Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:51 pm  

Hull White Star wrote:

I presume he was assessed by an Atos Health Care Professional? Which could be anything from a Doctor, to a nurse to a physiotherapist. Tell him to appeal and provide Atos with every single piece of medical proof he can get his hands on. I got my physio, consultant, rheumatology nurse, hip specialist, knee specialist, podiatrist and GP to write letters. In the "good old days" if the DWP wanted any extra information they would write to your GP or consultant but with Atos the onus is on the patient to provide every bit of medical evidence. I think he has upto 28 days to appeal and he will recieve the appeal rate money. Be warned though, the appeals are taking weeks even months before they are reviewed.

I know how he feels, I have been fighting this battle with them for 2 years now. Tell him to never give up as that is what they rely on you to do. Good luck for him

Not sure of who assessed him, going to see him tomorrow to see if there is anything I can help with.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:03 pm  

Government "agencies" are all in it together. For instance if someone has major need for specialist education the local authority will spend all their time internally arguing how much should be paid by "education", "social care" and "health" where there are complex needs. They will not make provision but waste ten of thousands of pounds in internal meetings and producing nonsense paperwork. Much better to either spend that on front-line care or else if they are not going to do anything useful get rid of all the beaurocrats. But worse than that they are very reluctant to cross-refer to say the NHS for funding in cases of long-term continuing need, which you might expect a local authority to do in order to get out of paying themselves. There must be some reason for the reluctance - they get in trouble, there is some potential reciprocal financial comeback, etc. Whatever, it's a crazy state of affairs.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:18 pm  

Hull White Star wrote:

I presume he was assessed by an Atos Health Care Professional? Which could be anything from a Doctor, to a nurse to a physiotherapist. Tell him to appeal and provide Atos with every single piece of medical proof he can get his hands on. I got my physio, consultant, rheumatology nurse, hip specialist, knee specialist, podiatrist and GP to write letters. In the "good old days" if the DWP wanted any extra information they would write to your GP or consultant but with Atos the onus is on the patient to provide every bit of medical evidence. I think he has upto 28 days to appeal and he will recieve the appeal rate money. Be warned though, the appeals are taking weeks even months before they are reviewed.

I know how he feels, I have been fighting this battle with them for 2 years now. Tell him to never give up as that is what they rely on you to do. Good luck for him

Just got back from visiting my mate and he has told me what has gone on and it seems that all they are trying to do is get people off benefits, no matter what. He told me that he sent them information via a web site and then was given an appointment to go for his assessment. When he arrived he was told to wait in a seating area and was kept waiting for nearly an hour in view of the reception. When he was called in he had to walk up a corridor, up a set of stairs and along another corridor. During the assessment he was told that he had answered four of the queries already, namely he could use a computer, site for up to an hour, walk the minimum distance required and climb a flight of stairs. He was given a pen to fill a questionnaire out which proved he could use his hands.

He needed 15 points to keep his benefit and was given a score of 'zero' and told his benefits would stop.

Being a fiesty 2@, he asked what jobs he could do and if they could get him a placement in a workplace environment, but was told it was nothing to do with them, they just assessed to a set criteria and he could appeal if he wished.

He has asked me to be a referee on his behalf as I have known him since he was in his twenties and to give evidence as to his deterioration over the recent years, but he was told not to hold out much hope as the decision is unlikely to be reversed.

He is willing to work (in fact would love to), but an assessment of an hour does not set the full story of his situation, I have been to see him on days he has not been able to get out of bed and is high on pain killers, like most people in his situation he has good and bad days and I doubt many employers would put up with the likely levels of time off he will need over a prolonged period.

Tory Britain 2013.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:02 pm  

rover49 wrote:

...
Tory Britain 2013.

Aye, and the banks carry on swallowing our money.
Whose bloody country is it?

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:08 pm  

El Barbudo wrote: Whose bloody country is it? Pop down to The Grove Hotel, Watford this weekend and ask The Bilderberg Group. Those fookers are running the world, not just our country

El Barbudo wrote: Whose bloody country is it? Pop down to The Grove Hotel, Watford this weekend and ask The Bilderberg Group. Those fookers are running the world, not just our country

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:11 pm  

rover49 wrote:

... Tory Britain 2013.

A bunch of absolute a-holes.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:59 pm  

Mintball wrote:

A bunch of absolute a-holes.

Unfortunately after Miliband's little speech today, I seriously fear for anyone in this country who is not of independent means, post 2015.

It's come to something when Labour feel they have to appear to be as big a bunch of bastads as any tory, simply to suck up to the middle classes and the media that decide their itinerary.

I have always had faith in the power of the ballot box, that faith is waning rapidly and I'm coming to the conclusion that the best thing everyone of voting age could do on election day 2015 is stay at home. If nobody votes for any of these fookers, they may just get the message.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:47 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

... I have always had faith in the power of the ballot box, that faith is waning rapidly and I'm coming to the conclusion that the best thing everyone of voting age could do on election day 2015 is stay at home. If nobody votes for any of these fookers, they may just get the message.

Which is almost exactly what the corporatocracy would love.

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:32 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Which is almost exactly what the corporatocracy would love.

Then the only alternative is revolution or at least, public revolt.

I'm not talking about a couple od days rioting, I mean storming the strongholds of the new ruling class. Ripping the gates to their communities off their hinges and taking over their mansions and opening the doors to the poor. Almost all politicians are in awe to the corporatocracy, they rely on their patronage and would suck enough corporate cock to put a handrail round the British coastline.

I'm 61, I've been cognisant of governments of various hues for over 50 years. I was one of the early recipients of Beveridge's brave new world. We moved into a brand new council house before my 2nd birthday, prior to that I benefited from the NHS by being born in a dedicated maternity hospital and at 6 months of age, I also had major surgery after the family dog nearly ripped my eye out. I was immunised or innoculated against what were killer diseases. My ex-wife suffered from polio as a child but she received emergency care and post-trauma treatment so she could live a normal life, without having to wear the leg-irons what were still all too prevalent in my youth.

I know what to expect from a tory government, I never expected to hear a Labour leader confirm that he would continue to shaft the less able in our society. Basically, as far as Labour are concerned, I've shat 'em and if I ever meet Miliband, I'd probably lamp the 2@

Re: Bedroom Tax - A Solution ? : Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:36 pm