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My DWP experience
scraggs
Member Posts: 38 Connected
Hi there I have secondary progressive ms I've was on incapacity benefit up until 2011 then I was changed to ESA contribution support group have been sent two capability forms over this time no ftf however the DWP recently sent me another capability form and I was scheduled for a ftf interview this was cancelled day before and another date set for two weeks (ftf was Wednesday 26 sept) I was contacted day before if I could go earlier as they wasn't busy ?
I could not possibly go so kept to my appt the next day . however the address on the appt letter was no longer used and had not been used since last DEC! I was then contacted by the disability assessment dept saying hello you have an appt at 1-45 where are you? My husband and I was totally lost she then said you are in wrong place ? We are next to the job centre!!!!
Eventually we arrived and entered the building I asked if there was any toilets as due to my ms I have to go frequently :-( I was told no toilets withing this building??? It clearly states that it is a assessment centre for disabilities so why no toilet she told me if I needed a toilet I would have to walk to job centre and use there toilets ! This was too far for me to struggle to get to so I sat there dying to use a toilet but could not ! There was a chair in the waiting area with a price of paper stuck to it stating not to sit on it as it had been urinated on !! I was left to wait 25 mins for my assessment to begin because they told me they was waiting for a specialist Dr to see me due to me having ms however I was called in after approx 30 mins and my husband asked what the young girl was qualified in ( only about 20 yes old ) he said are you qualified in ms she said no I am a physio therapist !!!!!! I had no medical as I thought I would I was asked when did I last work!!!? I brought up 3 children and unfortunately I get diagnosed with a serious condition !
The questions where not relevant to my illness just questions to get me out to work which is impossible ! How can they get a physio that knows nothing of my illness to sum up if I'm fit for work in 2o mins and override all the qualifications and expertise of a neurologist ? I was humiliated discriminated against I didn't feel human at all and after all this ordeal I have to wait for another few weeks to wait for them to decide my fate !!! I feel sorry for anyone that has to endure this stress and humiliation and degrading process :-(
I'm totally disgusted that the DWP are not only degrading I'll people they have no compassion not bothered if your stressed out and illness made worse by the whole process I'm not sure if I have any strength or fight left in me to challenge them if I'm found fit for work :-( sorry for the long message :-( but I feel disgusted by the whole process .
I could not possibly go so kept to my appt the next day . however the address on the appt letter was no longer used and had not been used since last DEC! I was then contacted by the disability assessment dept saying hello you have an appt at 1-45 where are you? My husband and I was totally lost she then said you are in wrong place ? We are next to the job centre!!!!
Eventually we arrived and entered the building I asked if there was any toilets as due to my ms I have to go frequently :-( I was told no toilets withing this building??? It clearly states that it is a assessment centre for disabilities so why no toilet she told me if I needed a toilet I would have to walk to job centre and use there toilets ! This was too far for me to struggle to get to so I sat there dying to use a toilet but could not ! There was a chair in the waiting area with a price of paper stuck to it stating not to sit on it as it had been urinated on !! I was left to wait 25 mins for my assessment to begin because they told me they was waiting for a specialist Dr to see me due to me having ms however I was called in after approx 30 mins and my husband asked what the young girl was qualified in ( only about 20 yes old ) he said are you qualified in ms she said no I am a physio therapist !!!!!! I had no medical as I thought I would I was asked when did I last work!!!? I brought up 3 children and unfortunately I get diagnosed with a serious condition !
The questions where not relevant to my illness just questions to get me out to work which is impossible ! How can they get a physio that knows nothing of my illness to sum up if I'm fit for work in 2o mins and override all the qualifications and expertise of a neurologist ? I was humiliated discriminated against I didn't feel human at all and after all this ordeal I have to wait for another few weeks to wait for them to decide my fate !!! I feel sorry for anyone that has to endure this stress and humiliation and degrading process :-(
I'm totally disgusted that the DWP are not only degrading I'll people they have no compassion not bothered if your stressed out and illness made worse by the whole process I'm not sure if I have any strength or fight left in me to challenge them if I'm found fit for work :-( sorry for the long message :-( but I feel disgusted by the whole process .
Replies
It's a functional assessment so they don't need to know about your conditions just the consequences of them. The benefits is paid on the basis of your capability for any work. Thus the questions related directly to those you were asked in the ESA 50 questionnaire and the points you could score in the regulations.
The rest of your experience was unacceptable and worthy of complaint, especially about the use of the venue.
2) Few medical appointments run to time. I trust you complain publicly about all of those too?
3) When you last work is absolutely relevant to where you might be in any recovery, treatment etc. and which group you get placed in.
4) Where you live is completely irrelevant to how and whether you can manage stairs.
5) You can request a copy of the report at any time and make a complaint at any time. However, whilst I appreciate that DWP action may have cost you your own you cannot let that colour your view of this process. They are entirely separate.