Mental Health and Benefits, Part 2: The impact of cuts to Disability Living Allowance

[suesill1]

hi i am a 53 yr old lady who has been turned down for dla.like you i have mental health issues.i had a massive brain hemmarage 4 yrs ago that changed my life ,i have a platingham coil fitted to the base of my brain,i have full on angina ,excema...virtigo.nerve damage in my left arm,hearing loss and now skitaphrenia. any advice please

[recury]

@suesill1 Hello, I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances :( I'm incredibly surprised that you haven't been accepted for DLA judging by what you've mentioned here. Applying for benefits is a serious matter, particularly if you are doing so because you're unable to work or suffer from a long-term illness that impairs your ability to work. I'm not qualified to give advice on a professional level but if you would like to discuss it further, please feel free to message me directly.

[geoffdundee]

i totally agree with cuts to DLA benefits.....i know a couple who fraudulently claim to be mentally ill and they recieve £1800 each month,free rent and community charge,free bus and rail passes...yet they can afford to spend over £120 a week on take away meals,often spend £80 on nights out at bingo,regulary spend in betting shops and local pub....after paying all my bills some weeks im lucky if i have £13 left for food and it Pees me off when the couple mentioned above still say they are skint

[madscanman1]

i got dla my heat f..ked , and then some thug shot is in the neck i got ptsd and anti social personality disorder , only job i ll get is one in jail ha ha , as if i will pass medicail ? wit bullet proof vest on and thinking every one is going to kill me ,

do you wish the 22 yr ied victim the same ? you need to think , and were the f,,k are all the jobs in uk ? i right there's non,

they say big business owe the uk hmcs 120 b , all mp robbed us of their expensive s

[yousurfer2]

I don't claim DLA but I hate to see the ignorant comments by people who think because you're not in wheelchair you should be at work. If you could only be inside the mind of what people with mental problems have have to go through, you would know. These problems don't necessarily affect you when at home!

[sbowesuk]

You've on DLA? You don't appear very disabled to me mate, even with bipolar disorder. I suggest you suck it up, grow a pair, and get your ass out to work, rather than play the "I'm too vulnerable" card and conveniently leach off the system. Ironic listening to your wishes to go back to university so you can "get a better job", when you're clearly avoiding any kind of job at the moment.

All I can say is bring on the reforms so this BS can't get nipped in the bud. Good day.

[recury]

@sbowesuk Do you know much about mental health? Are you a mental health professional? Have you had direct first hand experience with a condition like depression, anxiety, stress, or indeed any of the more acute psychological disorders? What makes you think after watching a few minutes of me in a video that you know anything about my life or personal history? As far as I am concerned YOU have no right to pass judgement or make such accusations. So, please, go fuck yourself.

[sbowesuk]

@recury To answer your question, yes, and I never used it as an excuse not to work. As for passing judgement, I have a right to an opinion. Incapacity benefit in your case would be acceptable, but DLA? Gtfo. You're not disabled. You've been more than capable of making this video and making that very lucid comment, so not buying it son.

[recury]

@sbowesuk I receive benefits which I have been told I am entitled to. I completed the applications and provided the necessary evidence. You're basing your opinion on a heavily edited video of me on a good day. Such periods are few and far between. Being Bipolar doesn't mean I lack intelligence or the ability to put a video together. It's a long-enduring mood disorder. I have opinions too and I think you're attitude is very typical of the kind of stigma and ignorance associated with MH.

[recury]

@sbowesuk DLA is being reformed for many reasons. Also the word "disability" doesn't accurately reflect the wide spectrum of people who need it. Different conditions affect people differently at varying levels. Maybe you've never felt your mental health was enough of a problem to prevent you from holding down a job but just because you can work AND cope with whatever you claim to have, doesn't mean other people can.

[recury]

@sbowesuk And by the way, you can still work and claim DLA and ESA. A decision is made on the basis of need, number of hours worked, income, etc. I received Incapacity Benefit which has recently been changed to ESA; DLA is non-means tested and is based primarily on need and the level at which my condition affects me. So what is someone with a mental health illness supposed to look like exactly? How am I meant to behave which differs from your expectations? No, I think YOU need to GTFO

[hollyred1]

@sbowesuk Have you ever tried working with someone with Bipolar? I'm not trying to defend recruy but more defend you if you work with someone with it!!! Ignorance can be bliss, but not if they go "mental" on you.

[tren979797]

@sbowesuk How does someone with mental illness "appear" to be disabled? How should they look to you? lol You sound really dumb dude...

[hollyred1]

I've put in a claim for DLA. I don't know if I've got it yet but I have been told not to tell anyone that I am going to get it because of people assuming DLA is for people who display physical disabilities. I don't have a mental health problem, I don't have a wheel chair, I can walk around, I can do a degree (if I was clever enough) do I deserve DLA? I live a normal life until my head spins, I can't stand up, I can't make a drink, infact my life changes completely. Love the video!!!

[recury]

@hollyred1 Good luck with the application. May I ask if you saw anyone about completing prior to sending it off?

[hollyred1]

@recury I saw someone who has experience of filling in DLA forms, she was amazing although filling the form in properly did make me realize how much I do need help and how much I do need others. I sent the form recorded delivery and I've had the classic letter of "thank you for your application, we'll get back to you as soon as we've completed the assessment."

Have a great Christmas.

[hollyred1]

@recury The kind government have decided that even though I'm not in a wheelchair that I am entitled to DLA. As far as I'm concerned, everything I wrote was the truth and my Dr was more than happy to support me. I do voluntary work once a week (I get lifts to and from work)and I meet people all the time with mental health/physical problems who can't get DLA and it's ridiculous!

[magnusalexa]

i thought DLA is supposed to be for people who cannot walk, if youre doing a degree you dont need DLA, incapacity benefit is enough for you

[recury]

@magnusalexa

That is an incredibly ignorant thing to say. Disability Living Allowance is determined by the evaluation of a persons circumstances in two areas: 1. Mobility, 2. Care. The application process itself is particularly stringent and believe me, I wouldn't have applied for it if I felt that I wasn't entitled to it. I went to University and I had a relapse, ultimately, I had to pull out. Disability isn't just about people who cannot walk. Sounds like you need to educate yourself.

[magnusalexa]

@recury im on income support aided by incapacity, i got a dla form but the front page says "for people who struggle to walk." or words to the effect, so i threw it away this guy is mixing what he wants with what he needs, and is adding on top of that, " dont give it me and ill relapse."

frame of mind is a self inflicted state of being, this guy can walk, talk, conversate, lead, give speeches, act camp which is an act, and give himself a degree course. This guy isnt disabled, this guy is actin

[recury]

@magnusalexa Which guy are you referring to? The person in the video is ME. From what I can gather from your comments you have absolutely NO understanding of mental health. Your opinions are the kind of attitudes, stigma and ignorance that people like myself have to face every day. To be honest, I'm quite appalled by your opinions and I'm saddened to know there are people like you judging others without knowing the specifics of an individuals circumstances.

[recury]

@magnusalexa I am not responsible for your inability to apply for the right benefits or your misunderstanding of the application process for DLA. As I said in my video, the DLA application itself IS geared toward physical disabilities and mental health charities have been lobbying parliament for welfare reform to consider a more balanced approach to assessing individuals according to their needs, regardless of whether the disability is physical or mental. Educate yourself.

[magnusalexa]

@recury i am educated enough for what i need, mental health is a state of mind which mind over matter can cure, if you want to be cured before youre degree has been passed go buy some mind over matter books, but i am puttinbg it to youtubers that you dont want to be cured before you have youre degree, and youre degree will cure you but you wont allow the nhs to cure you. i can see through you better than you, it is what i do, i am an expert of people

[recury]

@magnusalexa In this instance you have failed abysmally. This video was made after I had chosen to "interrupt" my studies. I relapsed half way through the course and I chose to "interrupt" my studies so I could regroup, with the assistance of the NHS, and get myself to a better state of mind so I could return to finish the degree. However by the time the interruption period was up, I was still on a waiting list for a referral, in between that time the NHS were still determining the best way...

[recury]

@recury ..to treat me, in between changing from one CMHT to another (because I moved ten minutes down the road after having to leave University halls), there were months of intermittent contact and uncertainty of who was meant to be dealing with my case. As a result, I made very little progress in getting better, the bureaucracy and limitation of the resources were in part to blame, I spent a great deal of my time doing nothing, going out of my mind with boredom, I tried to focus on doing...

[recury]

@recury ...creative things but I wanted to do something more pro-active and try and contribute to society in a way that I felt able to. I began looking into volunteering for mental health charities Mind and Rethink and getting involved in helping their campaigns, but they have hundreds of volunteers across the country so opportunities come up few and far between.

[recury]

@recury The one "half day" I volunteered for Mind and spoke to MPs about how the cuts were going to impact people with mental health, Mind advocate people talking from their own personal experiences and so I did. It was a very difficult thing to do, my concentration levels are fused at the best of times and I experienced intense anxiety. I'm not a politician, and I certainly don't want to be.

[recury]

@magnusalexa The point of the degree is mute, as I am no longer studying for a degree. Instead, after a long wait, I am due to begin an intensive therapy programme that will help me sort my head out. Then once I get to a point where I able to balance life and responsibility better than I am now, then I will consider what my options are. Is it wrong for someone to aspire to be more? As far as benefits are concerned and my entitlement to them, I've jumped through all the hoops and proven myself...

[recury]

@recury ...to those authorities concerned. I don't need to prove myself to you. Ultimately you seem to have an issue with me because you have a completely different belief or perspective on mental illness than I. I understand the ideas that it's a "state of mind" and I could simply read a book to solve my problems but I'm sorry, that doesn't wash with me. To be honest, I'm finding your arguments quite difficult to follow and confusing, please forgive me if I seem to be missing something here.

[recury]

@recury I certainly had no intention in having an argument with anyone  but I do not take likely to accusations, particularly as I have put effort into my videos and have only good intentions, to educate, inform and get people thinking about this issue. If I am somehow in error then it would be helpful for you to be more specific with your enquiry rather than resorting to personal attacks and mind-fuck tactics - what are trying to catch me out on exactly?

[recury]

In respect of my ability to give speeches, converse, etc. so what? I was helped and supported by the charity I volunteered for. You don't know anything about me or what I have to live with. And what have you done exactly? Do you volunteer for any charities? Have you attempted to address the inequalities of the system by lobbying the government for fair reform? Or do you just sit there criticising others, resentful and bitter because of your own laziness and complacency? Please just fuck off.

[magnusalexa]

@recury i worked 7 months in the 90s as a volunteer, me lobbying the govt for the changes i want people have already done, no need for me to do that. youre acting camp, if youre so fooked up in the head how do you keep up the camp act? If youre always acting camp how does that bypass youre head fook? states of mind are self inflicted, taking a degree and doing voluntary work totally reverses youre claims of not being fit for work.

i dont do requests, so no i wont fook off

[recury]

@magnusalexa I don't understand how my apparent "campness" fits into your argument. Is that how you perceive me to be? If so, then so be it. When I recorded the video I tried to be as perfectly composed and calm as possible but actually I had to edit the original footage down so much because I kept losing concentration, getting distracted, umming and ahhing and generally wasting time. I had to edit the footage down in such away that I got the main points across as succinctly as possible.

[magnusalexa]

@recury defend yourself,tell us what u have had to put up with.If youre sufferin from depression then mind over matter it out of youre life,this nanny state is creatin millions of adult kids & u are one of them.States of mind are all self inflicted,if u wanna get better buy some books on mind over matter. Defend yourself &tell us what u have had to put up with?

ive had to put up with much more than u but i am ok,&if u tell us what youve had to put up with ill tell what ive put up with

[magnusalexa]

@recury I'm suggesting here you are happy to be this way, or are exaggerating it, or are helping it to be this way, dont listen to NHS, they a bunch of idiots when it comes to mental health, have they cured you no, mind over matter will though. when youve finished youre degree youll be going back to work with that wont you, so WTF, a degree can cure you but the NHS cant!

youre mental health is mixed up with what you want and not what you need.

[magnusalexa]

@recury kin hell you live in london, no wonder you lobbied parliament its just a short bus ride from youre home, WD, was that a good half day out for you.

i aint resentful and bitter of people conning themselves and the system, i am an expert on behaviour, mental health and emotions,YOU CAN CURE YOURSELF BUT YOU DONT WANT TOO, YOU WANT TO GET YOURE DEGREE FIRST THEN YOULL GO BACK TO WORK

[Chico1584]

@magnusalexa I take my medicine for Schizophrenia I am in remission have been for a while should I go back to work? I was working part time recently as I was entitled to do so whilst on benefits. I just want to be happy if I can find a job that makes me happy and gives me purpose in life fine. Sometimes I do think whats the point? Sometimes I just want to say fuck it fuck off I don't need your money or a shit dead end job fuck off I will live on the fucking streets I have my pride.

[magnusalexa]

@recury the last time i was in london it was at the request of a brain surgeon from goldsmiths college, he was impressed at what i do and wanted to run a few questions to me and a few tests. I was helping him and his department at the time and effort of myself. He was so impressed by my behavioural achievements, my work record and my claims that he wanted me to visit him some more so he could run some tests on my brain, but i refused because it meant he would have to put me into a scanner

[Chico1584]

@magnusalexa Are you mentally ill or have you ever been mentally ill?

[recury]

@magnusalexa I also think you're being fairly insulting to those with physical disabilities with your comments. Just because someone might not be able to walk, doesn't mean they cannot do a degree course. What planet are you on?

[gobbygertie]

You put your case across so eloquently, I hope you get all the help and support you deserve. This system sickens me to my core and the policy makers make their decisions not by personal experience but by pigeon holing disabilities. People with disabilities are treated as statistics. This country will have USA style healthcare in the next few years....it is actually on its way there.

[telemetry9]

and of course - the uk employment sector is such a fun and friendly place with absolutely no bullying of those who are vulnerable at all. ever.

Who would dare imply such things would happen to people who are vulnerable?

Arbeit mecht frei, after all.

[ModerateMartian]

Good video mate. Medicals, appeals (all that that involves) and the fear of losing benefit have definitely made my metal health problems which include social phobis, depression and some sort of stress disorder/s like fibromyalgia (undiagnosed) far worse. I don't know what I would do if and when I have to go through this again, as soon as I make a little progress I'm pulled down again and have no real help.

[Tarquinbeaniebaby]

Get yourself on a 12 hour shift with me! I stack shelves with one arm and get no benefits at all. If I start Prozac can get a disabled badge for my motor?

[telemetry9]

of course you can work with only one arm. With a healthy body and mind - something like one arm aint going to stop you. And of course - being super human and miraculously gifted also helps you overcome were others fail. You're a shining light and you have such humility - it's a wonder you're not working down at the job centre doing work capability assessments.

Arbeit Mech Frei, after all. caio.

[recury]

@Tarquinbeaniebaby I used to attend group therapy sessions with a guy who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident. The gentleman in question also had psychological issues which he was being treated for. Though in some way they might be related, they are also separate. Prozac isn't going to make a blind bit of difference if you're not suffering with Depression. If you believe you might be entitled to benefits, i.e. you're on a low-income, then I suggest you make enquiries about it.

[nancyrowina]

You are right TV is mind control! lol. Seriously though I'm ina similar situation to you, I have anxiety based depression and do not get DLA but my partner does. The threat of losing benefits is making me more ill, I've been feeling suicidal and am on anti-depressants and sleeping pills again. I also am doing a degree and need at least 4 years to finish it, if i get put on the new ESA that lasts a year I won't be able to. I'm planning to make a video too about my feelings on this subject.

[recury]

@nancyrowina After going thru a very difficult time myself and finding that I my options of returning to university have since become extremely limited. I will suggest that you contact the DWP or your local CAB and ask for further advice. After having taken two "academic" years away from my course, I find myself in somewhat of a catch 22 situation...

[recury]

@recury ...in part because (not only myself) but NO ONE understands exactly how the ESA system works and whether or not it will continue to support those in recovery who choose to return to full time education as a form of rehabilitation (like myself). The previous system of Incapacity Benefit made allowances for this at the discretion of the DWP and I was lucky enough to qualify for this. Now I have absolutely no idea if this will be at all possible...

[recury]

@recury ...The present government's reason to "reform" the welfare system was sold as a means of "simplifying" an already complex process. In my opinion, they are doing the opposite; they're making it more incoherent. In simple terms it is just a way of deterring individuals from claiming what they are entitled to and creating more "red-tape" as a result. Your only options are to continue as you would before and hope for the best or simply give up without even trying. My advice? NEVER GIVE UP!

[recury]

@nancyrowina if you do happen to make a video about your own feelings, please feel free to share it with me :)

[petchharrison]

i agree as i am an aspie so its been a worrying time,the government will send us into more problems this is short tearm saveings that will cost far far more to the tax payer remember we are all tax payers....///???? ie vat....jeff aspie

[edmilfan69]

Anyone facing housing crises due to sickness related benefit cuts should get all the support from CPNs, social workers and the ilk, and apply for social housing as soon as the situation comes about - it will help you get a much higher banding on the bidding system, and these days you can choose to bid, rather than be told where to live. Adequate homes in non-volatile/low-crime areas are key for mental health stability.

[nancyrowina]

@edmilfan69

With the cuts there will be less CPN's and social workers, social housing is over subscribed too, I've been bidding for nearly a year and have got nothing yet. The reality is lots of disabled and mentally ill people will end up homeless. It will be like America where the mentally ill live on the streets and the well people step over them without noticing. People have to be made aware of what is going on and act now before it happens.

[Springamatul]

Its just going to make people even more ill and the situation is not going to get any better I totally agree with you.

It shameful of the government to maintain even more stress to the society.

[zezt]

@nancyrowina whats the nazi system called in america? do you know?

[nancyrowina]

@zezt I think it just falls under the blanket term "Welfare", and if you are sick it only lasts 6 months so if you can't return to work you just lose everything and have to rely on family and charities. so inevitably a lot of people end up on the street.

[Tilly236]

@nancyrowina Unfortunately Cameron seems to think America's harsh system is for the best here. I try not to be over dramatic but it really does seem to me that 'defective' people are slowly being segregated. The government and media attitude toward us is discriminatory, which then encourages people in general to react to us in the same way. I can't believe it's actually allowed to happen. The media barely report on any protests made by disabled people so we're just not being heard.

[BINLASH123]

maybe if society has trouble accepting that someone is having some issues and allow them to work along side them to help them recover and spare the high probability of being trapped on benefits then society is equally as disabled.

[nancyrowina]

@BINLASH123 I do agree and would love to have a job believe me, but my illness means sometimes I can't leave the house for no reason I can explain, it's just called social anxiety, I can't face contact with anyone, not even to hand over money to a person behind a check out in a shop or anything. If I worked I would have to call in sick on a regular basis as a result, how long should an employer have to put up with that without sacking me and employing someone who can...

[nancyrowina]

@nancyrowina come in everyday without a problem? Even the most compassionate and understanding employers are running a business at the end of the day and they need employee's who can work all the time. For me the solution would be to find a job that allows me to work from home, this would also work for lots of other disabled people. In my opinion the government needs to encourage big companies to create more genuine jobs that can be carried out from home, with the internet etc...

[nancyrowina]

@nancyrowina It should be possible, but at the moment is very expensive to set up on your own and the work is very sporadic and quite unreliable. And there are millions of scams online and very few genuine opportunities.

[BINLASH123]

@nancyrowina well ,,quicky reply here.. working from home using your understandings and computers skills would maybe be your answer, if there was a company you could find that could benefit somehow from your situation..finding a company which could understand would be prossibly a first step and also they would a responsibility for yourself to help them find a way. If not contributing the way you are by expressing yourself is a help to the BIG society anyhow !

[updownjunkie]

Hi again. Well I have to say one more time. Severe mental illness like Bipolar I are disabilities. When you look at how cuts in benefits can create very real stress that can cause us serious episodes and setbacks.

[recury]

@updownjunkie

I agree that Bipolar Disorder can certainly be a disadvantage in terms of the impact it can have on someone's life however as I said in my response to your comments on the first video, my concerns with "disability" stem from the way in which the UK benefits system and indeed, attitudes within this society are towards those with physical disabilities.

Mental health has a stigma of its own to deal with and though I feel that it can impact the physical abilities of an individual..

[recury]

@recury

..I think the primary concern is the way in which mental health can impair ones ability to function as a whole.

The term disability very often singles individuals out as being some kind of "lesser person" - I think this is wrong. I think the terms disabled and disability have contributed to the misconception of mental health in society and a more accurate term needs to be defined to separate physical and mental conditions when assessing someone's need for benefits.

[Tilly236]

I'm on DLA myself for depression & anxiety and have got worse just by worrying over the proposed cuts & the way we're portrayed by the government and media. You're right, it would make more sense to invest in improving services, but this government seems to just see £ signs.

It would also be helpful if the doctors assessing us were trained in mental health conditions but most GPs aren't and misunderstand or misdiagnose. If I wear make-up I'm judged to be well, which is ridiculous!

[recury]

@Tilly236

Hello there! Thanks for taking the time to watch my videos and leave a comment, it is most appreciated!

I couldn't agree more with your opinions; this present government are making a lot of poor decisions which stand to hurt everyone except themselves and their rich associates. The class barriers are becoming more apparent with every passing day they are in power.

[recury]

@recury

In addition, re: GP's. I believe that mental health illnesses need to be identified and treated as soon as possible. The present and reportedly prevalent method of "diagnosing" and prescribing anti-depressants is poorly conceived. If it were something physical, you'd be referred to a specialist very quickly for whatever is necessary to find out what is wrong. Likewise, I believe someone with suspected mental health symptoms should be referred for immediate psychological assessment.

[recury]

@recury

I think it's very lazy for a GP to attempt to diagnose a patient and prescribe medicine with something as complex and so far not entirely understood by the psychology/psychiatry services. Unfortunately the emergency budget cuts will mean less funding to mental health services, redundancies and fewer experienced professionals to go around. If the GP's are forced to pick up the slack, then an increase in this kind of practise is inevitable.

[abominableangel]

@Tilly236 yes i agree about the make up etc... its like you have to go in stinking to high heaven and look like a dogs dinner before they say " oh she/he's in a bad way"

[nancyrowina]

@Tilly236 I saw a case on the news where a woman posted photo's of herself smiling and laughing on holiday on facebook, and they tried to stop her benefits saying she wasn't depressed. Where the hell are these people getting their training?! Depressives do smile and laugh occasionally you know, it doesn't mean we're cured!