We finally got some of the PIP money , not much but enough to pay the more urgent outstanding bills the ones we have a court date for , we treated ourselves to a Chinese Takeaway and then sat and looked at each other . The award at the tribunal was for 3 years , but because it was a lose for them they may well want to reassess after 6 months a particularly vile practice that happens often . But it gives 6 months of half the minimum amount that the government says a couple need to survive without a disability
Does it never end , we are still fighting the ESA battle. We have now been awaiting processing for so long that we must reapply from scratch . The year long old claim has been sent to a "decision maker" So we have reapplied with the exact same information we sent them a year ago , if they insist on another medical we could be looking at 9 months waiting again .
My application for carers allowance has been rejected because Mr Bah Humbug isnt in receipt of any qualifying benefits ???? Oh yes he is , you cant phone them you must submit a mandatory reconsideration form , just filled that in ...........
So thats how things stand we have another week of heavy duty hospital appointments this week all over the place but at least we have the fuel money for a change , but we darent spend anything in case we never get the other outstanding matters sorted .
Ho hum , no wonder im going quietly mad
It beggars belief how a system can keep people down. I bet you enjoyed that Takeaway, a little light relief amongst so much aggravation.
ReplyDeleteOh Kate, it's absolutely crazy I feel for you. I hope everything goes ok at the hospital appointments and you get some answers.
ReplyDeleteI know your frustration but me saying that doesn't make it any better for you. As you know we can apparently only claim attendance allowance because Tom is over pension age, if he was younger we could get a car and a lot more, what makes them think that because he is 78 that he doesn't require help. We have an appointment with the cab on Thursday to get help filling in the forms, lets hope they can get it filled in well enough for us to get at least some help. Otherwise I feel numb, its enough to know that I may lose him eventually as there is absolutely no cure or help and we have to go through this begging process as well. As I say, I feel for you kate. Don't give in, keep trucking it will all fall in place eventually Im sure.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Briony
x
The Begging process pretty much sums it up , your made to feel degraded every step of the way .
DeleteI read so much about families in the UK with dire medical problems who cannot seem to get any assistance and it is appalling. It's as though they hope the individual will just die and remove the problem from their files. And yet others seem to have no problem accessing all kinds of benefits!
ReplyDeleteI do feel so sorry for you - all this frustration must be making you ill.
This has probably come up before but - is there any point in summarizing the situation as best you can, making copies of the relevant posts you have made and firing it all of to say "The Guardian"? Surely it's the sort of thing they love!
This is as far onto the public spectrum as i would wish to go Margie , i'm not a huge thousands of follower blog im just a little old biddy recording this horrible journey for posterity
DeleteI understand - it just seems so unfair. Take care.
DeleteKate as much as you don,t want to hear this take hubby to hospital say you can,t cope!. Leave him there The slow running cogs of social work will be in overdrive!. Before you know it you will have carers, all equiptment everything really. They have power to fast track benefits Will take a couple of weeks maximum!. I should know i work in bed blocking!. All stops pulled out !.
Deleteslightly different system in the UK Kirrie , but at the moment we are getting somewhere but it is very slowly , its just the inability of different departments to liaise that is currently the problem , they all seem to have sprung into action at the point where we sent them all a copy of his medical notes.
DeleteI do believe Scotland is in the UK. Yeah ok only just!. Now if i had my way ....................
DeleteI often say I would like to know how the reported "benefit cheats" who apparently get tens of thousands of pounds a year manage it. The hoops eldest and partner have had to jump through, and filling in the same forms and sending copies of paperwork several times over (where do the councils and DWP put them?), have been beyond belief. Then to have the various reports from doctors (consultant neurologists, and psychologists) ignored, or disagreed with by people with no medical knowledge, is enough to make many just want to give up. I know people meant well when they suggested we went to the press with our story but it is bad enough having to have your life dissected by the officials without having it spread all over the place. But I do understand the desperation of those who do. Eldest is coming tomorrow to pick up more stuff and council have told them they can start bidding on council properties from next week. The other thing we have found is that some help for wheelchair users is not available to them as they do not have a permanent address. So partner is still in an unsuitable wheelchair, although the local service did provide new seat cushions and raised the handles so eldest does not have to stoop so much to push it. Eldest has also been telling me how bad the pavements are where they have been temporarily housed, so they only go out when they have to, and try to get all their errands and appointments done on one day.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I always thought that help would be available to those in need but fortunately never needed it myself. Boy, have I had my eyes ripped open, and I don't know whether I feel more angry, or more sad, at the treatment being dealt out to those who can least defend themselves.
its the endless repeating myself that is driving me mad , plus the assumption that Mr BH can be fixed and get 'better' . We are at the stage now where we just email them a copy of his spinal MRI and the spinal consultant report.
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