Bleak Christmas after benefits removed.

Jima1 wrote:

A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND car crash victim who was stripped of his benefits after being told he is fit to work faced a bleak Christmas.

Severely disabled Simon Powell, who requires round-the-clock care, had his benefits taken away after an assessment by a doctor on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Mail reported last month that despite being wheelchair-bound,
unable to stand unaided and needing help to the toilet, Simon, 45, and his partner and carer, Val Bolan, 51, were to miss out on their desperately-needed £120-a-week Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Since the article appeared, Simon, who is also unable to wash and dress himself, has suffered a further setback as he has recently been in hospital suffering from a stomach ulcer, which he believes could have been brought on by all the stress from his money woes.

Full story

Is this a sign of thinks to come ?

Hi All,

As CD says the report raises more questions than answers.

I've e-mailed the reporter who wrote the article and gave her my phone number so I can discuss the full facts of the case, including what appears to be a previous article written earlier.

My concern, as a wheelchair user myself, is that this guy's DLA care and mobility components have been removed altogether.

As I'm sure CD can confirm, this appears to be that the claimant has either been reported anonymously to the DLA Unit or has had his DLA removed under a review under the Right Payment Programme.

IF I can get sufficient information, I may help this guy with an appeal. I cannot travel to Hartlepool, but subject to receiving his case papers, I would be prepared to write up an appeal submission, if I get all the full facts.

However, please note this is a ' one off' offer, and I cannot offer help to all members who have lodged DLA appeals, or are waiting for them to be heard.

Jim

I think that helping in cases that are high-profile can help others, because they are more likely to be reported on if an appeal is successful, thus prompting others to appeal decisions that they think are wrong.

Jima1 wrote:

Jima1 wrote:

A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND car crash victim who was stripped of his benefits after being told he is fit to work faced a bleak Christmas.

Severely disabled Simon Powell, who requires round-the-clock care, had his benefits taken away after an assessment by a doctor on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Mail reported last month that despite being wheelchair-bound,
unable to stand unaided and needing help to the toilet, Simon, 45, and his partner and carer, Val Bolan, 51, were to miss out on their desperately-needed £120-a-week Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Since the article appeared, Simon, who is also unable to wash and dress himself, has suffered a further setback as he has recently been in hospital suffering from a stomach ulcer, which he believes could have been brought on by all the stress from his money woes.

Full story

Is this a sign of thinks to come ?

Hi All,

As CD says the report raises more questions than answers.

I've e-mailed the reporter who wrote the article and gave her my phone number so I can discuss the full facts of the case, including what appears to be a previous article written earlier.

My concern, as a wheelchair user myself, is that this guy's DLA care and mobility components have been removed altogether.

As I'm sure CD can confirm, this appears to be that the claimant has either been reported anonymously to the DLA Unit or has had his DLA removed under a review under the Right Payment Programme.

IF I can get sufficient information, I may help this guy with an appeal. I cannot travel to Hartlepool, but subject to receiving his case papers, I would be prepared to write up an appeal submission, if I get all the full facts.

However, please note this is a ' one off' offer, and I cannot offer help to all members who have lodged DLA appeals, or are waiting for them to be heard.

Jim

Nice of you to offer to help, the other thing of course that could happen that when you have all the facts you might find he has no case. The one one problem with newspapers and forums is we only get one side of the story.

Absolutely !

Jim

Simon Powell losing DLA ?? Is this a result of the shake up in claimants or a natural progression for his case ? We have all read shocking cases in the media of people losing one benefit or another ,now dont get me wrong mistakes will always be made ,and genuine claimants will be denied payments for allsorts of reasons .However is there a clear case to be found that people are losing Benefits ,under whichever title these come under ,at a greater number than is usual under normal circumstances ie Before ESA reared its ugly head ??

Are there actual numbers that show the rate at which this is happening .I have read %20 %25 %12 %17 of claimants will have to be reassed as fit for some sort of work .DLA must be pared down by 10 20 30% starting in 2014 all these numbers and percentages are people who have been declared sick by a doctor at some time in the past.Now another doctor says (As i understand it )No your OK get yourself back to work .I wont go into the amount of stress and upset this will cause as everyone will cope in different ways ,some badly ,some not as severe .But lets not forget all these people are ill in one way or another .Would it not be possible to reapply for sickness ,DLA ,AA .I know that it will not be as easy (IF IT EVER WAS )as it sounds and the qualifiers and conditions have been stiffened up rather a lot,but what is the alternative if you are sick and cannot manage working .
The more that is in the media the more INFO-DISINFO mation we are getting ,what is factual and what is not?
You cannot be CURED and declared fit by sitting in on a not very intensive examination answering questions ,unless its with the magic of Atos. The magic doctor gives his opinion as do all Doctors ,none of which are infallible and SHAZAM! another one fit for work .

So are people being slung off even though it is apparent that they are not well,moreso than is usual?Do any figures exist ? Who actually knows the full picture .Is this a half empty /full glass.Just facts would be nice not doom and gloom .If its more or less right we are going to hell in a handcart ,now is the time to prepare not wailing and gnashing of teeth THERE MUST SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE !