As you know Employment and Support Allowance is a very hot topic with me and most who know me know I would like to see this benefit either radically reformed or abolished altogether the amount of stress it causes and in some cases suicides like what happened to my friend in 2011 it is time to hit back. While the Atos assessments were at fault at one level it must be remembered they follow government policy on how the test is carried out the whole system needs to be reviewed not just token inquiries like the Harrington ESA inquiry a few years back. Even by replacing Atos with a new company if nothing down on the regulations on implementation of ESA it becomes nothing more than a swap of companies. aI really feel for people who are not at there best going though this process, the government has also changed the appeal system if you fail your ESA test you now have to put in the appeal yourself now here comes the nasty part. While you[/uth]re waiting for the DWP to review there original findings you don't get paid the ESA assessment rate but have to claim JSA untill [/u]ey make there minds up now here's the clanger there's no time limit on how long they can take. Then if the original desion hasn't been changed then they allow the appeal to go to a tribunal then you get paid ESA. Lord Freud brought this gem out he was the brainchild of the so called Bedroom Tax . Iv read the white paper on Personal Independents Payment and various reports on it to me its another ESA mess on the way. Funny enough on Chesterfield Forum Iv had the same debate on ESA/PIP its hard for people who have never been though the process to understand what its really like for people. Like Iv said on that Forum the reason for abolishing DLA was about saving money not about reforming the system the old favourite fraud was thrown about ignore the fact the fraud rate was very low. I'm not confident that if Labour wins this year things would change Milliband has said nothing about the issues regarding disability Iv
myself Iv written to Labour the letters back were vague on this subject Labour could make a song and dance over this and by doing that getting the disabled vote to back them at present no party has said much on ESA/PIP. Its iconic that a Tory prime minister brought out DLA another has destroyed it that's politicians for you.
Many people had to ask the citizens advise or welfare rights to help fill in their ESA as it was pretty complicated as to what they needed to submit, another problem was that many hadn't kept any letters about medical conditions etc which are needed for proof.
You are spot on about the change in the appeal system as well, many have been brought to their knees and in so much debt, some even being evicted. All this of course isn't common knowledge unless you have your nose to the ground on the subject.
As for the other forum, someone on there who professes to know it all about this benefits change admitted they didn't know what ESA was!! So how can they spout off about it being a 'good thing' and needed!
As for the PIP that needs to be filled in differently to the ESA as far as medical conditions etc are concerned as they want to know 'how your disability affects you' many are finding this confusing after going through the ESA assessment.
Apart from the Benefits and Work site which at some point people have to subscribe to for more detailed information, I have another very good site which people can use and get free information on all of this. There is an excellent thread on the PIP.
Topic: Nicheuk (Read 2304 times)
