Bad news day

Yesterday was bad news day.

It started early when I rang the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) to check if my second appeal had been received as I’ve had no acknowledgment. After waiting 15mins, I finally got through to be told none was on the computer file. They would ring back later when they’ve had chance to check the post.

Sure enough, later in the morning they rang. The letter hadn’t arrived. It didn’t matter they assured me as I couldn’t have a second tribunal as it was regarded as all part of the one application on which I am already appealing. I pointed out I had filled in a second form & filled it in differently from the first form. Surely a different set of evidence would therefore be placed in front of the tribunal. It makes no difference they said. They had already reviewed the decision on the first application & had not changed their opinion.

I couldn’t help wondering why they had enclosed the booklet on how to appeal with the second decision if it isn’t available to me. I’ve even read the act putting the legislation into force in which it specifically states a person can reapply at any time. Surely that is what is what I had done in filling in a second form.

The chap went on to suggest that even if I was dying with cancer I would not be entitled to being part of the Support group. I pointed out I accepted that some of my conditions are hopefully temporary, but the underlying condition, the reason why I am unable to work,  is a deteriorating one that can only worsen. My chances of ever being able to look for work are nil.

He also added the only thing that would change the decision is if I can get written evidence from the various medical people involved in my treatment, confirming my prognosis of continued deterioration. I just don’t see it’s fair to put pressure on my GP etc to get such letters. Or to waste my time & their time, going to see the various hospital specialists to obtain such letters, when they could use that time better treating others who need help. And I certainly don’t see why I should have to pay for all those letters, especially when at the end of the day I suspect they will just be ignored on the basis that I’ve put undue pressure on the various doctors, therapists etc.

Whenever I tell people of my situation, or tell them I am now expected to indulge in work related activity, they stare at me in horror. Even the DWP’s staff at the Jobcentre reacted similarly. However, the people who make the decisions never talk to me directly, only through forms & letters. They don’t see the days it’s taken to fill those forms, write those letters, or the toll it takes on me.

As far as I can see, it’s all about saving them money. If they want shot of me, I wish they would just use the Athenian government’s method of getting rid of Socrates. I would drink the hemlock draught willingly. But I’m told that’s just my depression talking & the NHS is there to keep me going whether I want to or not.

As if all that wasn’t bad enough, come lunchtime, the phone goes again. This time it’s one of my cousins ringing to tell me that her sister, another of my cousins, has been told she has a lump in her lungs, almost certainly cancerous. She will have to have a course of chemo & radiotherapy to reduce the lump as a bear minimum. And that’s on top of my cousin Ann having treatment for her cancer. Ann is only just out of hospital having had to have two pints a blood as she had become so anaemic. Even with the new blood she still is very breathless, possibly not helped by the fact she has a “patch” on her chest. As for the cousin who rang, she is having problems with her kidney, her high blood pressure, her heart (she had a massive bypass a couple of years ago) and her eyes.

Maybe after all, I’m doing better than some. We will be able to continue to afford to live reasonably comfortably even if our income is virtually cut off for a while. The Fox will be 65 in another couple of year so we will be able to get his pension then. It just means the state is likely to have to pay for our care as we grow older, as we will have had to spend our savings on living now, rather than on our care needs later. I can’t help feeling sorry for those in a worse financial position.