Benefits Street

[Agricola]

A wee story for you...
As I have a terminal illness I was advised by my Macmillan support team to apply for a benefit which would automatically give me free prescriptions for the raft of medicines I'd be taking (not that many as it turns out, but that's another story!)
The nice man at the DWP told me to apply for PIP (personal independence payment) which has been recently introduced..
OK so far..
To qualify for this payment I had to prove I'd had the illness for 3 months & will die within 6 months...
Still OK so far, the oncologist says I'm well fucked & have been for some time, so no problem there..
I was slightly bemused at being granted this benefit that I've been informed I won't have to apply again until Dec 2016..2 1/2 years after I'm dead...that would be clever!!!
DWP

I hope you're still here in 2016 and well enough to come of any sickness benefit. You are an example of how some moral good may come of an immoral racket. It also reminds me that ultimately we're all going to die so instead of fretting over people you've never met nor will ever meet, claiming benefits. Why not concentrate on improving something you really have control over? Your own destiny.

[Simon Bolivar]

+2

[cigarmo]

Very sorry to hear that puffy really hope you get better.

[Simon Bolivar]

Grimm news indeed Puff; hope any pain is being well controlled & your not giving those MacMillian nurses too much of the run around Hope that when the time comes you have a decent hospice near you, my father resist going into one far too long but once inside realised he should have admitted himself weeks before. Looking ahead, the weather should be warm enough to be taken outside to enjoy a smoke, with a wee tot or two.
Glad you came back onboard, hope we can give you some brotherly support along the way & for every month you manage to claim your due benefits, that's a wee tax rebate from the pile that you paid in throughout your working life.

[Sean]

Wow indeed sad news puff sorry to hear that mate. Kind of puts life into perspective. As simon said hope your getting all the help you need mate.

Take care

[JoeyGunz]

Didn't want to contribute to the original thread.

Not the best news eh Puff but here's to hoping you take them to the cleaners with that payment and enjoy every last second of it!

[big bopper]

The great unsaid in the benefits debate is that state pensions take up half of the total bill, which is only going to increase as the baby boomer generation retire. The total bill won't be going down any time soon, it's simply a matter of transferring money from the disabled, sick and unemployed to pensioners.

As to the programme itself, I haven't actually watched it but judging from the Twitter response afterwards, i'm guessing its unrepresentative, rabble rousing junk TV I assumed it would be.

[mattyhall22]

Puff I hope you are kept comfortable and enjoy all the time you can

Peejay and valetudo, I've got 10 years in and see the same families in the same situations over and over again, and the worse bit is I have seen their kids grow up and do the same all over again!

[ValeTudoGuy]

Puff I hope you are kept comfortable and enjoy all the time you can

Peejay and valetudo, I've got 10 years in and see the same families in the same situations over and over again, and the worse bit is I have seen their kids grow up and do the same all over again!

Yep, disheartening isn't it. 5 years in I was dealing with the same people for the same stuff and enough was enough, something had to give. I do miss working with the kids though, some of the worst cared for kids have the best characters!

[Simon Bolivar]

Further to my wee rant above, I think the area to concentrate on are those just begining to claim, not those who have been doing so for yrs. They are effectively outside the work force now & probably always will be. It's for new claiments it would make more sense to tighten up the payments & standards for claiming. Then give training & assistance to get them off again once their health improves (unless they are going to be long term sick/terminal).

The children of claimants are a real difficult area. Presumably most will be perfectly healthy & should be seeking work but in the worst cases have grown up being told only mugs work. They would be a real challenge to find work for & for their initial empolyers to try & keep them in work. Probably require subsidies from the Government to those employers taking them on but may be worth it in the long run.

The States they had a remarkable success in cutting back on their welfare budget & have managed to encourage a large percentage back into work so it must be possible.

[EdBlackadder]

Don't want to join in the debate except to add my best wishes to Puff.

I'm sure I'm telling you what you know but don't be afraid to ask for help, working in healthcare some of the worst things I've seen have been those poor souls who have held off until the last minute, it isn't worth it, we're here to help.

[searsa1]

A wee story for you...
As I have a terminal illness I was advised by my Macmillan support team to apply for a benefit which would automatically give me free prescriptions for the raft of medicines I'd be taking (not that many as it turns out, but that's another story!)
The nice man at the DWP told me to apply for PIP (personal independence payment) which has been recently introduced..
OK so far..
To qualify for this payment I had to prove I'd had the illness for 3 months & will die within 6 months...
Still OK so far, the oncologist says I'm well fucked & have been for some time, so no problem there..
I was slightly bemused at being granted this benefit that I've been informed I won't have to apply again until Dec 2016..2 1/2 years after I'm dead...that would be clever!!!
DWP

It is now official. I feel like a total asshole starting this thread. Scotty I am terribly sorry about your condition and I hope that you have many more years to come.

[PeeJay]

You are kidding, that was a great evening of debate.

[searsa1]

You are kidding, that was a great evening of debate.

Well if that be the case please join me for next week for even more divisive threads including: "Who Likes Margret Thatcher?" and "The Demise Of The Queen".

[Sean]

Well if that be the case please join me for next week for even more divisive threads including: "Who Likes Margret Thatcher?" and "The Demise Of The Queen".

Dont get me started on the soft bitch making out like scousers robbed the dead at hillsborough