Quote: Chris28 "O/T but related to the above posts - there's an interesting letter in last week's [iPrivate Eye[/i about wheelchair access to ATOS assessment centres (following an article in the previous issue about the lack of accessible centres). Effectively the opinion is that if people can get in when there is no wheelchair access they are not disabled, so potentially fit for work and if they can't get in, they are considered as "failed to attend" and have benefits stopped. Quite far fetched, so possibly true.'" From last year Chris; www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20423701 Ours in Hull is Stanley Street which is all on one level. Its also not the only things that can get your benefit stopped. Some have been known to use CCTV in the car park and if you drive yourself you are fit for work. If you look nice and have makeup on and nice hair you are deemed to be able to get yourself ready and be fit for work. One of the favourite questions is "Did you watch Eastenders/Corrie/Emmerdale last night", you think they are being polite but if you say yes then you are deemed able to sit still for half an hour and be fit for work. Another is "Do you have pets?" If you say yes and leave it at that, then you are deemed capable of looking after pets therefore fit for work. The answers have to be "Yes I did watch TV but had to get up/stretch (or whatever) after about 10 minutes, etc" and "Yes I have two dogs but my spouse is their primary care giver." And never go looking presentable either!!

Quote: Chris28 "O/T but related to the above posts - there's an interesting letter in last week's [iPrivate Eye[/i about wheelchair access to ATOS assessment centres (following an article in the previous issue about the lack of accessible centres). Effectively the opinion is that if people can get in when there is no wheelchair access they are not disabled, so potentially fit for work and if they can't get in, they are considered as "failed to attend" and have benefits stopped. Quite far fetched, so possibly true.'" From last year Chris; www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20423701 Ours in Hull is Stanley Street which is all on one level. Its also not the only things that can get your benefit stopped. Some have been known to use CCTV in the car park and if you drive yourself you are fit for work. If you look nice and have makeup on and nice hair you are deemed to be able to get yourself ready and be fit for work. One of the favourite questions is "Did you watch Eastenders/Corrie/Emmerdale last night", you think they are being polite but if you say yes then you are deemed able to sit still for half an hour and be fit for work. Another is "Do you have pets?" If you say yes and leave it at that, then you are deemed capable of looking after pets therefore fit for work. The answers have to be "Yes I did watch TV but had to get up/stretch (or whatever) after about 10 minutes, etc" and "Yes I have two dogs but my spouse is their primary care giver." And never go looking presentable either!!

A different DWP assesor will look at the form you provided again with any extra that you have submitted in the meantime which you are quite entitled to do, provided it reaches them within the 28 day limit. Its always worth getting the original assesment back as well, so you know what you have scored points on and what you haven't. If you "fail" again you will be given a chance to take it to tribunal (an independent panel) and its then you have to go in person, always with someone with you. People don't realise that its the DWP who actually make the decision, not Atos, they just ask the (rather ludicrous) questions on behalf of the DWP.

Government "agencies" are all in it together. For instance if someone has major need for specialist education the local authority will spend all their time internally arguing how much should be paid by "education", "social care" and "health" where there are complex needs. They will not make provision but waste ten of thousands of pounds in internal meetings and producing nonsense paperwork. Much better to either spend that on front-line care or else if they are not going to do anything useful get rid of all the beaurocrats. But worse than that they are very reluctant to cross-refer to say the NHS for funding in cases of long-term continuing need, which you might expect a local authority to do in order to get out of paying themselves. There must be some reason for the reluctance - they get in trouble, there is some potential reciprocal financial comeback, etc. Whatever, it's a crazy state of affairs.

Aye, and the banks carry on swallowing our money.
Whose bloody country is it?

Pop down to The Grove Hotel, Watford this weekend and ask rlThe Bilderberg Grouprl. Those fookers are running the world, not just our country

A bunch of absolute a-holes.

Unfortunately after Miliband's little speech today, I seriously fear for anyone in this country who is not of independent means, post 2015.

It's come to something when Labour feel they have to appear to be as big a bunch of bastads as any tory, simply to suck up to the middle classes and the media that decide their itinerary.

I have always had faith in the power of the ballot box, that faith is waning rapidly and I'm coming to the conclusion that the best thing everyone of voting age could do on election day 2015 is stay at home. If nobody votes for any of these fookers, they may just get the message.

Which is almost exactly what the corporatocracy would love.

Then the only alternative is revolution or at least, public revolt.

I'm not talking about a couple od days rioting, I mean storming the strongholds of the new ruling class. Ripping the gates to their communities off their hinges and taking over their mansions and opening the doors to the poor. Almost all politicians are in awe to the corporatocracy, they rely on their patronage and would suck enough corporate cock to put a handrail round the British coastline.

I'm 61, I've been cognisant of governments of various hues for over 50 years. I was one of the early recipients of Beveridge's brave new world. We moved into a brand new council house before my 2nd birthday, prior to that I benefited from the NHS by being born in a dedicated maternity hospital and at 6 months of age, I also had major surgery after the family dog nearly ripped my eye out. I was immunised or innoculated against what were killer diseases. My ex-wife suffered from polio as a child but she received emergency care and post-trauma treatment so she could live a normal life, without having to wear the leg-irons what were still all too prevalent in my youth.

I know what to expect from a tory government, I never expected to hear a Labour leader confirm that he would continue to shaft the less able in our society. Basically, as far as Labour are concerned, I've shat 'em and if I ever meet Miliband, I'd probably lamp the 2@

If voting changed anything they'd have outlawed it years ago.

Correct.

And if hard work was good for you, the rich would have it for themselves.