Tag Archives: ESA

On having a “carer”

Posted on April 4, 2019 by purplepersuasion

By now I am a veteran at completing application/review forms for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). ESA is for people who are too sick to work, while PIP is to cover extra expenses associated with … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Bipolar, Crisis care, Depression, Employment and benefits, GP, Medication, Mental health, Mental health services, Mood disorder, NHS services, Rapid cycling, Suicidal thought, Treatment planning, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On having a “carer”

Zero hours

Posted on July 20, 2018 by purplepersuasion

So next week I have to go to the GP to ask for an extension to my sick note. After initially signing me off for six weeks they gave me another certificate for four weeks, but this time I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bipolar, Crisis care, Employment and benefits, Mood disorder, NHS services, Primary care, Self-management, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Zero hours

Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I – oh :(

Posted on May 8, 2018 by purplepersuasion

Recently I decided that I was ready to get a job. Aside from the freelance stuff I did a couple of years ago, I haven’t worked for a long time. The last time I worked for an employer was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Bipolar, Employment and benefits, GP, Mental health, Mood disorder, NHS services, Primary care, Recovery, Stress, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I – oh :(

Fitness for work – the real life questions the system never asks

Posted on October 31, 2016 by purplepersuasion

So I filled in an ESA50 last week and was reminded afresh what a terrible form it is. Yes, we all know it’s terrible, a terrible form for a terrible benefit in a terrible system. It’s not designed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment and benefits, Mental health, mental health debate, Mood disorder, Politics and current affairs, Stigma and discrimination, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fitness for work – the real life questions the system never asks

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

It’s official – the WCA is unfair

Posted on May 22, 2013 by purplepersuasion

Today, three judges at a tribunal equivalent to the High Court ruled that certain aspects of the process of applying for ESA (Employment and Support Allowance), including attendance at the WCA (Work Capability Assessment), were unfair to people with serious … Continue reading →

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Posted in Mental health, Politics and current affairs, Stigma and discrimination | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 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

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