Well, today was a big day! I actually left my home city and went out for the day! Hurrah for steroids! Thought I would make the most of it as I know I won’t have them much longer. But it did make me feel human again for once.
On the downside, the ESA assessment results are in and they have moved me from the support group to the work-related activity group. Which means £100 less a month. Apparently this means that (after a ninety minute chat) they think I am unable to work now but should be able to at some point in the future. Whatever that means. It also means that I will have to attend interviews at the job centre regularly to try to prepare me for the work they agree I am not able to do at the moment. This preparation may include a basic maths or English course or lessons on how to create a CV. I have a PhD - I think I’m capable!!!
Note to self: must tone down sarcasm when I go to see them…
Hey! Nothing like not feeling human for a while to appreciate it when it happens!
ESA - ritual humiliation. I guess you may be able to work at some time in the future but would prefer to prepare for it in your own way? This stuff stinks, sorry to hear that darinfan.
It’s a bizarre situation. Before, I was in the support group - with them having decided two years ago that there was no chance of me working in the future. Which makes you wonder why they feel the need to reassess at a later date given that decision on their part! As for the preparation of work in the future, there’s certainly no doubt that there is a very strange assumption within ESA that anyone on disability benefits is only ever likely to get work at the minimum wage and doing menial tasks. I’m not quite sure how this link came about - and it seems to be a link that is offensive to everyone:
the disabled because it assumes they are not educated;
those who are not highly educated or skilled as it assumes they are more likely to become disabled;
and the highly educated/skilled because it assumes they will never become disabled.
The social security situation seems to have confused itself so much recently. I do hope it gets to be more rational soon. My only advice to you is just perservere with them all. It’s ridiculous to think someone who is disabled also isn’t either intelligent, educated and/or skilled.
Have you tried raising it with your MP? Given it’s election time, he or she might be interested in hearing your story. Just a thought.
Your not talking to humans at those assesments… your just doing a multiple choice test… Which is made by people who assume too much… they forget that humans aren’t average… No one is…
To be honest, I’m less concerned about losing the £100 a month that it adds up to than being forced to to bloomin’ job centre to “prepare” for the work I can’t do. That’s going to be cause me far more stress - and probably work against me getting well. I’ve email the GP this afternoon asking for a letter that outlines my conditions and the problem that they cause. That way, it will be here if I decide to appeal the decision OR I can give it to the job centre so they have on record what they can and cannot expect me to do. It will cost to have the letter done, no doubt, but it will be good ammunition.