[CarolynS]

and I thought SSDI was hard to get in the USA...

MP hits out at work capability test

A Parkinson's Disease sufferer has been called in for a third set of medical tests to see if he is fit for work, MPs have been told.

Officials carrying out the Government's work capability assessment, which aims to cut the number of claimants receiving incapacity benefits, have ordered the sufferer back for more checks to see if he can come off state handouts and find a job.

Labour MP Tom Greatrex blasted the Government's system for weeding undeserving claimants out of the welfare state, saying: "Rather than helping people who can work, it is too often hounding those who won't get better."

The Government believes many of the claimants can find employment which suits their illness, if they genuinely have one.

[lindylanka]

Things are in a mess here, major political interference in welfare and disability conditions, with no real understanding of the issues. It would make sense if there was work for people, but there is none. It is a way of stripping disabled people of their disability payments. We are going backwards fast, and I guess this is not the only country this is happening to. Met with a young women with progressive MS on Saturday, in a dreadful state, progressing very fast, and she had been to two tribunals, people with long term conditions are easy targets, they medicate to get to the interviews, have no idea what the tests mean, and get chucked off disability. It is shocking, and part of our governments effort to privatise everything. I used to be proud of what we had here, but not any more. We have demoralized health care workers, who are seeing everything they have worked for dismantled. Sorry this is a big moan, and I am sure things are pretty bad for many in the US too. So many broken promises, it feels like the clock is turning back........ a disability clamant can be deemed fit for work if they can raise an arm above their head....... or walk ten yards. We are all living in dread.

[paula_w]

Originally Posted by lindylanka

Things are in a mess here, major political interference in welfare and disability conditions, with no real understanding of the issues. It would make sense if there was work for people, but there is none. It is a way of stripping disabled people of their disability payments. We are going backwards fast, and I guess this is not the only country this is happening to. Met with a young women with progressive MS on Saturday, in a dreadful state, progressing very fast, and she had been to two tribunals, people with long term conditions are easy targets, they medicate to get to the interviews, have no idea what the tests mean, and get chucked off disability. It is shocking, and part of our governments effort to privatise everything. I used to be proud of what we had here, but not any more. We have demoralized health care workers, who are seeing everything they have worked for dismantled. Sorry this is a big moan, and I am sure things are pretty bad for many in the US too. So many broken promises, it feels like the clock is turning back........ a disability clamant can be deemed fit for work if they can raise an arm above their head....... or walk ten yards. We are all living in dread.

it can't continue like this and rebellion is a matter of time. This is a time of great shaking up. Watch Damascus. and that's all i'm going to say.

[aftermathman]

"He (Grayling) added: "I well understand the challenges Parkinson's Disease represents for those people unfortunate enough to suffer from it"".

"But we cannot simply go back to a situation where we leave people year after year after year without ever even checking what their condition is."

I will give you a hint Mister Employment minister Chris Grayling, on the guys condition. Unless he is defying all medical science then he will be worse year after year. Some things just don't get better, PD is one of them.

God, are these people are too thick to understand "chronic progressive illness".

Neil.