Was meant to go to a PIP assessment with someone this morning.
The assessment was cancelled at the last minute because the assessor called in sick. Guy I was going with has to wait another fortnight now for another assessment appointment. He hasn’t had any DLA or PIP money since April due to one stuff-up after another.
On it goes. Or doesn’t go, I should say. While Brexit and party-political shenanigans suck up headlines, attention and resources, real life for real people who must use public services, benefits and support systems continues to be something of a challenge.
That’s the one reason I never give out contact numbers to the likes of the DWP or on any forms for their third party’s, they have a habit of phoning you on the day with only hours notice saying things like the HP is sick I normally take this to mean they have overbooked and all are turning up confirming by asking if recording equipment is there. Surely they have more than 1 HP in each centre. This happened to me for an ESA assessment in 2010 after I quized the daughter how they got my number when I told her not to put any contact numbers on the form and she admitted she had forgot and just put them on as they asked for them.
Just because they ask doesn’t mean you have to give them a number or a list of hobbies or anything unless they can provide the expert field of medicine the HP is qualified in. Disability Analyst isn’t a recognised qualification as none of the 3 sites that medical personell register too recognise it as a qualification.
It used to be seen as common-sense, even basic humanity, not to leave people without money for basic food and shelter. Now we have a system which has been deliberately created with these spaces, these intervals of time, where there is no money for the claimant.
People apply for Universal Credit, disability benefit, or if they appeal a decision on their claim. Then they are just left to starve for all the system cares.
No money and no great concern as to their fate.
One of the worst parts of all this is the way it just seems to have been accepted by the general public.
‘ The propagandists purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.’ Aldous Huxley
I’m hoping the new political concern about austerity will turn into action at some point. Some point before I die of old age, that is.
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