got overtired today so now I am restless and can't go to sleep and it is 1am and I have to go collect my benefit money tomorrow and put money into the bank for the bills to get paid.I hope to hear from you all and how you are doing,feel free to let me know how you are those who have been supporting me Possum,Deejay, Nammu, Hvert, Shazarac, Skeezy,how are you doing,post her or send me a message,especially if you need support yourselves I'd like to help.

It has been lovely having you guys for support.I think I am over the worst of the shock and worry and you have all been a great help.Thanks I will keep you updated how the benefits system pans out for me personally.

I am pleased that you could take time out to see a film and give yourself a diversion. The people who made the movie made evil win so they can have a reason to make a sequel where the goodies win.

Keep up the good proactive work.

A day at a time. You can get through this!

That is good to hear that they made evil win so the good guys can win in the sequel!I look forward to the sequel possum!

Hi guys lovely friends!Today was exhausting again but got done what I needed to.I was worried but thankfully my benefit money was paid they haven't stopped any of it yet.I collected it and paid it into the bank.I had a coffee at coffee shop and a sandwich.Then I got exhausted walking through a massive department store to order a remote control,cos mine stopped working and I can't turn on the telly.Got them to order me one and have it deliverd.Got a taxi home.

I feel more hopeful and positive I joined a disability support group that advocates for disabled people to help them keep and get back their benefits.It is £12 a month but worth it cos they will help me and they help people with no money at all for free.It is called Fightback4Justice and is here in the UK,they help with MR and appeals.They gave me some facts that gave me hope and I feel more confident that even if they stop my money I can win it back!

Tonight I have been resting but I can't get over this feeling of being physically exhausted!
And I haven't been able to watch TV for about 4 days.I also have a therapy session tomorrow,am visiting my mum,have to go to the doctors and fill in a form to access my medical records and get back in time for 4pm when my food shop is going to be delivered!So that will exhaust me more.Oh Well ,live in the moment that's tomorrow,rest now,eh?

We has some slight sunshine in south UK today but it turned chilly and windy towards the mid to late afternoon.I saw a homeless lad on a mattress and covered in blankets with his sweet little dog outside the department store in a quiet spot,he looked exhausted poor lad and tired,I know how he felt cos when in psychosis I was outside for 5 days and nights....it is unbearable,I spoke to him asking him how he really felt,he said he is ok bearing up,I felt powerless to help and guilty cos I am complaining and can survive I have a roof over my head but what can he do to get out of his situation?It is sad and a disgrace that the government does nothing to help.

I sent notes for my MR and a copy of the Atos letter to Fightback4justice their legal adviser is going to let them over and help me by giving them the legal look over and she will get back to me on what is the best way to contest the decision if it is to stop my award.I am feeling stronger to fight and more positive and hopeful.

That sounds like a good organization, glad you found it.

Yeah me too Nammu!It has given me hope and I am feeling stronger and more positive.

I am pleased to hear that you have legal support and that you have some-one in real life as a go to.

That's excellent, Marylin! Being proactive is good!

Fightback4justice legal team are going to do the Mandatory Reconsideration for me if I am refused PIP.We can't do anything though until the decision is sent to me by the DWP.I am dreading them saying I am refused PIP cos then my money goes down and I may be refused MR and then it can take up to a year struggling with little money to get a date for appeal court.Meanwhile I have to go to the GP and arrange to gain access to my medical records and print them off.I also have to get old care plans out and send them for MR too.I am getting nervous and worked up but the legal team are behind me.What gives me hope is if they were going to refuse me PIP based on the assessor's report they could have written to me straight away and told me so they might be looking into it more carefully and offer me something,I am hoping so anyway.They would have saved money by refusing me straight away.So I don't know we will see.I might have to wait another two or three weeks for a decision.I hope I don't hear until the first week in June so I can collect another DLA payment 29 May.

Marylin could you sign an authorization for your legal team to get all that for you. It might be a LOT easier on you.

No Deejay,they don't collect medical records etc the legal team,I have to collect it and send it to them and they will write the MR<I have the care plans etc,I just need to get the medical records,it isn't hard to do,just involves filling in a form at the drs and making an appointment to look through my computer records and get them printed off.

I haven't had a decision from the DWP yet,I had a letter on friday telling me they had all the information that they need to make a decision and that I will be hearing from them shortly.I hope it will be another two weeks until I hear cos I am due a payment in two weeks and if they are going to stop my money I want that payment first.Fingers crossed,I get that payment and that it is good news that they base their decision on the other evidence and not the assessor's report!

I should get a decision within or after the next two weeks.I am extremely anxious.I don't want to lose my next DLA payment I think I will still get it 29 May even if I am refused an award cos you get one more payment after the decision before they stop it.If I get the decision after the 29th May and they stop my award I should be entitled to one more payment at the end of June so I hope it works out that way.I still hope my award won't stop but even if it does I have a good chance of getting it back at MR or appeal.I haven't heard from my Member of Parliament whom I asked for help 18 days ago,it does usually take a while for him to get back to me but I haven't heard from him as yet.

I know I am scared but until the decision comes through there is nothing I can do to fight it,the sooner I can contest the decision if it is not in my favour the better I will feel.

I am getting prepared for if I have to do MR,Friday I am going to the GP to fill in an access to medical records form,they will then send me an appointment to view and print off medical records that will support my claim.Also I am going to the internet cafe to make copies of my care plans and letters and the assessors report.So that will help me work off anxious energy doing stuff that I need for the MR to send to my legal team at Fightback 4 justice.I was messaging my niece on facebook,she is very supportive.She is coming home and I will see her 2nd week of July,she is in Los Angeles at this time studying at UCLA.

I still haven't heard back from my MP I asked him for help with my benefits claim,it usually takes him about a month to get back to me but I am wondering if he will ignore my plea for help because he voted to reduce the welfare budget,so whether he sees me as a burden on the state I don't know?

I am never so worried as I am when they threaten to cut my benefits,last time they switched me from income support to ESA I was ill from the stress and went into psychosis,when I came out of hospital I ended up on more money not less,so worrying and being ill was for nothing but still you don't know in today's climate when they have assessors doing inadequate reports and outright lying on the reports they will take your entitlement and allow you to struggle and not care that it takes months to go to appeal.They do this hoping you will give up your claim cos it is too hard to pursue it their aim is to save money at the expense of the ill and disabled.

I am not going to give up no matter how long it takes.

Good for you! Keep going strong!!

Getting apprehensive now I should hear what the DWP decision is in the next two weeks,feeling worried and tense.Try to stay strong whatever happens!Thanks for your support Deejay!

I went to the GP today and filled in an access to records form,I wrote exactly what records I wanted printed out and they said they could do them,I had to pay £25, I will get a phone call on Monday to say they are ready.If they are ready I am going to collect them on Tuesday.I am hoping I don't get a letter from the DWP until after the 29th May still.
Fightback4justice know all the rights of disabled people and they say they get 80% of no award decisions overturned at MR stage and win 100% of appeals at tribunal.So I think if I go with them I am in good hands.