Well life didn't get much better but I did start an open university course (another thing I stressed about doing, until I got a stinking letter from department and sent it off). I feel almost like I'm living a double life. There were 6 months that passed where I only saw one person, yet from the facecrap people would think I'm perfectly fine. Become horribly agarohobic and withdrawn these last few years, and did however pass two ESA assessments without attending any medicals although I got very concerned when the community mental health team discharged me to my GP to save money. I'd like to maybe volunteer on and off at a charity shop to try and meet people but it's just not worth the risk. Not saying it would be an easy experience either, having to interact with people like that (especially if not medicated). Just does my head in this fear of destitution if you try and improve your situation, and how the system works against us. Then how we're labelled, good for nothing work-shy scroungers stealing peoples taxes off them to live the life of riley. That we're irresponsible people that don't want to contribute anything to our society. We are ****ing ill for Christ saves, they should cut us some slack not drive us into the ground. Do they honestly think i wanted to be sitting around on my ass for five years like this? I want to do something with my life.. You get incredibly morbid too in this state. Like you're just waiting around patiently to die. Not that I'm going to commit suicide, that's not my thing but I can see how people do end up doing it.

the date was on the letter I received after I passed my last medical.

I know to many people here this is going to seem like a bizzare question. It's however one of the sort of things I tend to think about oweing to the medical condition I have and it helps if I manage to resolve it in my mind. I have no plans of working abroad now or in the future but if I to work abroad for a few months, maybe even years do I lose my place on the council housing list? I get quite intense anxiety about such things even though I have no plans on going anywhere now or in the forseeable future but I like to have the peace of mind that I will be able to do so in future, without losing the security found with being on the list. Being taken off the council house list removes a large safety net that I have. I would love to work abroad one day, that is when I'm able to work but not for long. If it is the case that I will be struck off the council list were I to work in the EU, wouldn't that contravene the whole idea of freedom of movement of people in the EU? I imagine if that happened I could petition the European Parliament or Council but that's just speculation.

Speaking of 14 days, they're doing a promotion through Groupola at the moment for 14 days full membership for £12 Groupola - £12 instead of £27 for a 14 day full membership with Fitness First (not a referral link) Do you think it's worth it?

I'm sorry but is it just me who thinks there's something wrong with this? Why would they put someone on ESA when they're appealing against an IB decision? They're two different benefits. If receiving incapacity credits only they should be put on the IS reduced rate until the appeal is resolved, although in this case shouldn't the IB be reinstated then he be called back for a medical? It's almost like they ignored your appeal for IB and made you make a fresh claim, i.e- ESA. Any word on the IB appeal?

I'm due for the process of determining whether I need a PCA soon, well at the end of August. I have read that they're going to start testing IB claimants using the WCA from October. The trials start in Oct and the main tests begin in February. Last time I went through the PCA process it took about three months until I was finally called for a medical. I imagine given the current climate it may be faster this time, however, are they even bother to assess IB claimants under the PCA anymore? It is likely they'll just wait until they can assess me under the WCA? I wouldn't like to go through the PCA at the end of the year, only to be called for a WCA in Feburuary. I guess this is a question no one here can answer but I'm curious to know what you think may happen. I'd rather not ring the DWP and start questioning them about this as I don't want to hasten the whole process.

Hi, Apologies if this seems like a moan but I thought I'd give people an insight into how this government affects people in my situation. It seems as though everything this government announces affects me. I have been unfortunate enough to be on incapacity benefit for the last five years. I have decided to try and do some permitted work with the aim to try and get a job in the public sector. I am relatively well qualified, having got a reasonably good education both undergrad and postgrad. I am however, slightly concerned that by looking for this work I will be deemed 'fit for full time work' and shoved onto job seekers allowance, which going on my previous experience could prove quite disastrous for my health. The private sector can be slightly cut throat, the public sector jobs I was looking at prior to this announcement to freeze public sector recruitment offered a bright future in jobs that seemed manageable and flexible. I'm directly affected by the freeze on public sector recruitment, as when I start trying to look for some part time work, they stop recruiting people. I've also been on the housing list in my area for the last six years and was hoping to finally obtain some secure housing, instead of relying on unreliable and hostile landlords in the private sector. I've never found these people willing to house me. Infact, to avoid homelessness over the last 5 years I've had to lie to most of my landlords and only got my last one because I used a guarantor. The Tories have said they will change the rules on council housing. Anyone have any information as to how many points these people from other areas of the country are likely to receive? Do not get me wrong. I am a single male with no assets, living on my own with some severe psychiatric problems. It is kinda inevitable that these cuts would affect me and I imagine many people will be much more worse off but it does seem as though I'm being abit hammered by them.