I started back to work on a permitted work scheme, which is for those of us who have been on long term sick but are looking to get back to work. It means you can work no more than 15hrs and still receive incapacity benefit.
I arranged a back to work programme with my employer, I have been working 3 mornings, I have had to change departments because i could not manage my old job.My employer has been very understanding.
I contacted the working tax credit office to inform them that my hours have reduced, they informed me I was no longer entitled to claim,so they stopped my money (£2350 per year)!
I tried to enquire which other benefit I was entitled to but was told because I was working(!) and claiming incapacity benefit I wasn't entitled to anything else!!
I then received a letter on Friday informing me they have STOPPED my incapacity benefit, because they say I am fit to work!!!
SO IN TOTAL THEY HAVE STOPPED £132 PER WEEK-JUST LIKE THAT,NO WARNING!

I have always wanted to get back to work,its not that I don't want to work, its just at the moment I am not able to work full time.
What I can't understand is why I had more benefit when I was working more hours, and then loose everything when I drop my hours???It doesn't make sense.
My doctors are absolutly furious and have written letters for my appeal. I had to see my GP today because I am so down and can't sleep. He has now signed me off work indefinately.
I just feel as though I am being penalised for being ill,as if I haven't been through enough, I now have the worry and stress of how I look after my family and keep a roof over our heads

Any advice greatly appreciated

Tracey

Dear Tracey I just want to be with you to give you a hug. I can't advise you as I know nothing about the system but I seem to think Paul is a bit of an authority on benefits as he works, or used to work, in this area. Maybe a private email to him might help. I'm sure someone will reply with some assistance for you. It does seem a crazy system that penalises someone who is willing to work. If your doctor has put you back on the sick then maybe you can get benefits reinstated. I hope something happens quickly to ease you of this added stress. You have been through enough and come fighting back like the star that you are. Don't let the b******s grind you down! Much love B x

Hi Tracy, I think Paul knows all about this issue; I am self employed so I just couldn't work and had to use savings; so stick up for your rights.

Hi Tracey, sorry to hear about your working problems, it is bloody outrageous.
I work for the NHS and if I'm off sick I get paid but if I go to work reduced hours - which I am having to do like you cos I can't work full time - I have to take those hours as annual leave! So if I work 3 half days I lose 3 half days annual leave. If I go sick I get paid for the 3 days and do not lose any holiday! This is the NHS 'return to work' policy for people who have been off sick for a long time!
The world is cazy!

Hey, as a self employed person, I have had to scrap my way through whilst I was really ill, despite having a visit from some doc, as I could walk up stairs and get in and out of bed, he thought I was O.K. but for six months unable to drive or go shopping, had to rely on neighbours getting stuff and various friends who came to look after me when I cound't even make the end of the street. do not understand the system

Thanks for your replies!
The system is all wrong, it seems to pander to the people who have no intention of working and give them every benefit thats going and then decent hard working folk who want to work get kicked in the teeth at every turn!
I am so furious about this, why should I be treated like this when I have been seriously ill and all i want to do is get back to some kind of normality?
The crazy thing is I would probably be better off not working!!

I'll keep you informed
Tracey

Hi Tracy, yes life is very unfair and I think we need a revolution in this country !
I have a school friend who has very severe M.S. she lives in Shropshire, so has to have round the clock care, as she cannot move a limb, bed hoist etc, she has had a private operation to save her leg, £20,000, the NHS offered only amputation, her father left her a house, she has sold for £240,00, £30,750 of that goes to Gordon Brown.

Yet when I was in hospital, I met a woamn from the french west Indies, she could hardly speak a word of English, getting free housing, care etc etc in Westminster if you please.

I know another person, whose fully equiped disabled flat in Kensington funded by rate payers of that borough, he has sub let lives in South Africa, to people who own two houses and are getting high rents in central London.

If you cheat you get away, if your honest you get taxed and treated like a criminal ?

Comments please.

My Friend with M.S. is paying out roughly £750 to £800 per week for her own care; yet people who have never worked hard, get all found, it's very unfair, what does she do when the cash runs out?

You are so right Garance, its the honest ones that get all the c**p.
My consultant said these very words to me "the problem is youre too honest and don't know how to work the system" How true, if I had lied I would have been ok.
Then you see these people coming into our country and getting handed everything, I only want to work and keep a roof over our heads is that so wrong??

Tracey

My Father gave my son two ISA's as he is blind and very disabled, and cannot have much in savings, within 10days I had a letter from the Inland revenue for me to declare what he had in savings; so really your better of is you don't have a pot to piss in; than if you have been thrifty and honest.

Hi! Just had to jump in when I saw the comment about a revolution because I was just thinking the same thing a few days ago while I was walking to work. of course...I was speaking of the US and with Bush as President...who could blame me? Anyway...I have a coworker who had a bad stroke a few years ago and went into a coma..they didn't think he would ever be functional again and he is able to work and wants to work but Dept of Health and Social Services cuts off his health benefits when he works too many hours and they actually told him it would be better worth his time not to bother working at all! The system is all about keeping people down and it works because we are all too tired and beaten to have the energy and drive to organize for the revolution. It sucks!

Hi everybody
Just thought I would bring you up to speed on my fight. I still have had no benefit, my appeal has been sent off along with 3 letters from my consultants and GP, I have had 2 meetings with my employers, the second being today, I had a union rep with me.
I have been signed off work again with stress/depression and also extreme weakness in my left arm.
This worries me!Have any of you had this problem, this is the side I had radiotherapy on and I am finding my arm is getting weaker, I also have pain traveling from my neck down my shoulder. I had started going to aerobics because I thought this would build up my muscle, but doctor says this was too much too soon. I can't win! he has referred my for physio.
Anyway the upshot of the meeting today was I have a line for 4wks,after that I must return to work, or they will start proceedings to pension me off due to ill health the thing is the way my arm is at the moment I couldn't do my job, and if I have to go to physio (i understand this can be painful)I don't think I will be able in 4 wks.

best wishes
Tracey

Hello Tracey,
Two neck dissections - you have my sympathy - I only had one RHS all lymph nodes plus a lump of neck muscle. If you had the neck muscles took out two you will have really suffered. - Hospital physios are good. - Give you exercises with elastic bands.
Due to nerve damage I had a lot of referred pain in my right arm bicep and elbow joint. I really thought the cancer had travelled and was in there - it wasn't of course - but the mind plays such tricks on you.
Depression please use an SRI anti depressant drug - it tales 4 to 8 weeks to kick in but they do lift the mood and help stop you thinking so negatively.They DO help you cope with not much in the way of side effects that I've noticed.
The surgery and radiotherapy causes havoc to the nerves in the neck region and the symptoms can be felt along the arm and even down the spine to the leg nerves. I still suffer a LOAD of side effects one year on. I am applying for an ill health retirement.
Good luck to you - keep in touch - Tony

Hi
Just to let you all know...I lost my appeal against the DWP stopping my incapacity benefit
I am not leaving it there though....I am taking them to a tribunial with my doctors' support.I am so disgusted at this system, how can someone sitting in an office, who hasn't even spoken to me know what I am going through or been through???
I went back to work on a reduced hours programme. I managed this for 3months, this in turn put pressure on my left in arm, which now is very weak and I have no strength in it.My doctor again signed me off work and I have now started physio.

I HAVE NOW TAKEN MY STORY TO THE NATIONAL PAPERS AS I AM DISGUSTED IN THE TREATMENT I HAVE RECEIVED SINCE THE START OF MY ILLNESS. ALL I WANT IS WHAT I AM ENTITLED TO! I AM NOT TRYING TO SCREW THE 'SYSTEM' I WANT TO WORK!
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE ACCESS TO IT. THE STORY WILL BE IN:
THE DAILY RECORD ON MONDAY
PS FEEL FREE TO CALL THEM AND SUPPORT ME AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME POSITION.

BEST WISHES

TRACEY

It makes me thoroughly sick that decent people like yourself get shat on by the system and "professional benefit claimants" are allowed to milk the system.

Grrrrrrrrrrr! I shall be buying the Record and give my support.
Good luck to you Tracey.

Tony