WelshWallace · @WelshWallace
31st Jul 2013 from TwitLonger
@Tanni_GT HELP : I'm scared of what is happening. this morning (9.00am Tues 30th) I had a phonecall from DWP informing me that the same day (Tues 30th) I would have a disability assessment over the phone by ATOS anytime between 10.30 and 4.30 and to make sure i am available. he then explained failure to do so would effect my disability benefits and might delay payment if I do not complete it.so i had to cancel an urgent doctors appointment because i am losing sensation in my feet later that day at 2.30pm so i would not miss it. an hour later a woman called me saying because i pose a risk to their staff (I cough up blood because of my lungs) i would have to fill out a questionnaire in the next few days and send it back to them. I explained I am fully blind and the service provided previously that helped me fill out forms has been cut due to government cutbacks. They are aware I am unable to walk so unable to go to one of their offices already. they also do not provide questionnaires in braille or audio format - just standard printed format. I do not have any family & I have become isolated due to my disabilities so no friends close by since i was moved here to be near my rehab centre I do not have any visitors. last social visit by friends was back in December. She said they did not have the resources to deal with my disability problems, just mild disabilities and asked me to ring another department for advice and help. i rang them. they said i had to ring another department to advice and help. I rang them - yes they gave me another number. I have now been asked to organise myself an appointment with an ATOS/DWP approved centre to do this over the phone tomorrow. they said if that centre is not able to help me tomorrow to fill out the forms & questionaire for my disability assessment to ring them back and they "will have a think on what to do"
surely if a government department is doing disability assessments they should have the resources to deal with disabilities? and also not put the onus on me to chase around different government departments finding out who does? if i fail my assessment due to being unable to complete it does that mean I am left with nothing? I was made to feel sub human today being told coldly i pose a risk like i am some disgusting infection because my lungs do not work properly who does not fit into their resources of disabilities. I have to go through the whole process again tomorrow. it is currently 4am and i am crying my eyes out from stress/scared and wondering why I am having to justify why i am working so hard at staying alive to them because they made me feel it was an inconvenience.