Written evidence from Name Withheld (PEA0082)
I am more than willing to allow my email to be given as evidence, having someone actually acknowledge me and my situation is fantastic. I can now at least HOPE that justice WILL prevail. Maybe just maybe, your Committee will force the decisions to be overturned and for people (like me) to again receive our Benefits.
Another thing that is a concern for me regarding Universal Credit, is the fact that while the processing of U.C. Benefits goes on, much needed medication will not be available FREE. In my case, as you know, I have to take two different types of Anti-Depressives, as well as the following: *Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Medication, Anti-Reflux tablets, Nasal Spray, Zapain (Paracetamol & Codeine Sulphate). **Not caused by lifestyle, but ‘Runs in the Family’. At the moment, the A.D’s help to keep my emotions in check; which works to a degree, as long as I am indoors alone. However, any outside influences; people/situations that are negative or hostile or even the threat of that and I am a different person. N.B. a couple of times when I have found it hard to leave my home for whatever reason and have run out of my A.D.’s, I have become an emotional wreck or very hyper; all the while mentally feeling angry or irritated by my own behaviour.
I am sending this email to explain in detail my experience, in particular, the Medical Assessment and it’s Report.
Prior to P.I.P. I was on D.L.A. (permanent status), then the P.I.P. was introduced; my D.L.A. Benefit was stopped and was given a date and time for a Medical Assessment (3 bus stops away from my home). Unable to make that appointment; I was anxious and in pain, although I did manage the next one – that was in April 2016.
I was and still am on Paracetamol 4 x daily, with Codeine, same dosage as and when needed; now called Zapain, which I need to take each day due to increase pain of the Scapula, Neck, Right Shoulder and arm. (I’m Right Handed).
On arriving at the Assessment Centre, I felt very anxious, lightheaded and hyper-vigilant. The Assessment contained certain tasks that I was to do – 1. Asked to lean forward and grab ankles, which I was able to do due to being in a seated position AIDED– (Report stated that I achieved task UNAIDED). 2. To Crouch down in a squatting position, I said that I could not do it without holding onto something and she, the Assessor, replied that she could not either and to hold onto the table AIDED – (Report stated UNAIDED) 3. Asked to raise my left arm – no problem, then right arm – unable to lift in front of me further than half way, sideways just a fraction, but not above my head or behind neck or back, impossible (Report stated that I could complete the tasks, with just a little difficulty behind my back. Report stated that I was Talkative (when I am in an anxious or hyper state, I do talk and can talk for England). However, my persona that people see is totally different to how I am actually feeling I.e. lightheaded, heart beating 10 to the dozen, brain fog, which I then spend 2-3 days over analysing every single word while feeling really stupid.
The Report stated that I was observed using both hands to remove my cross-over bag..... firstly, I had no reason to remove my bag, as it sat on my lap and secondly, there is no reason for using both hands even if I could, as one hand is sufficient. Said that I was articulate and knowledgeable of my condition – quite true, I have suffered with my ailments for years, in and out of Therapy for the past 41yrs, was able to look at her – true, but had to really concentrate, as I find any form of Communicating/Socializing very hard, but did so to show the Assessor that I was telling the truth. Said I was well groomed on the day, wearing my sunglasses on my head – true, however for the previous 10 days that I was at home, I found it difficult and unimportant to wash or shower; have a shower, but can only use left arm, cannot wash properly or completely due to severe pain in right arm and shoulder (Rotor Cuff damage) and the fact that I suffer with Dizziness. As for my sunglasses, I placed them on my head with my left arm, also helps keep hair away from face which would make me move my head quickly, causing balance problems and dizziness due to Vertigo.
Report stated that I was able to walk normally – untrue due to the pain across the Sacrum Bone, I actually have a slight limp Left Leg, have to step up/down with left foot positioned sideways in front of me, in case the pain gets too much and my legs give way.
My Medical History is as follows:
PHYSICAL – Degenerative Arthritis in neck. Temporal Mandible Joint Disorder (R) side of face. Vertigo**. Tinnitus. Rotor Cuff Damage. Elbow Pain (L) Arm. Raynaud’s Syndrome*. Sciatica (L) Leg. NB Almost ALL of these problems were caused by Traumas over the years – 1. Work related i.e. Bus Conductress – Physical Assaults/Attacks by members of the public, with one being an attack causing my brain to bounce back and forth, blood shot eyes, all my teeth being loosened, leaving me with severe neck pain and the inability to lean head back. 2. Personal relationships i.e. Physical Abuse (Human Punch bag). Conditions have worsened over the years (previous D.L.A. Assessment will show I.e. ability to lift legs have decreased as well as (R) Arm). *Numbness to the toes, fingers, ears, nose as well as numbness anywhere about my body if pressure is placed I.e. laying on a hard pillow or arm rest on a sofa will make the back of my head completely numb. Have caught my fingers in door/drawer while closing it or have placed an object on the table, turned to walk away and the heard a crash..... thought I had released my grip. Have been given an appointment with the ‘Chronic Pain and Fatigue Department’ based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, as well as an appointment to attend a ‘Sleep Disorder Facility’, due to my inability to sleep, restlessness when I am asleep – intermittently, plus Exhaustion which is having a negative effect on my health, especially my dizziness and brain fog as well as the inability to walk, sit, stand up, without my legs feeling like they are going to give way. **when moving my head I.e. to check for traffic will cause me to get dizzy, to lose my footing/balance or if I walk from my bedroom, turning right, then right again, then left (unless I do even that simple task gradually) I tend to get dizzy and trip over my own feet. Even the weather can sometimes make it impossible to leave my home; Coldness, Windy, or just the Darkness, can and does make me very disorientated.
EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH – Reactive Depression (from the age of 12yrs, diagnosed at 16yrs). Survivor of Emotional, Mental, Physical and Sexual Abuse from the age of 5yrs. P.T.S.D. Borderline Personality Disorder with Social Anxiety and Avoidance Traits. Am now taking two different Anti-Depressives 1. Sertraline and 2. Trazodone I.e. As previously stated, have been in and out of Therapy of every sort for 41years and I am now having to wait on a very long waiting list for ‘Complex Needs’ to send me the date for the beginning of Intensive minimum 2yr Group Therapy.
When I attended the Court of Appeal, I had just spend almost a week with the inability to move an inch or lift my legs without extreme pain, caused by a simple exercise for my back – I had explained to the Physiotherapist that I have done every back injury exercise imaginable over the past 33yrs to no avail. However, I was asked to do certain tasks one more time. The result was 6 days of excruciating pain while on Paracetamol 1000mg with Codeine Sulphate 30mg 4 times a day. On the 7th day I was driven to the Appeal Court, still in pain; even stepping up onto or down from the Kerb, could cause me extreme distress and pain. Could not walk normally, had to be small steps; could not guarantee that my back would hold up if the steps were not small...... The Decision letter from the Appeal Court stated that 1. I walked in and out of the Court (door being approximately 4 steps from the chair, with support for me to lean on by way of a wall) with any trouble, that included my sitting and standing (had to use fist on table to help me rise and did not walk swiftly, but gingerly). 2. Unable to take Codeine – untrue, cannot take Ibuprofen. 3. Was able to travel 30 miles for my Assessment Medical – untrue, as previously said only 3 buses away and was familiar. 4. They could not understand why they had 4 letters of referral for M.R.I.’s but not Reports, I explained that in my house move, my Medical Records were in ‘Limbo’ (between old GP and new) and how I would try to find the information. 5. Said that I was frequently able to travel on Tube to visit daughter – untrue, in fact it’s the complete opposite. 6. Said that I had said I cannot stand to wash dishes or do housework – untrue, I stated that I had to stop several times due to the pain, equally when I am doing most household chores I.e. Mopping floor/hovering, as I have trouble leaning even slightly forward, they suggested a stool, I am unable to lean forward due to my right arm; when extended causes me a lot of pain as well as severe pain ending with me stooping slightly to try and ease the pain. They stated that I could not use a chair as the kitchen was too small. I stupidly sat there with copies of all information sent to the Court (The Bundle), but did not have a clear mind to use said paperwork. Also, equally stupid, I put my trust into a Support Worker from ‘Connections’, who was untrained in Legal Matters, encouraged me to write everything down, which I did, she then typed it up all official looking, picking the bits that she wanted to go in the Letter to the Courts. When the Judge said “are these your words; kept on and on until one of the other judges nudged her to stop as I was getting anxious, I said yes. However in hindsight, I should have explained as I have just explained to you. When I told them of the discrepancies, in their letter they referred to that as follows – Regarding the Assessment Report, your version does not match with what is said by the Assessor (it won’t, that WAS the point I was trying to make) I cannot prove it as Videoing/Taping is not allowed). I felt that they did not believe me.
I requested another Appeal, this time to the Upper Tier. After a few months with no communication from the Courts, I phoned the Court Clerk. She said that she was sorry and how the case had been passed to a judge for perusal, but that he had FORGOT, but would go through it at his earliest convenience. A few days’ later, I received a letter of Refusal to my Appeal, in which it said that after reading the previous Judges reasons for refusal, he was not allowing me to follow through with an Appeal. If you had seen the additional paperwork that was sent to the Courts, some of which were the Medical Reports from the 4 M.R.I.’s, stating that I have a noticeable narrowing of a section of vertebrae, severe problems with the neck bones, L4 and L5, as well as informing me for the first time that my problem with my right side of neck, shoulder (bone and muscle), down to the wrist. Is cause by Rotor Cuff trauma, the very short time from my phone call to the Clerk of Court, to receiving the Judge’s decision, was only a matter of days, shows that he could not have read my Paperwork.
I really hope this email – sorry that it is extremely long, will give you and the Committee further insight, which in turn hopefully will help 1000’s including me, to be treated with respect and fairness. The Prime Minister and other spokespersons who defend the Universal Credit only talk about “getting back to work” “helping people who claim Working Tax Credits or Jobseekers Allowance”. However, the people that are mainly being damaged by all this upheaval are the people, like me, who are unable to work. I am not and never have been idle or work shy. My brother and I, aged 7yrs and 6yrs, had to assist my father with 3 Office Cleaning jobs, due to my mother having a Nervous Breakdown. If we hadn’t helped, my father would have lost the contracts which meant no money coming in.
I worked a full-time job as well as a part-time job; beginning at 8.45am finishing 5pm, walk for 15mins, just had time to change into my uniform before starting work at 5.30pm until 9pm, then walked another 15mins home.
I also worked part-time in the office on the left as a Statistics Officer for Home Help and their wages. 20min break, then started work in the office on the right as a Clerk Typist for Social Workers.
Finally, it is only an observation, but why is someone who is on Benefits and has to apply for Universal Credit, not allowed to keep their present Benefit payments, then when the Housing Benefit is processed and the E.S.A. etc., is completed, total that amount, add to the one Benefit that is being Paid, which then become UNIVERSAL CREDIT.
October 2017