Tag Archives: Employment and Support Allowance

Unpinned

Posted on June 5, 2016 by purplepersuasion

It is not always a bad thing to be pinned down. Rather like a tent, I need underpinnings in order to be who I want to be, to feel like me. I can’t erect the life I want unless some fundamentals … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Bipolar, Books and reading, Crisis care, Employment and benefits, exercise, Hypomania, Mental health, Mood disorder, Recovery, Self-management, Side effects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Why don’t people with mental health problems just get a job?

Posted on December 9, 2015 by purplepersuasion

Last week I went to the House of Lords, something I found quite intimidating. Thankfully I was supported by a member of Rethink campaigns team in giving oral evidence to a Parliamentary Review. Chaired by Lord Low of Dalston, the Review was … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Employment and benefits, Mental health, mental health debate, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

I appealed – and I won!

Posted on December 13, 2012 by purplepersuasion

Apparently, I did it! I challenged Atos’ decision that I merited nil points at Work Capability Assessment and I won. The information provided has apparently taken me from the zero points awarded by the Health Care Professional (HCP) and the decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

One degree of separation – there is no “them” and “us”

Posted on September 21, 2012 by purplepersuasion

103,545 people on Facebook like “I hate benefit scrounging work shy bastards.” What separates them from benefit claimants? One event beyond their control. One departmental downsizing One ruptured blood vessel One car accident that you couldn’t prevent One expected baby … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

“And the score from Glasgow is… nil points.”

Posted on September 4, 2012 by purplepersuasion

Yesterday I arrived home from a very difficult time away to find a Department for Work and Pensions decision letter following the painful and humiliating Atos Work Capability Assessment (WCA) I underwent in July. Before I say any more, let’s just … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

What rabbit hole have we fallen down? My experiences of Atos Work Capability Assessment

Posted on July 24, 2012 by purplepersuasion

Ever since claiming Employment and Support Allowance, I’ve worried about being called to a Work Capability Assessment. A few weeks ago, a letter marked “Atos” dropped through my door. As I’d feared, it instructed me to attend for WCA at … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental health, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , | 88 Comments