Its been said a few times in this thread and all over the internet, and in the media, the issue isn't with those that genuinely need it, its all the people who can work but are choosing to claim benefits instead.
So how do you identify those that don't need additional benefits but who are getting them from those who genuinely need? There is no clear cut line that can be drawn. Even if you could do that there is the question of if the person is really that sick or just acting.
And she's obviously an actress pretending to be a lazy cow, I've seen the real thing and TBH she's rubbish
sick benefits are more than unemployment benefits. thats why everyone tries to get on them.
Plus once on it, you dont have to attend the local job centre, or get sent to job club, etc. - your just left to it.
After a few months, you dont even need to send in any doctors papers. The department are to busy to assess everyone
periodically as well, so people can easily get 12-24 months of receiving a giro without anyone ever questioning them.
See? Egg tells me about something I'm already on and inevitably gets it completely wrong. Your doctor puts you on it initially, then after a year you are assessed by a government appointed doctor or service. After that it can be ten years before they bother to look into your case again. The first year is paid at a lower level.
yea serious... I know nothing about it, despite being on it myself for 9 months after knee trouble left me unable to even stand, let alone walk for the best part of 4 months.. slowly getting back to being able to walk until about may last year.
Basically, I saw the doc, he gave me a sick paper,
I contacted the benefits helpline... they sent me the forms, that i sent back with docs paper... sent in 2 further doctors papers & got assessed by an Atos professional all within 8 weeks. was awarded sickness benefit & was told I will have a toatl of 6 1 to 1 interviews with my local JCP to see how I was coping.
Over the following 6 months, I had 2 interviews. I was on the lower rate also.
Difference may be I was on ESA - while you may be on the older benefit it replaced. Slowly though, they are looking at the older cases with the aim of everyone going onto ESA.
Getting sickness benefit isnt that difficult - but thats not the issue - the big benefit fraud issue is DLA - harder to get than sickness benefit, but the handouts for DLA is stupid amounts & is paid on top of any other benefit -- Even people who working may be entitled to DLA - its there to help those ill to manage better, so is a worthwhile benefit.