Our counsellor's view of changes to welfare provision
One of HAD's Counselling Team writes to her MP and the media to explain the effect that proposed benefit changes will have on her life and that of others.
She writes...
Dear All
I am writing this both as a method of ridding myself of the pent up anger, soul destroying, sick-making and self-worth annihilating feelings engendered and as an effort to depersonalise the whole process for others out there. This from the government is not directed at you, whoever you are, specifically. They are attempting to save themselves and us in the long run, money. Yes – it certainly does feel personal when you’re living it though.
In order to give a brief synopsis of who I am and what’s currently occurring, causing me to actually ‘get things out there’ about the Welfare Reform Bill : I had an RTA in 1988, occasioning a severe head injury and necessitating my having to re-learn absolutely everything. In 2001 I became a volunteer at HAD (Hertfordshire Action on Disability) as a student counsellor, qualifying in 2003. I am still seeing clients for HAD and continue to try encouraging people to be ‘more’ and live easier in their own skins. Let me further explain, I believe that what the government gives me to live on I, in turn, pay back into society by doing what I do. I hasten to add here that my counselling work amounts to far less than 16 hours per week and is all dependent upon my physical capabilities which are not at all predictable. I am also Senior Counsellor at Resolve, based in Welwyn Garden City. I have never, in the whole time since the accident, been knocked to my hands and knees, so to speak. Until now!
This is all brought about by the present government attempting to save all it can – finance wise. Regardless of your own political leanings, I am merely venting my own frustration at the situation. In October 2011 I received a lengthy questionnaire about the benefits I receive, being Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. I was sent to a Medical Assessment, some 18/19 miles away and 6 floors up, on 19 December.
At this assessment, although the doctor was only doing her job, I was given the impression that because I try, will not lie and am not what I term ‘depressed’ then I am able to work for eight hours a day, 5 days a week.
A week ago I received a letter informing me that I am to receive Employment Support Allowance with the proviso that I attend interviews at the Jobcentre. So, it would appear that I was right and the government deem it all good and proper that I go out and find work. This is, of course, irrespective of the fact that there is not sufficient work for the workforce in any event.
Please believe me, if I could work then I would. Not everybody claiming benefit is a cheat. Regardless, also, that I will be appealing the decision, I am not sleeping at all well because of the stress it has caused; it is having a physiological impact and this is after just a week.
I ask myself : is this all training for when Disability Living Allowance changes next year into Personal Independence Payment, when every person claiming will have to attend an assessment interview. How much more?
Yours dejectedly
Denice Reeves
Everything the government thinks you need to know about PIP can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/pip/ but do remember to keep checking this page as the information will no doubt change before PIP is fully rolled out.