Upcoming changes to benefits

Sorry you’re feeling this way but I think it just means what it says.. they’re extending your award to gather more information. They won’t cut your money at all. Last year I had same wording sent.. a kind of’hold’ letter. It’s often because they’re experiencing a backlog of claims as well? The key to focus on in’extending your award’.. it’s going to continue until March 2026 for sure. Hope this helps they do send out these extension letters regularly.

That is definately true and terrifying, but I think the one difference is (hopefully) an important one. Stammer is a former lawyer, he will very much want to - at least on the surface - project that he is very much obeying and upholding the law, becuase it's important to his labour branding and an attack line they can use on the Tories constantly (although this is less important with their majority). Yes Stammer will duck and dive and skirt around things - but if (and I really hope they do) charities and organisations take the govt to court (I'm thinking Disabilities At 2010?) it won't look good for Stammer personally since he likes to claim he upholds the law. The only hope is Stammer will want to avoid this. Part of this is about how Strammer wants to be seen. There are things that are important to every leader even tyrants and image is always one. Trump unfortunetely won partly because his lawlessness appeals to certain people. But I do completely see your point and it's a terrifying tread.

I've heard all the stuff about pip but nothing about ESA unless that is lcwra. Does anyone know what is happening with that?

I get pip and esa for my anxiety and depression and am struggling with elderly family that I help look after so I'm not sure what to do.

You are absolutely spot on 💯 %. When I got Covid in Nov 20 I had no temperature regulation it was 38 and 40 degrees for into 3 wks only coming down to 38 after taking round the clock paracetamol, I felt i was cooking and wondered what on earth is this doing to my body, that was when my bowel problems started and a total of 5 different diagnoses, I always forget one or two of them. I've had 36 good days since 17.11.20 no exaggeration it's heartbreaking really. I know people have worse illnesses but this makes me housebound which I've not coped well with and none of my medications work. Or diets, I eat every other day which is pretty miserable but that's more cos of cost but I'm not complaining as I've got my dogs so my choice and I don't want to lose them. They keep me sane or just about on the right side of sane mostly!

There's a research professor at Derby Uni i wrote to in 2023, I emailed him this weekend as it was on the news last week that they've started anti viral drug trials (for Long Covid). He's agreed to put me on their database for possible inclusion next year when they're rolling it out wider. I've wanted that for so long but it's a bit scary prospect too. On the one hand it gives me hope and I think I couldn't be any worse but then on the other hand, it's drugs, I don't know what they are yet, so the risks could be too high. I've at least got time to think about it and hope they have results from the current trial/any adverse effects. And it depends where it takes place as I struggle to get anywhere.

Sorry I do go off on a tangent 🙄😬 i think Liz Kendall is talking at 230pm but can't imagine she's got much to say yet.

I hope you are OK, I love it when I see your posts, I keep saying thank god for Scope it is SO helpful a place to come. My MH issues mostly rears it's ugly head when I have other trauma or what I perceive as trauma, like lost my job, health, my home, my mum, then my next job, my sisters (estranged) in the last 3 yrs. I try to be grateful though, I adore my dogs who are my world and am working on building my courage and resilience. My epitaph will probably say 'she was a work in progress' 🤣 or worse, 'a piece of work' ha ha.