{"id":1372,"date":"2012-06-13T11:58:23","date_gmt":"2012-06-13T10:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2012-06-13T12:06:02","modified_gmt":"2012-06-13T11:06:02","slug":"how-it-is-in-the-uk-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/06\/13\/how-it-is-in-the-uk-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"How it is in the UK right now"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am republishing here the newsletter from the benefits and work community<\/strong> to help give it a wider airing.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

12 June Newsletter<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00c2\u00a33.50 OFF AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION – ENDS MIDNIGHT THURSDAY
\nIf you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community<\/a> (Open access) before midnight on Thursday and you can get \u00c2\u00a33.50 off the cost of your annual subscription.\u00c2\u00a0 Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay via PayPal:<\/p>\n

99864<\/p>\n

to get an annual subscription for \u00c2\u00a315.95, down from \u00c2\u00a319.45<\/p>\n

Find out how to subscribe now<\/a>. (Open access)<\/p>\n

14 heart attacks and failing kidneys \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll soon be fit for work<\/strong><\/p>\n

How sick do you need to be before the DWP will admit that you are probably never going to work again?<\/p>\n

Very sick indeed if your kidneys are failing, as two recent decisions show with brutal clarity.<\/p>\n

Paul Mickleburgh, one of the world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s longest surviving kidney dialysis patients is hooked up to a dialysis machine for five hours, three days a week.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also had cancer and pneumonia and\u00c2\u00a0 suffers from spontaneous internal bleeding, brittle bones a twisted bowel and agonising joint pains as a result of his renal treatment.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s had four failed kidney donations.<\/p>\n

To top it all off, Paul has had 14 heart attacks in the last five years and believes his last attack was caused in part by the stress of trying to deal with the DWP.\u00c2\u00a0 Sadly, patients with chronic kidney disease are actually more likely to die from associated heart disease than from kidney failure itself.<\/p>\n

In spite of this, Paul has been placed in the work-related activity group<\/a>,(external link) meaning that he is someone who is expected to return to the workplace in the reasonably near future.\u00c2\u00a0 Paul\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s request for this dreadful decision to be looked at again came back with the same result \u00e2\u20ac\u201c he should be moving towards a return to work.<\/p>\n

We hope that Paul is now appealing . . . and that his heart will stand the stress.<\/p>\n

More desperate still is the story of Karen Sherlock, a disability activist connected to the Spartacus campaign, whose kidneys were failing and who was waiting to be put on dialysis.\u00c2\u00a0 In spite of her very serious condition, Karen was placed in the work-related activity group, meaning that her benefit would soon stop altogether because of the time limit on contribution-based ESA.<\/p>\n

Karen spent many months fighting that decision.\u00c2\u00a0 Two weeks ago she finally won her exhausting battle with the DWP and was placed in the support group.<\/p>\n

This week she died of a heart attack.<\/p>\n

According to a fellow campaigner<\/a> (external link):<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153She was terrified. Beside herself with fear. She lived her last months desperately scared that her family would not survive the onslaught it faced.\u00c2\u00a0 . . . The system failed her and she spent her last precious moments in this world fighting. For herself, for her family and for others.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153She was one of us. She was Spartacus. And now she’s dead and she died in fear because the system failed her, because cruel men refused to listen and powerful men refused to act.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153She spent her last months fighting for the “security” of \u00c2\u00a396 a week and the reassurance that it couldn’t be taken away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Last month, in a speech to Work Programme providers at the\u00c2\u00a0 Institute of Economic Affairs<\/a> (external link), Chris Grayling the Employment minister explained why the Work Programme is not making the profits for the private sector that had been hoped for.\u00c2\u00a0 His explanation as to why the much prized incapacity benefit to ESA transfer claimants \u00e2\u20ac\u201c for whom providers get paid \u00c2\u00a314,000 when they place them in work \u00e2\u20ac\u201c are in short supply, touches directly on the fate of Karen Sherlock and others like her:<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We have more people fit for work, and moving to JSA. We have more people needing long term unconditional support than expected. And those in the middle [work-related activity] group, who would expect before too long to be mandated to the Work Programme, have proved to be sicker and further from the workplace than we expected. So it will take far more time than we predicted for them to be ready to make a return to work.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

In other words, providers will have to be patient, but eventually those \u00c2\u00a314,000 a time claimants will be handed over to them . . .\u00c2\u00a0 unless, like Karen Sherlock and an increasing number of other seriously sick people, they die before the bounty can be claimed.<\/p>\n

FREELANCE WELFARE RIGHTS WORKERS<\/strong>
\nCombined with an increasingly brutal benefits regime are cuts in funding to the very agencies who can help claimants fight the worst of these decisions.<\/p>\n

In May of this year, the Legal Aid Bill became law. This means that legal aid for most welfare rights, housing, employment and debt issues will be withdrawn completely next year, causing a huge cut in the income of many advice agencies and law centres.<\/p>\n

Coupled with ongoing cuts in support to the voluntary sector from local authorities, this means there will be a dramatic fall in the availability of free advice \u00e2\u20ac\u201c or indeed advice of any kind – and a considerable increase in the number of advisors who are out of work or working only part-time.<\/p>\n

Last October we asked Benefits and Work newsletter readers what they thought of the idea of a website where freelance welfare rights workers could advertise their services.\u00c2\u00a0 The response was overwhelmingly positive, but with concerns regarding such things as cost, privacy and the reliability and genuineness of advisors.<\/p>\n

After much thought, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve now set up a website to take the idea of a freelance service forward.\u00c2\u00a0 At the heart of the new site is an Advisors Code of Conduct which we hope will deal with many of the concerns you expressed.<\/p>\n

We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be very grateful if you could take the time to take a look at the Code and let us know your thoughts, by commenting on the Help and Advice Plus blog<\/a> (external link).<\/p>\n

If we do decide to begin the service there will be no charge for at least six months to advisors who use it, whilst we pilot it.<\/p>\n

OTHER NEWS<\/strong>
\nAs always, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much more news in the members area<\/a> than we have room for in this newsletter, including:<\/p>\n

A protest by disabled workers and a horse outside the offices of Disability Rights UK<\/a><\/p>\n

GPs at the British Medical Association unanimously call for the work capability assessment to be scrapped
\n<\/a>
\nMany thanks to everyone who has sent in news stories over the last fortnight, including: Beverley Hymers, John Pring, Jim Allison, papasmurf, Crazydiamond.<\/p>\n

GUIDE UPDATED<\/strong>
\nFollowing new guidance on the use of aids and appliances in relation to the work capability assessment, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve updated our guide to claiming ESA on physical health grounds.\u00c2\u00a0 We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re also currently working on updating the guides to claiming DLA for children, following the national roll-out of new claim packs.
\n
\nGOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUM \u00e2\u20ac\u201c OPEN ACCESS LINKS<\/strong>
\nFinally, as always,\u00c2\u00a0 a selection of good news from the forum:<\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group with no medical assessment<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks to the great information on this wonderful site i was automatically placed in support group and no medical\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em>
\n
\nDLA middle rate care and low rate mobility and ESA Support Group <\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you all once again the guides were priceless in my case\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Migrated from IS to ESA Support Group without medical assessment<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you all at benefits and work for the excellent guides\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

DLA success, high rate mobility and middle rate care <\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Many thanks B&W, well worth the subscription\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group and not called for medical assessment
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153just wanted to say thank you to this site & the online guides\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\n<\/a>
\nSon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s DLA successfully renewed after reaching age 16<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Have used your fabulous guides and my son’s DLA has been renewed for post 16\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

From IB to ESA Support Group for 3 years<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I cannot thank your website enough, I studied your information guides and know that this would not have happened without your help\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Moved from IS to ESA Support Group without medical assessment
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I just wanted to say thanks for the helpful guides you offer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/a><\/p>\n

Indefinite award of high rate mobility and middle rate care DLA on renewal<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just proves your guides really do work as all I did was follow the guide to the letter\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Transferred from IB to ESA Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks Benefits and Work\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group for 2 years<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you to benefits and work for helping me word the form in the correct way\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

After 3 years of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hard struggle\u00e2\u20ac\u009d placed in ESA Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153a big thank you to you all for your help and advice\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

0 points to Support Group on revision<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I am a bit disappointed if I am honest as I wanted to be in the WRAG group.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Successful DLA claim for high rate mobility<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I couldn’t have done it without using your guide to claiming DLA. I can’t thank you enough!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter on your blog, website, forum or newsletter provided it is properly attributed to www.benefitsandwork.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

You can also read this newsletter online<\/a>. (Open access).<\/p>\n

Good luck,<\/p>\n

Steve Donnison<\/p>\n

Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
\nCompany registration No.\u00c2\u00a0 5962666<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am republishing here the newsletter from the benefits and work community to help give it a wider airing. 12 June Newsletter \u00c2\u00a33.50 OFF AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION – ENDS MIDNIGHT THURSDAY If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community (Open access) before midnight on Thursday and you can get \u00c2\u00a33.50 off … Continue reading How it is in the UK right now<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[22,33,1],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-1372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bipolar","category-disabilty-and-health-news","category-whatever","tag-disabilty"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6NRDR-m8","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1429,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/10\/03\/benefits-and-work-community-october-2nd-news-letter\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":0},"title":"Benefits and Work community October 2nd news letter","author":"diana Stone","date":"October 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"2 October Newsletter Benefits May Stop For Claimants Who Appeal Plus New 3 Year Sanctions In this edition we have confirmation that the DWP is actively considering axeing employment and support allowance (ESA) payments for claimants who challenge a decision that they are fit for work.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, claimants will have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "disabilty and health news"","block_context":{"text":"disabilty and health news","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/musings\/disabilty-and-health-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1399,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/09\/02\/whats-wrong-with-this-picture\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":1},"title":"Whats wrong with this picture","author":"diana Stone","date":"September 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"OK kiddies, please watch this video and feel free to draw your own conclusions. Clearly the system is broken, the point is who broke it? If you find this video disturbing and I find this profoundly disturbing myself , then ask yourself the question how have we sunk so low.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "disabilty and health news"","block_context":{"text":"disabilty and health news","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/musings\/disabilty-and-health-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":100564,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2017\/12\/05\/it-is-two-and-a-half-minutes-to-midnight\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":2},"title":"It is two and a half minutes to midnight","author":"diana Stone","date":"December 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"What will 2018 bring? For the last two years, the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock stayed set at three minutes before the hour, the closest it had been to midnight since the early 1980s. In its two most recent annual announcements on the Clock, the Science and Security Board\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Musings"","block_context":{"text":"Musings","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/musings\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1454,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/11\/10\/the-reality-of-austerity-disability-roulette\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":3},"title":"The reality of austerity Disability Roulette","author":"diana Stone","date":"November 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I am re-posting this from a blog by Sue Marsh as I feel it deserves the widest possible audience. Follow her on twitter here \u00a0https:\/\/twitter.com\/@suey2y Read her blog on the link below http:\/\/diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk\/2012\/11\/disability-roulette.html Disability Roulette \u00c2\u00a0Imagine you work for a big national company. They don't pay very much and you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "disabilty and health news"","block_context":{"text":"disabilty and health news","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/musings\/disabilty-and-health-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":174923,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2021\/05\/02\/mayday-mayday\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":4},"title":"Mayday Mayday","author":"diana Stone","date":"May 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Diana Stones Glasscage \u00b7 Face Behind Glass Love is the answer, maybe?\u00a0 Or perhaps not. Another month begins and it\u00a0 is time to attempt the annual reboot. So I have placed an ad for musical collaborators again. I don'y honestly think I will get too much of a response if\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Delta Ladies"","block_context":{"text":"Delta Ladies","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/delta-ladies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":175617,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2022\/12\/11\/warm-spaces-in-the-bedford-area\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":5},"title":"Warm Spaces In the Bedford Area","author":"diana Stone","date":"December 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Whilst is cold if you are in the Bedford and Great Denham area here are a few places you can keep warm at: https:\/\/www.bedford.gov.uk\/...\/your-local-library-opening... 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