The last two weeks have been a whirl wind of activities and stresses, the major one being we got the PIP assessment through for our Autistic son to find they have taken away his Disability Living Allowance. They clearly ignored all the documented evidence both from us and the medical profession and the assessor - or her organ grinder - clearly lied about the interview - we know this as we taped it and it was clear from that that he can't survive and look after himself with out major support and help...but hey that is their job to remove support from those that really need it! So we now have to find a way to support him ourselves while we go through the process of lodging an appeal, the earliest they hear these is usually a minimum of at least six months. It is an absolute travesty and downright criminal in my opinion. This couldn't have happened at a worse time for us as we have other major changes we are also trying to deal with and my poor husband is now stressed out to the max, so much so I am really worried about him.
So on to calmer things... today dawned beautiful. Very cold, it was still - 4 degrees celcius when I took my DIL back home after she went to see the Sailor (DS1) off at the airport as his leave is over and he has to rejoin his ship. Gosh the last two months has gone past so incredibly fast. I spent the rest of the morning, sorting things, changing bed sheets and doing some washing. The afternoon I planned to go on the Sunday afternoon walk which I did. It is probably the last one I will be able to do for a while. They are only fortnightly, but I am just not going to be able to spare the time.
I was lucky to be given a ride by the walk leader to where we were going to set off from. On the way to her place I stopped to take a photo of these lovely daffodils already in flower!
We walked through some woods today which was very pleasant, although VERY muddy in places.
The sun shining through the trees was just lovely.
We walked over some grass/farmland as well.
So lovely to see the blue sky after what has seemed like weeks of grey, drizzle and rain.
What a beautiful walk. I sympathize with the PIP problem. Next month I will be going with my sick daughter to a tribunal to appeal her ESA being stopped. I hope you hear soon.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely walk. I am so sorry you and your daughter are going through this as well. It is absolutely disgraceful. It is the people that really need it that are being discriminated against...it is not actually stopping those that don't as they could act their way through an interview to produce all the 'right effects' these people seem to need. In our report it said our son 'looks well' What type of assessment is that? How is autism supposed to make you look?
DeleteGood luck with the tribunal and appeal.
Looks a lovely walk. Sorry to hear of the problems with your son.
ReplyDeleteThe privatisation of these assessments (I assume they are still privatised) has been one of the greatest travesties of the system. Unfortunately I have known people (not in your type of situation) who have told me that I'm a mug as three generations of the family lived well never having declared an illegal earning and having been 'unfit to work' all their adult lives. The irony is that the assessors target the 'easy' people where they can get their fees paid and totally ignore the ones that will give them grief or cost money (like people living and working illegally in France but claiming sickness benefit in the UK).
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the DLA problem. I know a couple of people who've had it withdrawn and had to go through the appeal process which has taken a lot longer than 6 months, only to have it reinstated and back pay awarded. But it doesn't change the fact they faced real struggles while it was all being sorted out so I can understand the stress you and your husband must be feeling.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see daffodils and the first signs of spring approaching. xx
I'm so sorry to read your son has lost his DLA and that you're having to go through the appeal process. It's so unfair.
ReplyDeleteYour walk looks lovely. It makes a nice change to see some sunshine. X