For the Record:
Before becoming ill, my wife was employed as a full time Civil Servant. She was also a Registered Nurse – and would, in emergency, make herself available to work for our local hospital. She had also spent some 4 or 5 years working towards a further qualification.
She has been ill for some years now. The Nursing Licence expired. She lost her “office” job due to her “medical inefficiency” and was just one module short of the programme that that would have given her another career opportunity, but her condition makes her forgetful or struggle to concentrate...
So far, she has been diagnosed with:- Arthritis; Raynaud’s Syndrome; Fibromyalgia and possible ME. She has Bilateral Ulna nerve compression (causing permanent numbness / pins+needles in hands) – for which she has undergone one operation. She suffers back pain; She is mobile only with great difficulty and uses crutches and sticks. She can struggle to articulate. Strangers have presumed her to either be drunk or have MS. She is myopic anway – but has prescription sunglasses for photophobia and eye drops for “dry-eyes” (the optician feels the condition is likely to be related to her other problems). She has also developed claustrophobia – so we have no closed doors in our house! She loses her voice frequently – especially if cold, stressed or tired.
When she first became ill – neither of us were prepared to claim the benefits – even though we had around 50 years of contributions, between us. We both thought she would recover and be able to work again one day. We survived for a couple of years on savings and the little I could still earn, when my mother could help us out as part time carer for my wife.
We eventually had to admit defeat. My wife’s condition was worse and I had to become the full time carer. We applied for benefits last year.
What a Soul Destroying, Thankless and Constantly Agonising, De-humanising experience it has been! When you join “The System” you relinquish your right to any privacy. The Data Protection Act does not apply to you – unless it is used against you...
She had to attend for a medical last year. Although the day was tiring and quite difficult – we were not overly concerned. Wasn’t a Dr involved? Didn’t they know (from the ESA50 form) just how difficult her condition was?
To cut it short, now. The “Dr” said (amongst other things) that... “She was fully mobile with full strength of joints. She had 20/20 vision without glasses. She spent her days watching daytime tv or soaps. When she wasn’t lounging on the couch, she sat at a PC on ‘facebook’ etc., or telephoned friends to chatter. She cooked for herself. She could carry drinks. She picked up a pound coin. She could bend and reach. She could write comfortably...etc, etc!” All Lies! He also said our young children were independent adults! However, would you believe this ‘Professional Liar’ has been believed? - Despite us involving Solicitors, Consultants and GP reports – All paid for via Legal Aid (!). Incidentally, although he has implied she is not too bad – he still said she would not be fit to work for 12 months!?!?
We have lost everything! Money, friends, prestige and now hope. We do not qualify for Carers Allowance. We do not qualify for DLA. We now have no car (tho’ she retains her blue badge) – so she is trapped within the house (complete with claustrophobia)! As we cannot employ even a part time carer – I am trapped here with her.
Sorry, but I don’t want this prison sentence. I don’t want to give up my own right to live or work – especially when un-recognised and unsupported.
Her next Medical is now due to take place. I dread it. I have been told that I cannot be given the name of the doctor in advance. I cannot arrange for the interview to be recorded – unless the Dr agrees on the day AND I pay for an ‘independent company’ to carry out the recording – AND I give them (Dr) the tape BEFORE leaving the examination centre!!! George Orwell must have been a psychic – for it is surely 1984?
I do love my wife. She needs me. My children need me. But, if I stay with them, the strain of being a 24/7 carer will kill me – and with me here, she will never receive the state help that she needs. And when she is declared “fit for work”, we will be finished anyway...

Posted by: James at November 5, 2010 12:42 AM

I rather object to the phrase "trying it on". As the previous (heartbreaking) comment illustrates, some people who should clearly be in receipt of benefit are denied it.



Around 8,000 people a month currently lodge an appeal against an Employmebt Support Allowance (ESA) decision and, according to Tribunal Service statistics, about 40% of those people - over 3,000 - will win their appeal and be awarded ESA.



Of course some people try it on, but some people are being very badly let down by the system.

Posted by: RichieRich at November 8, 2010 10:40 AM