General Chat

Also to add, I think you go straight on the highest amount of IB if you have been on DLA for a certain amount of time and/or are disabled. When I went from JSA to Income Support I went straight on highest amount as I was already disabled. Not sure what the time period might be because I've been disabled for 13 years.

(forgot to say, when I first went on benefits it was Severe disablement allowance, when I was 20)

cmd, it could be that they're on income support as they're not fit for work, as is my case, sometimes it's just easier to refer to it as IB to save the explaining.

That said, they did change the goal posts over the last few years and if you were already on a certain benefit you stayed on it even though new claimants are subject to new rules. ie, there are people still on severe disablement benefit, which I'm fairly sure stopped (to new people) when they changed the IB rules. (of course my memory is crap so I could be wrong there LOL)

Ib can be claimed up to 28 weeks if you have been employed with a sick note from your doctor, once the 28 weeks are up you have to undergo the medical assessment.

If you havent work recently you can still claim ib but have to undergo the medical assessment to claim

Dear Joan,
I too questioned how this person could claim IB when they have never had a job since leaving school, and they answered because the consultant and powers that be has deemed them incapacitated.!!(think thats right word).
They really have a terrible problem, so they are not claiming freudiently.(spelling). however, unless they themselves have told me the wrong info i am sure it IB, I know they are registered disabled...and get mobilty allowance as well.
It has been 10 years since they claimed so perhaps it was different then, although I know they still get benefits...and I'm sure its still incapacity,

BUT before I make a fool of myself I wont say anymore untill I check again, just to make sure of my facts, (although I did get info off them ) but I take on board what you say, and I know nothing about, what state benefit, is what....
regards cmd x

Have relative who has been called up before this dr 5 times in 7 years. The last time just a few weeks ago - He has no transport but has to reply on someone to drive him 30 mile round trip. Public transport could not take him. This is all the result of negligent surgery which they only admitted to him some 7 months ago and said they could do nothing more. the other is the result of again neglect - has had one op on elbow and is waiting to have another one in next 2./3 months.
Two years ago he was called in to Job Centre and they said well apart from not being able to walk far or sit for long - it is your left arm so you could write. He exploded and told them 'I am left handed'. He has nothing to hide and tells the truth but does get upset when he hears of the rackets.

Peter, my OH would like me to say this to you

You are so wrong on so many levels.
Firstly, YOU and the OH ARE entitled to benefits...Try asking, you may be pleasantly surprised. There are, infact people in this very thread that could give you good advice, you only have to ask.........

Secondly, you seem to have missed the point of this thread. David Freud has publicly stated that he will get rid of 66% of IB. So he knows tese people are frauds? Of course not......
The so-called doctors belong to a private company called ATOS ORIGIN, who are given a commision to get people struck off IB. Can you believe that? this contract is worth millions to them! It is trully frightening.........
In my case I have had 3 previous medicals, passing the 15 point threshold every time.
On this occasion, I received 0 (thats ZERO) points. Apparently I have less problems than your normal, healthy individual! Looking at my "scoring chart" , there were 2 pages of mental health questions that I scored 0 for (obviously) which weren't even asked! work that one out............infact, the heading was "we have ticked the boxes that apply to your answers", and they werent even ticked!
I am by no means an isolated case. This is happening to many, many people. If 90% of claimants are genuine, then TOUGH, cos 66% is the target. the government have made a public pledge to get the figures down, so the innocent will suffer, simple as.

@ Summer..........sorry, but your wrong! those medical reports were tampered with by the "doctors", in order to get their commision. Every decision made by the "suits" have to be justified by the "doctors" medical reports.

my dad had bowel cancer despite 6 months of intensive chemo he still goes to work he is 67 and never claimed a benefit in his life even when he was a single parent bringing up my brother on his own

It is the people who have been screwing the system for years who are making it harder for those that are in need, the government is doing the right thing by clamping down on claims, unforunatley it affects all of you that have genuine claims,

Peter

I never asked for free prescriptions we were automatically sent them because of our income my hubbies net income last year was just over £4,000 not a lot and a lot less than if he wound busines up and sat at home and claimed benefit but hes too proud for that would rather work.

Im sorry your wife is ill have you looked at DLA if she needs helps while out and about and with personal needs she may get it. Sorry dont know what the condition is but doesnt sound nice.


Joan
we get Tax credits as well but still cant get any other help not even free school meals because we claim child tax credit as well as working tax credit. If you get child tax credit and have less than 14k coming in in wages you get them if you then claim working tax credit as well doesnt matter what you have coming in you dont get them.

The whole benefits system needs looking at and made fairer for all.

Dear joan,
I know of someone who has never worked, and they get incapacity benefit!.(have done for last 10 years) they have a geniune disabilty.
Also my neighbour has not worked since he was 50 because of a bad back,(hes now 73) and yet he could climb ladders doing painting for everyone, up untill recently .....also up till last year he was climbing over my fence to get his cats. and chopping my plants down, and he reckons he runs 2miles every day! We have just had a new 6'6'' fence put up to stop him....
and he has served on the local council for about 30 years....
I know of people who do not warrant IB. but get it........also I know a few who could get it, if they really tried, including myself... but choose to work untill the last hour possible....

There are people who abuse the benefit system, but there again, there are people who abuse every system, like the MPs. etc, etc,
cmdx

Joan,

I think your experience just reinforces the argument that the entire benefits system wants scrapping and starting again from the drains up.

The system should assist those who help themselves, not the other way around.

Dawn, whilst I do feel for you, why is it that you think you should get your prescriptions for free and I should not?

My wife is also on four pills a day which we have to pay for. I don't have a huge income either.

She also has a condition known as colitis. I wont go into the details here, unless you want me to but it is not very nice when you have to carry a change of clothing wherever you go in case it erupts.

Apparently this does not qualify for any benefit from the state either.

hi peter, your wife is intitled to benefits even if you work and earn loads of money, her benefit is for her not you...if she had an accident at work and it was'nt her fault she can claim industrial benefit, my mum is and my dad owns his own company... she retires next month so will get pension instead, also you can claim carers allowance as you are looking after your wife, both these benefits are little money just like child benefit but everyone is intittled to them even the rich....
claiming IB and DLA are for the same reasons you are ill and unable to work, your wife is entitled to them...
you can pm me for info and help in claiming if you want to.....
peter help is out there,..
take care
kaz xx

Thanks Dawnie, I'll have to look into that one.

Peter, My OH does not provide for me.

Viv

Peter

I am on four different pills a day so each month I would have to pay £6 whatever it is x 4 each month just to get a small amount of relief and tthey are always trying different ones to get the best outcome for me .

If like me you react to a lot of drugs that item then has to be returned but dont get a refund so that money is wasted.

I am lucky as dont pay for prescriptions as hubbys wage is so low.

Viv you may be able to get free prescriptions theres a form to fill in and they will tell you if you are entitled or not, would make a big difference to you

d xx

My wife is also dependent on medication. She hasn't worked for over 35 years but she does not receive one single penny, either towards her prescriptions, nor as IB, nor from any other source, other than the few pounds a month I can provide for her.

What makes people think that as an IB recipient you also should receive other benefits too?

That report has me utterly disgusted. It's obviously not the doctor but whoever is messing with their reports that is at fault.

The computer based one was very flawed I thought as it seemed to be so rigid. That said, I think the doctor that I saw was very good. It also went in my favour that we had a bomb alert during it and she got to see for herself how crap my walking was and how much it took out of me.

I didn't have enough NI contributions of the right kind so couldn't get IB. Instead I get Income support and it will be reassessed a year after it was first granted. In other words I'll have to jump through the hoops again next october too.

Peter,
I have been on I.B. for two years and am dependent on medication. The only money I have coming in is I.B..... anyone claiming JSA is entitled to free prescriptions etc... hardly fair when you are ill and need medication.

Viv

Why shouldn't they pay for prescriptions? The rest of us have to. This again highlights the problem with the benefits system.

What annoys me even more is anyone on incapacity benefit has to pay for their prescriptions!
How ludicrous is that? They are unable to work because they are ill but they still have to pay for their medication.
Off to sign now.
Viv

Haven't read full thread. But wanted to say that I don't know if this is actually the case as the doctor who does the medical only gives their view on the person and what they observe, they can make a recommendation but it is up to the person at the benefits agency that handles the individuals file to make the decision based on the info they have. I can see that there may be a quota that the benefits decision maker might have but certainly not the doctor themselves.