Hi!

I would like to share my experience of Benefits with you all!

I am a self employed Newsagent, my husband works 7 days a week. We a family business and employ 25 delivery staff and 3 part time (all family members) staff. In July my daughter and her boyfriend decided to help me by doing my shifts (6am - 12pm Mon - Fri). It was bliss! I could stay at home for a while and re-charge and get my meds etc sorted out before September came and I had to return to work. NOPE - WRONG.

In September 2011 I contacted the Direct.gov website for information on benefits available to me. I am unable to work because I am in constant pain and my flares seem to be up rather than down. No pain meds helped and MTX wasn't working. I completed the questionnaire on the telephone with a lovely lady (she asked the questions in a sympathetic way and apologised for the questions but it was the same questionnaire for everyone) I had already downloaded the form so I knew what to expect. She said I would be contacted with a decision. Sure enough I received a letter which stated that I wasn't eligible for any benefit as I hadn't paid enough into the NI fund! I was upset, stress levels up - flare imminent! I'd worked for 25 years and for the last 5 years since owning the shop I had paid double because I was self employed and employed as a PA for a Civil Engineering company. I rang them back querying my decision. They agreed that it was a "mistake" and I would receive benefits. Phew!!! Everything is ok! Except for a flare!

I received my ESA and I was able to stay at home. I received a letter from ATOS to attend a medical, for those of you who have had a medical you know what goes through your mind - will they think I am someone who just cant be bothered working or am I simply a wimp and the pain isn't that bad etc etc. Stress levels up! flare imminent! On 12th Dec my mum and I went for the medical. The nurse was lovely - she could see that I couldn't bend down to pick something up that I had dropped - well I could, just couldn't get back up again - we laughed about it. After nearly an hour of questions (most of which were repeated from the form) we left. I'm happy to report that I passed the medical and have been placed in the Work Support Group.

I went on Tuesday for my appointment at the Job Centre with an adviser. This adviser said to me - and I quote "my father has RA and was diagnosed when he was 17, he's self employed - he owns a dredging company and is still working at 79! My sister has RA and Fibromyalgia - just like you and she is still working. I have arthritis and I am working full time!" After those comments I kind of switched off - I couldn't believe that this person sat opposite me was saying all these things to me. I was a HR Manager for 2 years before I had to give up work and was sympathetic towards staff, whatever their problem! - I did not judge them or ridicule them or say "I have RA - just deal with your problem and get back to work"!!!!!

She really upset me, no she didnt, she angered me! I can understand her if she said "people cope in different ways with disabilities and illnesses and I am here to help you get back into work" then start her spiel but she didnt. She also informed me that the government have decided that everyone who is put into the Work Group should be offered a place at an information session about what the work programme can do to help me - offer of work experience for 2 weeks etc! I now have to attend this appointment and then return to her 4 days later to tell her how I feel about it!!! I am self employed and if I had the ability to work I would! But I feel as if I have been thrown into a group with other people who have had back ache for a few months, or pulled a muscle and dont want to return to work because the government is paying them to stay off work, and paying their rent and council tax and for their children to be in nursery or whatever.

To sum up - We are a group of people who have been diagnosed with a medical condition that not a lot of people understand therefore we are being treated disgustingly by the government because there are people in this country who know the benefits system better than those who work in benefits. We are being discriminated against - made to go to appointments that are not necessary but are debilitating to us - it puts so much stress on our bodies and causes us pain, inflammation and fatigue.

I am really sorry that this post is long and I hope this hasn't happened to you, if it has I understand.

Louise xxx

Thanks Rich,

That's what I needed! I didn't think it was her job to make comment on my condition.

I may have to ask for another adviser.

and Yes its the Work Related Activity Group - I got confused again!

Louise

Thanks Julie,

I will put a complaint in. Maybe she was having a bad day and maybe she was trying to let me know there was light at the end of the tunnel, I don't know...

Louise xxx

Hi Hun,

I'm so sorry for you and what u have been through, I know too well what it feels like.

I attended a medical last year with atos, and then like u had an appointment with job centre plus. I was 34 at the time and the advisor was exactly the same to me, because of my age etc..... I was signed off work by my GP and then after that appointment they said that I was not entitled to anything, I have always worked very hard, full time with evening jobs before I got diagnosed.

I then appealed the decision and even though I was going back to work I knew this wrong, it ended up going to the Tribunal and it was a unnanimous decision by all that I should have been entitled to the ESA, at this point i was already back at work but I was glad that I challenged it.

Please let me know how you get on Hun.

Xxxxxx

Hi Louise so sorry you have had to go through all this. The person interviewing you should not have let her personal family experiences come into the interview at all and i am sure she shouldn't have commented about them either. Applying for benefits is stressful enough as it is and we don't deserve to be treated like this.

All the best.

Bevxx

I have sent an email of complaint to the JCP.

I also wanted it noted that "RA is a debilitating disease and unfortunately stress does not help the condition. I fully understand why this process is carried out for people on ESA if they have "back ache" or "a broken leg" as their complaints will get easier with time but for people with RA/Fibromyalgia and other Autoimmune related Diseases there is no 'cure' just strong drugs that leave patients with severe side effects."

It wont do any good but I felt better getting it off my chest! Lets see what happens.

Lxxx

Good for you Louise, i hope they do something about it.

Bevxx

Hi Louise
I had to report to my local job centre full of concern as to what would happen only to be told before I sat down no worry we are not asking you to work. My first thought was why ask me to come in at all!!! . The good news is for everybody do not fear these people as she could not have been more helpful and even said sorry for getting me in the afterthought was if I had another letter from a different office then phone her and she will conduct all of the questions over the phone all in all not to bad.