4 Aug 2008
Incredible
I just had a phone call, from JobCentre Plus.
“This is Debbie from JobCentre Plus. I understand you’re claiming Incapacity Benefit?”
Correct.
“Now this is because you were self-employed and now you have Athritis?”
Er, no, actually, I don’t.
“Oh, sorry, what is it you have then?”
Actually I have Cancer.
“Oh, er, hmmm, dunno where I got Athritis from. Can I ask where the cancer is?”
It’s bone cancer. It’s called Osteosarcoma. Do you want me to spell it for you?
“Are you having treatment, chemo or whatever?”
Affirmative.
“When’s your next treatment?”
Tomorrow.
“Do you go in daily or is it a block treatment?”
Three days each time.
“OK, well you may recall, when you first applied for benefit, after you’ve been claiming for more than 8 weeks we need to have you come in for an interview.”
You are joking, surely?
“No, I’m afraid not. I’ll talk to my manager and see if we can have yours deferred though.”
I pointed out that the Department for Work and Pensions have written to me to say that I don’t need to provide them with any more doctor’s certificates because my illness falls into the “long-term” category. Reading between the lines, they’ve actually read the previous certificates and it’s sunk in that I have an illness that will take a long time to cure and that I am certainly not a malingerer.
“Ah well, they work to a different set of guidelines I’m afraid to this department.”
Even though this is regarding the same claim????
“Yes, sorry, but that’s just the way it is.”
So what would be the nature of this interview?
“So that we can assess if you need to retrain and if you’re getting the correct benefits.”
Cough. Splutter.
So, I point out, the fact that I’m self-employed and fully intend going back to my profession and clients once this is sorted out counts for nothing then?
“Even if you were employed and your employer were holding your job open, even for two or three years, we’d still have to interview you.”
F**cking nanny-state, lefty socialist labour twats. This ridiculous excuse for a government is, well, a ridiculous excuse for a government.
Words fail me at this point.
Mate, I don’t think your words failed you … I think they summed things up pretty well!
Love to all.
Louise
August 4th, 2008 at 3:04 pmpermalink
Andy
I would like to say I’m surprised but I’m not. The world (this country in particular) has gone mad. There would be no questions asked if you were an immigrant or single parent (contriversial I know).
Don’t let the bastards get you down. We’re all behind you mate!!
Sandra
Sandra Jordan
August 5th, 2008 at 12:19 pmpermalink
This is disgraceful and wants sending to You and Yours on Radio 4 or similar…..AND negligent as she must be revealing confidential info of someone who has Arthritis. Not all her fault but the crazy system–obviously you can’t oblige as you don’t drive–perhaps a call to the manager might bring him to see you instead???
Keep on scowling!!
Mum and Dad
August 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pmpermalink
I’m with Sandra: Don’t let the bastards get you down!
Meg
August 9th, 2008 at 11:09 ampermalink
Read your entry just now (holidays & stuff…). Hope you’re all ‘okay’ and hanging in there. Thinking of ya…
As for the above… There’s just too many people making up rules for things they know too little about. God knows we have them over here as well…
Arna
August 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pmpermalink
Can empathize with this – During my illness I was paralised from neck down and Wife was asked to get me to sign a letter to say that she could deal with an insurance policy that was, wait for it, in BOTH of our names!
Baz
August 20th, 2008 at 10:38 pmpermalink
Andy, You have obviously bought this on yourself by being “White Middle class”. You must have paid your taxes, national insurance and parking fines in a timely manner, supported your local community and never been a “finacial burden” on your fellow tax payers. You must have also contributed to your local community, socially and financially and been a honest, upstanding citizen and all round “good egg”.
By being self employed, you will have worked long and hard, toiling into the early hours, thus contributing intangible benefits to the UK.
The reward for your honesty, integrity and contribution in your time of need, is to be charged as a “guilty sponger” on all fronts by two of the biggest crooks this country has seen in recent times – Tony and Gordon
“F**cking nanny-state, lefty socialist labour twats. This ridiculous excuse for a government is, well, a ridiculous excuse for a government.” Sums it up very nicely.
Ed (Mr)
Mister Ed
August 25th, 2008 at 9:44 pmpermalink