I miss his perspective on the welfare system, even though it was extremely stressful for him.
It's designed to make you give up and feel like your a fraud. I'll probably be going through a PIP battle again soon. If not for Mind fighting my corner I honestly don't know what I would have done. The lady from Mind escorted me out of my appeal hearing as the DWP representative turned to threats as I think he saw he was losing yet another appeal.
The PIP experience set me back a long way with my mental health. I get extremely frustrated with people who shrug their shoulders or ask dumb questions about mental health in general. I was lucky with my PIP appeal, I had an 8 month wait. While I know somebody who was waiting almost 2 years for an appeal due to the backlog of appeals.
I'm happy to be assessed under a system that looks at the medical evidence with independent experts deciding using their own judgement and not a predefined computer based script. The current system is designed to deny as many people benefits as they can get away with. The mandatory reconsideration part of the system is probably one of the most pernicious things about it. If you don't ask for that within a set time limit, then you can't appeal. You have to start the process all over again.
I have nothing but contempt towards IDS and Osborne. Those two caused so much misery and death. The sad thing is a lot of people whose mental health is wrecked by the stress of the pandemic will probably find themselves unable to access treatment or the extra benefits that help with the hidden costs of disability, mental health etc.
Thanks for this. Know that you're not alone. Your experiences are replicated the country over. I hope one day there will be a reckoning.
I know that's little comfort. I can only express solidarity and wish you well in your fight against a barbaric systemic, along with better health (and an avenue to vent, if needed).
All the best
Nick