Today is the day where LCWRA is almost halved for most new claimants

People waiting ages for NHS treatment and they are too unwell to work in the meantime. Also, Covid had a long-term effect on literally hundreds of thousands of people. I personally know two people with Long Covid. One's health destroyed, unable to work at all. The other one halved their working hours, ditched all their hobbies and social activities and is still severely struggling. I wouldn't be surprised if their health deteriorates further and they end up on benefits.

You can't just "choose" LCWRA. There's an assessment process, and the DWP decides based on evidence whether you'll get it.

Some people seem to think that they are the only genuinely disabled and everyone else is just playing the system. The media is happy to report about the odd fraudulent claim, but they rarely mention the thousands who don't get support when they should, or those who struggle to live on the pittance that is Universal Credit. And it's not like there's an abundance of jobs out there and you just has to pick one. Even able-bodied people with tons of experience apply for hundreds of jobs to hear back nothing. Of course people get depressed, anxious and develop mental health issues.

I agree with you but from what im reading it has to be so progressive with no good days saying same for ms parkinsons as well but i hope im wrong

There were estimated to be c 1.9 million people with Long Covid in 2023 with 1.3m having had symptoms for over one year and 762,000 symptoms for over two years (figures from the House of Commons Library: Coronavirus). c 2.6% of the population in England.

In March 2024 the government said they'd invested £314 million in Long Covid services with over a 100 specialist LC centres. I don't know how many of these still exist; I suspect not many.

From personal experience my referral to LC clinic took 3 years and only lasted a year as it was then closed, as many have, in March 2024. Many charities, patients and healthcare professionals have called for greater awareness and investment as there is still difficulty in accessing appropriate medical tests etc.etc. It took nearly four years for me to have the appropriate scans and is hardly surprising, to me, that the lack of early diagnose(s) and treatment led to 30+ diagnoses resulting in organ failure.

What is surprising what I learned in January (Centre for Social Justice) was that there were 700,000 graduates in receipt of benefits with 240,000 on sickness benefits - this was double that of 2019. I am not suggesting this relates to Covid, I do not know/haven't interrogated the figures etc.

I've wondered if appropriate care and interventions had been available to me, timely, would I have been 'fixed' (can't think of the word ha ha) and been able to have returned to work for the next seven years. Who knows, that is not something I concern myself with now. But very short sighted and no wonder the benefits Bill is so high. I feel very much for the younger ones especially, it feels like a lost generation. I was also at the mercy of many doctors strikes and here we go again with that. So basically, yes, Long Covid very much exists.

Anyone with LC may already know that the charities Long Covid SOS; Long Covid Support and The ME Association are particularly valuable. If anyone was a healthcare professional as I was you can also apply to the Industrial Injuries Benefit, I've not bothered but it can be worth considering.

Correct in fact goverments rely on this mindset to push the agendas

You will never find me playing down the devastating effects of Long Covid, but it just staggers me, all these young people wasting their lives on benefits.

They are everywhere, I have one here, came out in his dressing gown to bring in the bin at nearly 16:00 the other day, whilst parent works 3 jobs.

I hear him during the night, shouting at his computer games, then stay in bed until nearly tea time. A tragic waste of opportunity. I am told by parent that he has adhd, like that excuses doing nothing at all. What will become of these 'kidults' in 10+ years time?

Its very likely under diagnosed, I had to fight my GP surgery for 6 months to get a autism referral (they were doing everything they could, losing forms, making me do them again and again, sending me on wild goose chases, and even had a GP laugh at me over the phone), I eventually got a phone call from the autism place advising me of the next steps, and the conversation was quite interesting, they told me they have been having problems with GPs lying to patients to prevent referrals, lying about waiting times and other stuff, there seems to be active decision making to artificially cut down mental health investigations.

The real problem is there is no effective treatment, the NHS is on its knees, and stuff like this has no proper treatment and support for people, and this is why there is larger amounts of social exclusion.

I rang the mental health option 2 on the NHS a couple of months back with severe issues (not ADHD), and at the end of 40 minute of questioning they simply advised anti depression tablets. I did a bit of research, and found its official NHS guidance to only take preventative action on these calls if it prevents a hospital visit (money based decision). Sadly its all about economical outcomes now.

You may or may not also be aware that SEND support for children is about to be cut back significantly, this is another decision that will have consequences, all the affected children will as a result have a harder time in their adult lives, not just during school, as these things have a domino effect.

Yeah life was easier back then compared to now and you could walk out of job into another the same day this is niggling at me big time sitting at home doing nothing you was lucky you had parents to guide you alot of young people dont so do you find ot more suitable of a young person in a wheelchair doesnt work is that acceptable but its not if the person has mental health thier lazy lay abouts ??