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Benefits

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Nanaclaire

Well-Known Member
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Hi nanaclaire any advice on this question
Just received a letter from department of benefits after a medical in sept they have decided I am no longer entitled I have type 1diabetes, angina which I was finished from work on the grounds of I'll health and unable to work again in 2003 I now find they feel I am fit for work ( not worked for 7 yrs & my health has rapidly deteriorated) my previous medical awarded me 15 points now get 6 points I also now have kidney problems at the mo only working 30% to top it all they stop my money in 2 wks nice Xmas pressy of cause I am goin to appeal. Any one else had this.
 
Hi Nanaclaire, did this letter come out of the blue or did it follow a consultation with yourself and a doctor?

I fail to see how a civil servant at the dept of Health could have made this decision :? That will be very worrying for many people.
 
Sounds like a letter from Dept of Work & Pensions (DWP) (there is no Department of Benefits, although there is a Benefits Agency(BA)) regarding a wage replacement benefit based on ill health / disability - either Incapacity Benefit or Employment & Support Allowance (ESA).

Many people are finding that recent medicals are leading to loss of benefits. The advice is always to seek advice from a benefits advisor eg CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau), local council service, disability rights body etc. Success rate at appeal tribunals is higher if you attend in person than if you ask for a hearing on the papers, and higher if you are represented by an advisor, although some don't attend any tribunals, but taking a written submission can help.

In addition, worth mentioning that if you are also on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), DWP may use the medical examination to look at your DLA award as well.
 
Hi sorry I meant DWP I was due for a reassessment in 2010 because they changed the name I had to fill in a questionnaire then a medical on 1/9/11 was not impressed by the so called Dr looked at me twice just kept looking at the computer. I have been in touch with my GP & local law centre & they helpingme go through the appeal process go to c someone next week ..I am on DLA too so sounds as if I will have a fight with that one too.
Hopefully I will get revoked

Nanaclaire
 
They are just telling everyone they are fit to work to get the benefits bill down. How can you be deemed to ill to work for so long and now be deemed fit to work? Its stupid, they are forcing sick people back to work and I hope these people will sue if their health goes downhill as a result.
 
If this is an ATOS assessment for ESA you are talking about Nanaclaire, then nothing surprises me.

This government (and the previous one which actually started the ball rolling)say they want to get people off benefits and imply that most are not genuine cases. Of course we know that there are many who are not genuine but in the backlash, sick and disabled people are being targetted as well..all the government cares about are their employment figures.

One thing I would advise you to do apart from getting in touch with your law centre is to phone DWP, tell then you intend to appeal their decision (make sure you do this in writing too, really important) and request a copy of the medical finding from the ATOS doctor. They may try and put you off but insist, it is your right to see what has been written about you and how they came to their conclusion.

I had to do this for my daughter two years ago-we won our case but I had to go through it on my own-our CAB was useless, the worker didn't even know what ESA was.
I went to hell and back but it can be done-just don't lose hope.
 
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