Bessie J

Dignity and respect means:

Being believed. Not having to go through face to face health assessments with DWP. Not being quizzed on how I got to the appt and who brought me. I am not pretending to be poorly to receive benefits and an 'easy life' as I have been accused of by others.

There is no need to go into detail of how many times I had incontinence to a stranger, both in the application form and face to face.

If I show the prescription of what medicines I take, Why do the DWP ask claimants of side effects, if the printed label on the box and leaflet insists, causes drowsiness?

There is no need to ask the claimant again, if sick notes and prescriptions are shown as evidence.

I feel like I'm treated like a criminal. Being accused of faking illness for fraud.

My anxiety worsens having to justify myself to DWP. Cross examined, repeated questions to trip me up.

I struggle with memory and I can't find words to speak at times especially under pressure.

How can I tell how often I experience symptoms and meds side effects when I can't remember if I took my meds or not?

The meds are very strong and I feel trapped on them due to withdrawal symptoms which are similar to drug addicts going cold turkey. I feel ashamed and have had family make horrible comments about my ' mental illnesses as if I was out of control with behaviours. I'm very drowsy and unable to keep up with housework. I'm exhausted and have to sit down after a simple task. I forget appts.

How do you explain tinnitus to a DWP worker? It's not visible, it has big impact on my hearing and mental health. Working in a busy environment stressed me and I made mistakes.

What if I make mistakes and forget what I've been instructed to do by an employer? What if I can't get to work on time due to drowsiness from medicines?

What if I'm sacked and not paid?

Who pays the bills and groceries? I'm overwhelmed with DWP applications and providing evidence.

I don't want to be watched walking from the waiting room to the assessment room.

I don't want to justify every move I make. I don't want to feel as if I'm on trial, with a stranger with no experience of my illness, making a decision of whether I am genuine or not.

Asking questions if I use social media, is not relevant to fitness to work, but I've previously been asked at a DWP health assessment. Asking if I can sit through a full movie is not relevant to whether I'm fit to work.

I've previously attended an unfair decision matter to be overturned with DWP. I had support from a benefit advisor.

The woman from DWP was rude and arrogant. I broke down in tears explaining details of my daughter planning suicide. I found it difficult to say it out loud as it was it was a traumatizing time and I felt shame as if I failed my daughter as a parent. Fortunately, one of the 4 independent doctors on the panel argued with the DWP and overturned the decision.

It was difficult financially for a whole year without the benefit income waiting for the appt.

The guilt as a parent of a child who wanted to die never leaves me.

The justifying to strangers without medical qualifications, was humiliating and degrading.

It impacted my mental health which worsened after the overturn of the benefit decision.

A letter from GP and prescription should be plenty evidence.

The word evidence , as if a claimant is on trial. The wording in application forms from DWP makes me feel I've done wrong .

It's cruel. It triggers my PTSD of a controlling ex partner who I justified every move, how much I spent, who I spoke to and what did I say to whom. Then called a liar, then punished physically and financially as he was never satisfied with my answers.

The DWP system is almost impossible to defraud. So why is it treating benefit claimers as if they have?

If already claiming a benefit and migrating to UC, why does anyone have to show proof of who they are with ID checks? Is that not what national insurance numbers do?

Showing how much is in bank accts and explaining transactions is ridiculous. Especially when MP's don't need to justify what's in their offshore accounts.

The inequalities are evident. The MP's are my ex, controlling me and questioning me , trying to trip me up and refusing to believe me.

Yet like my abusive ex partner, they can do anything they want to without anyone questioning them.

Over 10 years ago I left my abusive ex and never seen him since. I can't move on. I cannot trust anyone and I still feel not good enough. The DWP ensures I will keep these feelings of not being good enough, with their disturbing questions and the authority to make decisions on my health.