Campaigner who embarrassed DWP was forced into 15-month benefit battle – with DWP
The worst aspect of this is that there probably isn’t a connection.
Gail Ward caused serious embarrassment to the Department for Work and Pensions in 2018 when in response to a Freedom of Information request, the government department had to admit 111,000 people had died while claiming Employment and Support Allowance.
Then Ms Ward, 63, was told by the same organisation that she didn’t qualify for Personal Independence Payments.
For clarity, she has Prinzmetal’s angina, a rare form of angina where attacks can occur even when resting. The rare heart condition means she can collapse at any moment.
It can cause arteries in the heart to spasm during times of stress or cold weather, which severely limits a person’s independence and can also be life-threatening.
She also has arthritis and hip dysplasia.
Ms Ward had been claiming Disability Living Allowance but, after she was ordered to attend a mandatory reassessment for PIP, she was told that her benefits would stop because she failed to meet the qualifying criteria.
How many times have we heard that before?
Look at her condition again. Of course she met the qualifying criteria. The DWP just wanted to cause her a bit of additional stress, and see if it aggravates her condition enough to kill her.
And if that happened, the people responsible would probably have had the nerve to say, at least she won’t be added to the death figures she uncovered, because she was claiming PIP, not ESA.
The cancellation of her benefit payments meant Ms Ward was unable to pay her bills and ended up in debt.
She was also stripped of her mobility car – which is common behaviour for the DWP.
It took her 15 months to get an appeal to the tribunal stage.
Now here’s the payoff: despite being unable to attend on the day, having been taken ill that morning, the tribunal still found in Ms Ward’s favour and awarded her the full amount of PIP.
Now she has criticised the assessment process and demanded answers about the way decisions are made.
Of course, we all know why the DWP’s assessors do what they do.
But with her record, Gail Ward might just be able to force them to confess it.
Source: Woman who can collapse at any moment due to a rare heart condition is denied benefits and Northumberland woman with rare heart condition that causes her to collapse denied benefits by DWP
Did the stormtroopers answer for their crimes hmm. There a those who banded together on the net to use the information gathered used to help those who didn’t know how to or the way to attack dwp but if they find out who you were they abused you by denial of benefits it’s strange now how they can get away Scot free with these crimes but has you now they do daily do letters arrive on people’s doorstep telling them how sorry dwp are for the death of but they had followed orders to the letter hmmm isn’t it strange how they can and do get away with culling the stock through benefits denial
And all top workers for DWP got MASSIVE BONUSES THEY SHOULD HANG THEIR HEADS IN SHAME! !!!!!!
The country gone to s…t got to for reassessment soon can’t sleep already lose mine might aswell not be here already thinking of a way out painless just be another cripple of the dwp list another bonus for them they don’t care
But we do.
Stick it out. Make them pay.
Every day you hang on is a show of defiance against a system that deserves to fall.
And go public.
Tell the papers you think the government wants you to die, and wants you to do it yourself so Boris can’t take the blame.
If you don’t think you have much time left, you can at least make every minute mean something.
Colin, maybe talk to your GP tell them how you’re feeling, get it on record that this is causing you stress/anxiety/depression, and also see about treatment for that, could be meds. and/or Counselling. Don’t suffer in silence. And please know that people DO care. Best of luck.
Yes – good advice.
They dont have a clue how vital benefits are for vulnerable people the rich get richer
I am in dispute with the DWP who have cut my retirement pension 50% because they claim I am married which is factually incorrect. I have been divorced for nearly 10 years.They also claim I attended their Wolverhampton Office 4 day in Nov last year and threatened their staff , and I was rude and aggressive which is yet another false statement. I am now awaiting a FTT date . I have provided evidence to the DWP that their officials are guilty of egregious conduct and maladministration
We were only following the orders of the higher authority, the standard defence at the Nuremberg Trials.
Precisely
It’s incredible that someone with such health conditions can be denied Benefits. When is someone going to get a grip on this crazy situation and end this madness, oh wait, no one cares, Big Ben Brexit Bongs are far more important than having a fair and reasonable functional Social Security system.
‘DWP complaints now up over 1,400% since 2013https://twitter.com/1kilroywashere/status/1218931156344823810?s=20
love gail to bits she has been good to me in the past , wish someone had mentioned it as im sure her friends would have got her through tough times , im on the round about again awaiting a tribunal date over pip
Her friends did help her out, according to the source article.
They would rather see everyone dead than have to pay a single penny to any poor people. This is a culling of the poor and homeless, they don’t want to have to pay for you to live, they would rather you just die so they don’t have to help you.
I took DWP to court 16.04.2019. Commissioner Kenneth Mc Mullan ruled in my favor. I won on at least 5 errors of law. Im 67yrs old with many health issues. My car was taken off me Jan 2019 and on appeal lost my Standard Allowance leaving me with only my pension. The commissioner says hes too busy to close my case and it may take as long again for this to happen. Im vy angry and stressed as thriough this Iv more medical problems. I feel they are wanting me to die so they wont have to pay.
Take it to the papers. Call them to account and make them regret it.
It doesn’t take much – just an email or a telephone call. But make sure you’ve got all your information handy!
It seems that the assessors are now saying things like, the client was swearing & aggressive towards the assessor, a friend of mine received a copy of her assessment that actually said that. My friend was in pieces she suffers with anxiety and depression was wringing her hands and was literally shaking like a leaf could hardly speak for herself, yet they said she showed no signs of being anxious. Her case has now been put forward to tribunal which is having an enormous impact on her health as she isn’t able to speak up for herself due to her anxiety.
It beggars belief that that these assessments of up to an hour by people who don’t know anything about us are able to make such an impact on our lives. Surely if your doctor and hospital say you are not fit, people who know you and see you regularly, people trained for years to be able to diagnose, that should be enough, after all they know what you are going through. DWP has a lot to answer for in my opinion!
Just received letter after months ov waiting. They told lies how can we respect a government that lie about everything
Gail wards a hero!!! I wish I had the strength to help myself and others… God bless!!!
And bless you (ie this website) for highlighting the issues!!!
For what good that does!?!
… We can do but, live in hope!!!
In addition the DWP have failed to be compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998, s3, European Convention on Human Rights and are to be treated as a public authority under s6,
I am currently applying for PIP also got a disability of Autism/Learning Disability since 1994 after phobic aniety disorder also using the Equality Act 2010, s20, the European Convention on Human Rights, Articles 3, 6, 8 (1), 11 and 14. I will be using the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the European Social Charter 1996 against the DWP.
Good on you Errol, best of luck mate!
Good on you, Gail.
A classic stereo typical outcome of Assessors who are not trained or qualified as diagnose and effects which is the basis for PIP claims. I would seek support for a Judicial Review of her case if the funding block to legal aid is a road block create a crowd funding page.