General Chat

Hi Sal! I think I too, have IBS. It's a b....r isn't it? Have just had a series of blood tests. However, with two 90+ invalids to care for, three hours away in Evesham, I haven't got time to be ill! Good job I'm retired..... Dilys

Hi Dilys, Like Gillie and like Bob's wife, I have fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed a year ago and was struggling to get to work, in severe pain, insomniac, depressed, memory and concentration problems, permanently exhausted. 10% of people with FM are on permanent disability benefits. Many of my friends, on hearing my diagnosis, advised me to 'get invalided out' At 35, I felt far too young to become an 'invalid', and in my depressed state I was concerned that I would become suicidal if I was at home all day with nothing to think about but my pain (the main cause of death in FM patients is suicide). So I decided to try my hardest to stay working. I took all the advice I could get--dietary changes, medication, lifestyle changes. With a lot of support I gained some control over my condition and managed to continue working. This winter has been, to be honest, hell for me. I have been in tremendous pain, have had terrible IBS, and feel exhausted the majority of the time. But I have still got myself to work everyday. I know that it is impossible for some people to work in my condition, and I have nothing against those who have a genuine reason to be on IB. There are some horrible illness, much worse than mine, that prevent people working, and there are many on IB who would love to be able to work. What angers me is those (and most of us know of someone) who claim to be unfit to work, yet take a heap of money 'cash in hand' for doing jobs 'on the side'. I know of a guy who has claimed IB for over a year, yet works almost full-time for a building firm! This is hardly the work an invalid would be fit to do! Lorr, I really admire your honesty and guts! Sal.x

hello my sister has not worked a day in her life she is 35 and no intenshions of geting a job she gets 350 a weak to sit on her back side i suffer from depresion [post tramatic disorder inever went out of my house for 5 years but i got a job on the first day i had a panick attake but next day i went back ithink people like my sister should get off benner fit so all refuges can have it only jokeing about refuges

Some of you, struggling with so many physical problems, must find the computer a lifeline to the outside World. Keep smiling! Dilys

I work full time because my husband can't. We have reversed roles ..... he would love to be in my place and I would love to be in his, but because of his ill health we are as we are. He doesn't claim 'incapacity benefit' but has a disability allowance which ceases the day before his 65th birthday. I won't go into details but just say that until 15 years ago he was in constant employment in a very strenuous job and it took a long time to adjust to his situation now. 'Incapacity' is a way to massage the Government figures... there are more people receiving this benefit than are on the 'dole'.... ergo less unemployed. As 'Incapacity Benefit' is 20.00 a week more than 'Unemployment Benefit' its no wonder that people want to switch. People who are genuinely ill and unable to work deserve our help and sympathy but we all know someone who is massaging the system. There are families who know the system inside out and claim every benefit they can - and what can we do..... nothing but pay our taxes and hope, vainly, that they are caught.

Well now, I wonder if I qualify as a Skiver. I haven't been able to work since last June because of severe osteoarthritis in my hip. I have been laid off by my employer on the grounds of ill-health and inability to perform my job. I am now trying to claim incapacity benefit for the period in the run-up to my operation for a hip replacement and my convalescence. Is that skiving.? The form for claiming incapacity benefit runs to about 15 pages. There are six items of supporting documentation you need to also supply. It seems to me as someone who has been paying their stamp for the last 42 years that that it is time I'm allowed a little bit back. Or maybe I should be Albanian!

I have quoted this case on here before, apologies for repeating myself. There is a man living in this area who is claiming Incapacity Benefit, Disabled Living Allowance, and gets his rent and council tax paid. He also has a Motobility vehicle supplied to him (which my disabled husband is not entitled to!) and it is a pick-up truck!!! This man also has a blue disabled parking badge. So what you may say. This man, whilst claiming that he is too disabled to work, is actually working as a roofer!!!!!! He has been reported on numerous occasions to my knowledge - so how is he still claiming? Sue xx

I honestly don't understand how it is so easy for some to claim benefits, and yet so difficult for others. I have friends who came to this country from Kenya in the 1960's. Their children grew up here and one found employment with Social Services in London. She told her mother how to get benefits as many of their female compatriots in London were doing it. My friends eventually bought a post office as the husband had had a heart by-pass and had been pensioned off from his employment. Naturally with standing all day on a concrete floor, ankles are inclined to swell, so with the knowledge gleaned from her daughter, the mother put in for DLA on the grounds that she suffered from swollen ankles and had to have a push from her husband to get onto a bus. they didn't mention that they went everywhere in their car. So DVL was granted. A couple of years later, the mother had a pain in her shoulder through carrying a watering can of water. This time she applied for Carer's Allowance, which again was granted because she was unable to fasten her bra at the back. I do wonder if it was because both the doctors who came to their house to examine my friend were both of the same ethnic minority as my friends. Norah

I agree with the others on this thread who say that the Benefits System should be simplified. In fact, I would go further and say, give everyone in the Country (legally in the Country, that is) their TaX Allowance, in cash, no questions asked about whether you are working or not, and drop all other benefits. The workshy scroungers would then have the choice of either living on that or getting some sort of job, but no official time would be wasted on them. The genuine claimants could then be interviewed to assess their needs and a small (or large) top up given. And those who would really like to give up work, but cant afford to, might be able to manage on their weekly Tax Allowance, thus freeing up a job for someone who wants it. I am almost retirement age, have worked at various menial jobs all my life and am sick of it. I do not claim anything because I know from bitter experience that I will immediately be found a part-time job, cleaning toilets or some such, and earning just a pound too much to gain any other benefits. I am not work-shy, just fed up of doing jobs that no-one else wants, because I am too proud (and too stupid) to claim benefits. So next time Mr Blair proudly tells you he has cut the unemployment figures to blah!, remember to add one for me! I am unemployed but I dont appear on anyone's list.

What a loss, Bob, your wife's skills must be to the unit.

The conclusion we can draw from the stories in this thread is that there are many genuine claimants out there and they, even more than the rest of us taxpayers, are furious about the work-shy bogus claimants. I, like many others, have rarely been out of work in over 40 years but my wife, after 20 years as a nursery nurse in a Special care Baby Unit, was retired on medical grounds and draws IB. She has fibromyalgia which is a debilitating condition which comes and goes. She has good days and bad so holding down a regular job is out of the question. She can, however do voluntary work because she can do that when she feels well so an outsider may well not understand her problem. Bob

Any of those who've been working today got a view? If it's printable, that is!

Her excuse is she has some sort of depression. What a laugh all the grief she causes, also she does jobs on the side quite happily and can afford the run a car. She must go down the doctors and really lay it on. We tried to get DLA for our special needs 17 year old daughter and got turned down. We get nothing and that thing gets it all. Enough to make you cry..

This System was set up for the people who genuinely need help,unfortunately there are a lot of Greedy Idle"Bar-Stewards" who milk the system and make it difficult for others. One I know,having reported him( I told him I was going to) he was interviewed,his reason was,Quote,He felt too Depleted and tired to work.So they let him stay on claiming.but within two weeks of the interview a miraculous thing happened,and he started to do Painting,Gardening etc.again.when he was reported again,they said,he,s already been interviewed, the matter is closed. it is beyond belief.roll on the Revolution. Hal.

I've got one next door to me, it makes my life an absolute misery and gets handouts too. Hasn't worked a legitimate day since it moved here over 5 years ago. Gets away with all sorts. And we struggle all the time just to survive, not live fuming................

I agree, Joan.... I don't know how people manage to get so many benefits, the authorities don't exactly make it easy to claim anything at all. I have spoken to people in my job who are claiming about £300 per week and yet they seem to get around quite easily - why WOULD they WANT to go out to work? (Please remember I am only referring to those who really should be working) Then you have the genuine cases who desparately need assistance who just don't seem to be able to claim anything at all. Gaynor :-(

Another thing I think is wrong, people getting so many different benefits, that added together comes to more than they could possibly earn in full time employment. There should be a ceiling. Val

no i do not think that they should be allowed to.we all have to work but there are some people that are allergic to it.i know a few who bum off the state.the ones that are truly unable to work should get the supportxxxxx(:

I agree with so many of you,i have had chronic chest diseasefor thirty years ,[ashma],kidney problems,,i have been diabetic for three years and have arthritis to boot.I managed to stay at work ,and did,'nt go on the sick until my angina got so bad i had to give in.my worry is wether on not these other problems ,along with a diseased heart[three arteries are still clogged]is going to stop me returning to work,where i wan't to be. genuine skivers should be put to work ,or there benefits stopped.Fred.Ptfg&a&g&w.

Thats a bit harsh Sean - how about putting them down the salt mines instead? :-)