MP correspondence

Dear Mr Allen,

 Thank you for your prompt response.

 Unfortunately, due to a very strict parliamentary protocol I am unable to assist with your concerns. However, as you say, you are in correspondence with my colleague Mark Spencer. I do appreciate the time you have taken to write to me and let me know your concerns, which I have taken on board. If these topics come up in the Chamber, I will bear them in mind.

 Thank you again for contacting me.

 Yours sincerely, Neil 

Neil Parish

Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton

Neil

 I am not a resident within your constituency, although my formative years were around there!

 For completeness/transparency I live at {address given} and am well known to Mark Spencer.

 I hoped that some of my comments might strike a chord.  I have found that many, including IDS, refer back to the 'bad old days', which does not solve the 'here and now'.

 As with most govt policies, I can see the original problem and applaud the desire to resolve it, but abhor the means that are being used to bulldoze through the final solution, and the significance of those words is not lost on me, as the disabled and infirm feel that they are 4th class citizens.

 I should tell you that I am not affected by BT, although I am disadvantaged by going to an ATOS interview and waiting 16 months for my appeal to be heard.  Mark knows this.

 Thank you for writing to me

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Dear Mr Allen,

 Thank you for your email regarding the Under Occupancy Penalty.

 I am interested in responding to your concerns, as they could potentially affect a great number of people in my constituency. However, before I do so please could you confirm your address, including your postcode so that I can confirm you a resident of Tiverton and Honiton constituency.

 Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you.

 Yours sincerely, Neil

My situation

I can hardly ask you to give details of your situation if I have not given mine.  Give me credit - I arrived at this conclusion all by myself.


before May 2010  DLA £82.20 a month, approx £100 a week ESA

The date of any medical assessment by ATOS:  Approx February 2012

I have hypertension, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis indicators which are mostly under control but joints can flare up.  But the main work killer is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/fibromyalgia

The Outcome of that medical:  0 points

If you appealed, how long have you been waiting? I put in my appeal within a week of the decision which was first informed me by phone [I failed to see the point and it seemed the man at the other end was getting pleasure from it], then by letter in March 2012]

The first I knew my appeal was 'not' was when I received a p45 from the DWP without explanation.  I rang DWP to be told my appeal had been struck out!  I rang the Appeals Tribunal and they asked me for my appeal number, to which I explained I had not been given one, and asked for my appeal to be reinstated [which I did by e-mail and then by letter - they don't like both being done together] - it has been reinstated and I await a date.  I have indicated that I am prepared to be on short notice.
I am still receiving my DLA [although that will be reviewed] and I get approx £71 contributions based ESA only due to receiving sick notes from my doctor.  This is due to cease in May 2013.  I cannot go onto Income based JSA? as my savings are too much [savings limits have not been changed for over 20 years]

Bedroom tax - how much Housing benefit you receive:  As I own my house, this does not affect me

Council Tax - As I have too much in savings I pay the full amounts - plus my partner works

Is there anything else that should be mentioned that, if not mentioned, could undermine our/your case?  They know I get small pensions [retired due to ill-health]

Additional:  I would like to work but I zonk out.  I can have a brilliant couple of hours then flag dramatically, even if it is something I enjoy doing.  Reconciling cash for a charity posed real problems on a bad day.  Doing Charity work or any form of task requires several attempts before I finish it.  Washing up I can stand for only 5 minutes before my back starts protesting.  I sometimes need help at supermarket checkouts and I have to adhere to a strict procedure otherwise I will leave my debit card on the counter.  I find I often forget what I went upstairs for, ans sometimes stairs - going up and down - causes problems.  I leave cooker rings on and taps running, esp when my attention is distracted by someone at the door or a phone call.  I tend to be confrontational when people are not listening or don't care.  I get anxious when I have meetings or appointments that disrupt my routine.

Test from facebook page link - I have arrived!

Template for your comments about your situation

I've had no suggestions - crude or other wise as to what I thought people should include.  So... please use this as a template and only add factual info.  I cannot emphsise that insulting politicians will detract from them reading it.  Let the statement "I have £X a week to live on" speak for itself.

Your Benefit type and amount before May 2010

The date of any medical assessment by ATOS or similar [name?]

A brief description of your condition[s] and how this/these limit you

The Outcome of that medical

If you appealed, how long have you been waiting? What was the outcome?

What ESA/DLA/PIP etc you are receiving now

THEN this...

Bedroom tax - how much Housing benefit you receive, how much BT is deducted

Council Tax - how much are/will you be paying?

What is the amount of benefit you are now getting/will get?

Is there anything else that should be mentioned that, if not mentioned, could undermine our/your case?

IS THAT ALL - have I left anything out? Open to constructive suggestion.

Request, I know it is hard but please try to keep emotion out of it. I have found the shorter I make a letter or e-mail the less wound up I get :)

I am fairly new to Blogging.  All that is needed on here is a brief, unemotional and respectful [to others including MPs!] statement of your circumstances due to changes in your benefit and/or medical assessments. Once we have a good number of what could be called 'case studies', the link to this blog can be e-mailed to your MP etc.  First I need to establish a format that can be copied, pasted and amended to suit YOUR circumstances.  All coming later