| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| nigelsmithson |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 18:10:11
I'm stunned. Due to advanced prostate cancer, I cannot work. I have been receiving Disability Living Allowance (highest rates for care and mobility) and Incapacity Benefit for several years. I have just been reassessed for ESA, which replaces IB, and although eligible (contribution-based, and in the support group), my company pension income has been taken into account to reduce the actual amount payable. This rule did not apply under IB to those on the highest rates of DLA, such as myself, but that rule has apparently been scrapped. The net result of this is that my benefit has reduced by £69.12/week - that's £3594/year. I have no idea how I'm going to cope. |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Yard |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 09:36:33
We have two brothers on our local council both are in their early 20's.
One has never worked and gets photographed regularly by our local paper standing next to a pothole,street sign,dogs mess etc and gets £27K per year for attending council meetings?
First point:
What do both of them know in their early 20's
Second Point:
2 x £27K = £54K straight down the drain = ponces!!
Politics eh?
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| Brigham |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 22:52:53
Ahem, these are the top 10 health insurance companies in the US....
1. UnitedHealth Group - 25
2. WellPoint - 33
3. Aetna - 85
4. Humana - 98
5. Cigna - 141
6. Health Net - 179
7. Coventry Health Care - 266
8. Amerigroup - 555
9. Universal American - 669
10. Centene - 685
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| Captain Bubble |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 17:56:57
Something from another forum:
Further information, just for background.
The method of claims denial and delay, used by the DWP, was imported from the USA. You've probably never heard of them but the largest medical insurance company in the USA is called UNUM. In 2005 they were described by the Insurance Commissioner for California, John Garamendi, as "an outlaw company who have operated in an illegal fashion for many years". He described them as running "claims denial factories". UNUM used to run a scheme called "The Hungry Vulture", wherein claims handlers were paid bonuses for delaying or frustrating legitimate claims. UNUM have been fined many millions of dollars in the US and have been ordered to re-open thousands of previously denied claims.
The previous Chief Medical Officer at the DWP was Professor Sir Mansel Aylward. He is personally responsible for the introduction of these doubtful methods into the DWP. He has been closely asssociated with UNUM for many years and currently heads up the UNUM School of BioPsychoSocial Science at Cardiff Medical School. A Google search will show that this BioPsychoSocial Science is a relatively new psycho-babble that seems to regard the disabled as some sort of malingering class.
Prof. Aylward introduced the computerised LIMA (logic integrated medical assessment) scheme into the DWP and now enjoys his rewards from UNUM and the DWP. He also introduced an audit scheme for medical reports into the DWP that stops at the first failure of compliance and once the failure of compliance is corrected the report is the deemed to be acceptable despite any further failures of compliance.
A further interesting fact: during the time of UNUM's "Hungry Vulture scheme", their Chief Medical Officer was Prof. Michael O'Donnell. Prof. O'Donnell is now the CEO of........................I don't believe it!.................................ATOS. What a cosy situation.
Whilst I wouldn't claim that this information is of specific use to any individual claim, I would suggest that it provides some background to the type of system that currently pervades.
BTW, UNUM are currently punting their wares in the UK on the basis that the DWP are going to provide less and less income protection in case of accident or illness. You have been warned.
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| Grahame B |
Posted - 29/04/2012 : 20:40:05
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/29/sickness-benefit-cuts
******** ! |
| Captain Bubble |
Posted - 27/04/2012 : 12:05:55
Excellent. Sadly though these current Tories follow Dictat rather than logic, common sense or humanity.
Interestingly, with all the controversy over cuts, Atos, disabilities etc, and all of this being "vital" because of the economic situation, I found out something really shocking:
A person I know recently started a college course as a mature student. She is talented, clever, totally fit in mind and body and has never had any problem getting what she wants from life and her career.
As part of her enrollment she, and all other applicants there, were given a series of aptitude tests, and as a result of hers she was informed of something she had no knowledge of and which had never troubled her. according to the test examiner she is very mildly dyslexic.
Almost immediately she was given over £3,000 worth of new equipment, mostly computer stuff, even though she has had no problems with computers. Obviously she accepted it gratefully, as would I and anyone else, but really it is scandalous that some people are given things they do not even need, while others are treated like criminals and put under house arrest.
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| nigelsmithson |
Posted - 27/04/2012 : 11:28:57
MP says he'll pass it on to the relevant minister. Watch this space. |
| nigelsmithson |
Posted - 23/04/2012 : 16:52:35
I couldn't agree more, Marcus.
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| Captain Bubble |
Posted - 23/04/2012 : 13:04:16
I have become politicised by the current government because of their inhumane and socially divisive policies. Beyond a shadow of a doubt this current lot has easily surpassed The Barking Baroness as the nastiest UK regime in my life. |
| nigelsmithson |
Posted - 23/04/2012 : 12:59:43
I emailed my MP this morning. We'll see.... |
| nigelsmithson |
Posted - 22/04/2012 : 11:31:18
I will be appealing and writing to my (Conservative) MP, but the problem centres around this:
Employment and Support Allowance pension income rules:
If you receive contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance and have a gross pension income of more than £85 a week, the amount of benefit payable will be reduced by half of the excess.
The excess is the difference between £85 and the actual pension income. For example, for a pension income of £100, the excess is £15. The amount of Employment and Support Allowance payable is reduced by half of that, which is £7.50.
If you receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance, any pension income you have will be taken into account, regardless of the amount.
Incapacity Benefit Pension income rules
If you have a gross pension income of more than £85 a week, the amount of benefit will be reduced by half of the excess.
The excess is the difference between £85 and the actual pension income. For example, for a pension income of £100, the excess is £15. The amount of Incapacity Benefit payable is reduced by half of that, which is £7.50.
Exceptions
This rule does not apply if:
• you were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit before 6 April 2001
• your claim is made under the linking rules for Incapacity Benefit and links back to before 6 April 2001
• you receive the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
So the 'exceptions' that applied under the Incapacity Benefit rules, the third one of which applied to me, have been ditched under the Employment and Support Allowance rules. That's why I'm being financially shafted, and I doubt that an appeal will work, because it's legislation that was passed by the House of Lords. |
| Yard |
Posted - 22/04/2012 : 08:59:03
I learned a long time ago that 'fair' does not come into the equation! |
| NormanHouse |
Posted - 22/04/2012 : 07:26:01
What a nasty bunch of creeps Cameron and his cronies are.
Promising to 'Ring Fence' the NHS budget then slashing everything that surrounds it and is interrelated.
Many on here will face what you are going through - two family members and two colleagues are doing just that as I speak.
I've never known a budget talked about as headline news a month after it was delivered - this with the May and Lansley shambles must mean the coalition is unravelling?
Stay strong Mr Nigel. |
| capt.wierd |
Posted - 22/04/2012 : 01:24:45
Isn't there an appeal process in the system??? |
| FenTiger |
Posted - 22/04/2012 : 00:40:54
That's terrible Nigel  DWP's comment sums it up. The Treasury are looking for ways to balance the books and fairness and decency don't come in to the equation. I hope you can find a way forward.
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| thedrumcrew |
Posted - 21/04/2012 : 07:03:31
Most will find out that what ive been saying on here for the last 4 years was right i always said in 10 years time so ive got 6 years left then we will see what this country is like then.
I got a great memory and at the time felt i was going mad and most could not see what was happening but the more it goes on the more are saying the same as me.
Last thing i want to see is a riot in this country as i fell sorry for the police that have to stand there as bricks get thrown at them |
| nick65 |
Posted - 21/04/2012 : 00:25:27
quote:
Originally posted by Naylorfan
It is shocking news Nigel. Yet just 10% of the cuts announced by this Government have been imposed. 90% still to come. I predict a riot.
bout time we had a riot,what would it take for people in our country to riot?they're smashing the low earners,disabled,people with long term illness,health problems people that the health care system essentially was set up to support in time of need.
Whilst knocking potentially 10% off the highest rate of tax,whilst simultaneously introducing multiple stealth taxes,affecting low and middle earners.
I am despairing at the injustice of it all,they are so unscrupulous.
It surprises me, that they don't gather all the undesireables into camps and oh wait a minute thats been done before.....
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| Naylorfan |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 21:23:41
It is shocking news Nigel. Yet just 10% of the cuts announced by this Government have been imposed. 90% still to come. I predict a riot. |
| Grahame B |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 20:45:19
quote:
Originally posted by rollingthunder
That is shocking. Absolutely disgraceful.
As if you dont have enough to worry about. Just when you think they cant stoop any lower, you hear a story like this.
Write to the newspapers. Let everyone know whats going on.
Im speechless.
echoed.
and I'm furious. Tax cuts for corporations and high earners and this... |
| Drumheduk |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 19:49:51
Just horrible, feel terrible for you. |
| rollingthunder |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 19:46:42
That is shocking. Absolutely disgraceful.
As if you dont have enough to worry about. Just when you think they cant stoop any lower, you hear a story like this.
Write to the newspapers. Let everyone know whats going on.
Im speechless.
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| thedrumcrew |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 19:09:40
So sorry mate to hear that i just don't know where we will end up as a country but its not good for some.
I heard loads of stories like this from families coping to people like you i feel for anyone who don't have much money and needs a bit of help in this country.
They don't seem to care its been going on for a bit now and that's where i get my
Catch phrase from about this country
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| dwpaddy |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 18:59:35
^^
What a f'kin shyte state of affairs this country is in.
Really sorry for your problems mate
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| luke3030 |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 18:50:26
Yet if you were a chav with a kid, or just walked into the country.....
Sad state of afairs. |
| Brody |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 18:46:56
Dreadful blow nigel, on top of everything else you've got to cope with. It's a classic example of those who make these decisions not considering the impact they can have on people who've worked hard all their lives only to be penalised for showing diligence by saving via a pension for the very company they worked so hard for. |
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