What Is happening to This Country?

[david63]

Last night I was watching the DIY SOS programme on the Beeb and it was about a chap who had been injured whilst in the Army. Due to his injuries he was unable to go upstairs on his own and so was "trapped" downstairs. His only wish in life was to have a downstairs toilet and, according to the programme, his local council refused to put one in for him.

Now I know that there are many service personnel who have been injured in the line of duty but surely we owe them some basic, and in some cases not so basic, help with everyday living that will improve their quality of life.

[Onelife]

I’ll tell you what is wrong with this country David...we spend far too much time and money supporting immigrants who contribute absolutely sod all to this country but tap into every benefit going. There are well over a million illegal immigrants in this country most of which are pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity.

Perhaps if this government got to grips with this problem then perhaps councils would have more money to help out those who are entitled to it.

Regards

Keith

[Jan Rosser]

I watched the programme David and was disgusted with the way the poor man had been treated since leaving the army - I cried when he said he had had his life and Nick Knowles said but you are only 47. To see the pleasure he had from the build was another tear jerker and what a smashing family he had - not many kids today have such an unselfish attitude.

I hope whoever refused or has kept him waiting for so long for such a basic thing as a downstairs loo is ashamed - bloody bureaucracy gone crazy.

[Kendhni]

I’ll tell you what is wrong with this country David...we spend far too much time and money supporting immigrants who contribute absolutely sod all to this country but tap into every benefit going. There are well over a million illegal immigrants in this country most of which are pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity.

Perhaps if this government got to grips with this problem then perhaps councils would have more money to help out those who are entitled to it.

Regards

Keith

Sorry Keith, have to take you to task on this one .. on two fronts ...
Firstly it is not just immigrants who contribute sod all to this country and tap into every benefit going
Secondly I very much doubt that MOST immigrants will be 'pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity' ... MOST will have been recruited by various companies and in gainful employment ... others will have been 'incentivised' to come to this country by the previous government looking to acquire more voters (and may or may not be in gainful employment).

One of the big issues that we have to overcome is that there is a 'core' in the indigenous population that are unwilling to work for their money ... they try to spin the myth that migrant workers are 'stealing' our jobs ... that is rubbish, we are handing them to them on a silver platter. The other big issue is that there needs to be more effort in securing investment in this country ... there is no sense in guaranteeing people jobs if they are not REAL jobs ... in the private sector companies will become uncompetitive (to the point of closure) or in the already bloated public sector we would just have more paper pushers generating irrelevant work for vital front line staff.

[Kendhni]

Back onto topic ... I didn't see the show but have heard of similar things happening.
In my opinion injured service men and women should be put to the top of the pile as far as allocating money is concerned.

[Delboy]

I watched the programme and found it very moving and it even brought a tear to the eye, as well as disgust of how the man had been treated.

[suespud]

It is a disgrace , no excuse for him to be treat that way !!!

Slightly off subject...
On Saturday I went along with my OH to one of the factories he looks after.
It was a family day.
My OH is over seeing the closure of two factories resulting with over 600 people loosing their jobs. Another warehouse has already closed, jobs lost, after the company was bought out by a giant company.

This factory is in Slough. The majority of the workers are Asian, then Polish, South African and a few English. They have problems recruiting "English" people. Seems lots don't want to do shift work. Even though they are well paid.
Some of the shop floor staff have been working there for over 39 years.
They are one of the best manufacturing plants my OH has ever looked after. Closure has nothing to do with production.
A wonderful bunch of people...who gave up a whole weekend unpaid, to do this family day, for the work force and charity!!

So whilst there is lots wrong with this country..its not all bad.

[Onelife]

I’ll tell you what is wrong with this country David...we spend far too much time and money supporting immigrants who contribute absolutely sod all to this country but tap into every benefit going. There are well over a million illegal immigrants in this country most of which are pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity.

Perhaps if this government got to grips with this problem then perhaps councils would have more money to help out those who are entitled to it.

Regards

Keith

Sorry Keith, have to take you to task on this one .. on two fronts ...
Firstly it is not just immigrants who contribute sod all to this country and tap into every benefit going
Secondly I very much doubt that MOST immigrants will be 'pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity' ... MOST will have been recruited by various companies and in gainful employment ... others will have been 'incentivised' to come to this country by the previous government looking to acquire more voters (and may or may not be in gainful employment).

One of the big issues that we have to overcome is that there is a 'core' in the indigenous population that are unwilling to work for their money ... they try to spin the myth that migrant workers are 'stealing' our jobs ... that is rubbish, we are handing them to them on a silver platter. The other big issue is that there needs to be more effort in securing investment in this country ... there is no sense in guaranteeing people jobs if they are not REAL jobs ... in the private sector companies will become uncompetitive (to the point of closure) or in the already bloated public sector we would just have more paper pushers generating irrelevant work for vital front line staff.

Ken, I was referring to “Illegal immigrant” who, in my opinion will survive whichever way they can whilst waiting for their forged documents to be processed.

With regards to stealing our jobs...The jobs that you are referring to are very low paid jobs mostly supplied by farmers who have been squeezed so much that they are unable to pay indigenous workers the minimum wage....or they work in establishment where they are used as cheap labour.

Regards

Keith

[Boris+]

We watched this programme too - and we were disgusted with the situation which this chap found himself in.

Well done (and a huge thankyou) to everyone who helped - what a smashing bunch of folk!

I get fed up with all the scroungers etc too. Just look at the wife on the programme last night - what a star . I reckon they deserve a nice holiday or something.

Em

[royalprincess]

I didn't see this programme but I do know that the local council has a statutory duty to provide disabled people with what they need - not what the local council say they can have. It would seem that this gentlemen was denied his legal rights. I hoped they named and shamed the council involved. It's all about money unfortunately.

I have recently watched my next door neighbour have her front room converted into a bedroom, wet room installed, wheelchair ramp installed and the extension double glazed. When the wheelchair ramp was installed they accidentially knocked down the barbeque and it was replaced free of charge. They havent used it for the past couple of years. Why they had to do all this work when a simple stair lift could be installed I don't know. They have bragged about getting this work done - cost approximately £25,000.

In addition husband brags about using his wife's blue badge without her being in the car. Warned him if I see him doing it again I'll report him and the badge will be lost.

It annoys me greatly that somebody who has been disabled because of injury particularly in the forces is treated in this way and local councils should be taken to task over it.

[karenandbob]

I also watched this programme and I too had a tear in my eye. A big thank you must go out to all the services/people that gave up their time and effort to help this man and his family. I do hope the local council are feeling very shameful at the moment. What a lovely family this man has as well.

[haveabeer]

i have seen and read far to many stories like this those that make these rules should be named and ashamed
We treat our older generation like they dont matter i have seen it first hand.
Yet some members of our society know how to work the system and they get away with it even when they are caught its a slap on the wrist
i

[Kendhni]

Yet some members of our society know how to work the system and they get away with it even when they are caught its a slap on the wrist
i

I have said many times that In our wider family circle we have members from 'both sides of the track'. When I got made redundant (for a short period) last year I took the opportunity to talk to some of the family 'from the other side' ... I was amazed at the things they told me to try, how I should be filling in forms and how to maximise what I could get from the government ... most of their suggestions involved lies or bending the truth beyond recognition and then a bit of play acting.

Fortunately I had had the sense to keep my skills up to date and found a new job after a couple of weeks.

[Jan Rosser]

Yet some members of our society know how to work the system and they get away with it even when they are caught its a slap on the wrist
i

I have said many times that In our wider family circle we have members from 'both sides of the track'. When I got made redundant (for a short period) last year I took the opportunity to talk to some of the family 'from the other side' ... I was amazed at the things they told me to try, how I should be filling in forms and how to maximise what I could get from the government ... most of their suggestions involved lies or bending the truth beyond recognition and then a bit of play acting.

Fortunately I had had the sense to keep my skills up to date and found a new job after a couple of weeks.

There will always be those who abuse the system and I have personal experience of my late husband applying for a disability allowance and blue badge and being refused because it was obvious that he was an intelligent man who had the common sense not to put himself in danger and cause himself harm. He suffered from heart failure and walking distances was hard - I won't tell you his response after receiving that answer needless to say it's where the sun don't shine We had no financial problems because he received his pension early but I still see people walking around who have received the benefits for years - makes me so angry.

My 90 year old mother was persuaded to apply for attendance allowance and I dutifully and truthfully filled in the form which was very long and complicated - she was refused the allowance because apparently shopping, cleaning, cooking, gardening are not strictly "caring" for her - without my sister and I doing these tasks for her she would not survive. No the fact that she can still get up and dress herself unaided and can take any medication without putting herself in danger is the grounds for refusal but if there is any change please reapply Do they seriously think at almost 91 there is not going to be a deterioration in her circumstances. I believe the fact she has two daughters caring for her is the reason for refusal.

Like the poor soldier on the programme my mother served this country - she worked at Bletchley Park during the war - not as a codebreaker - simply one of many young women working there doing clerical tasks but she was a young woman sent away from the Welsh valleys to a place which was a secret she kept to herself until the 70's when it became public knowledge.

I can't say anymore because I get so angry about a system which takes advantage of people who have principles and won't lie and cheat.

[GillD46]

Attendance Allowance - rightly or wrongly - is for personal care and not every day chores. The mobility component, is obviously for those with mobility issues, but there are strict guidelines.

My husband used to do the Medical reports for applicants, though fortunately didn't make the decision as to whether or not they qualified.

[sumdumbloke]

I’ll tell you what is wrong with this country David...we spend far too much time and money supporting immigrants who contribute absolutely sod all to this country but tap into every benefit going. There are well over a million illegal immigrants in this country most of which are pick pockets, scroungers, or involved in some illegal activity.

Perhaps if this government got to grips with this problem then perhaps councils would have more money to help out those who are entitled to it.

Regards

Keith

It's a truly huge leap to say if it wasn't for those 'lazy immigrants' then everything would be fine. How have british soldiers historically been treated when coming back from wars? Was it the immigrants fault in 1918?

This is truly an example of brainwashing, of creating a bogeyman to fear because frightened people tend to do as they're told. It's no more intellectually developed than wishing away the group's sins into goats and shooing them off.

And illegal immigrants can't access benefits. They're illegal.

[Stephen]

Onelife me old mate........spot on.

[haveabeer]

Jan
My wife is registered disabled and believe me I know how you feel after many attempts a filling in the forms we kept being denied we like you filled in the forms as true fully as we could.
Our doctor had suggested that my wife apply and when we told him that we had been refused he was livid his words where I see many so called disabled claiming and really they could be working.
He contacted an disability help line they came round to see us and said it's not what you put in the forms it's how you put it.
We still was refused they appealed on our behalf DWP sent there own Dr after ten minutes he said I really can't understand what the D W P are on about he recommended to them that my wife should be able to claim for life as her condition will only get worse he was correct she is much worse now
So keep on badgering them

[haveabeer]

Onelife me old mate........spot on.

Like you I agree with onelife we are seen as a soft touch I have no bones about those that want to work and pay there dues we could not cope without them but far to many just walk into our country expecting us to keep them

[Jan Rosser]

Attendance Allowance - rightly or wrongly - is for personal care and not every day chores. The mobility component, is obviously for those with mobility issues, but there are strict guidelines.

My husband used to do the Medical reports for applicants, though fortunately didn't make the decision as to whether or not they qualified.

I agree with everything you say Gill - my mother was very reluctant to apply and I count my blessings her health is such that she can do things for herself but it still galls me that so many people cheat the system. As for my poor husband well he once had to go for a medical and we were told to take along any medication he took - the doctor was ages inputting the list of drugs and said he didn't make the decision but certainly couldn't see him returning to work in any capacity and this was in fact the decision made.

At least we can sleep at night

[GillD46]

I think the whole system needs an overhaul and it's those that "have a bad day " on " the day" and so qualify, when they really shouldn't, that spoil it for those who genuinely deserve assistance.

[AngieT]

Please don't get me started on the Attendance Allowance argument. A few years ago I filled in the form for my mum-in-law as she has dementia & arthritis which means her mobility is zero without our help & even if she could get around & wash, toilet, dress & feed herself she doesn't know how to do it. She was given the lower level AA and now gets the higher level AA. So far so good....

This summer I filled the AA forms in for my father. As well as angina (two stents fitted) he had a small stroke in his sleep last year & it killed the part of his brain that affects his balance. He is now prone to falling over, without warning, and this has happened whilst crossing the road, climbing stairs & whilst getting out of the bath amongst other occasions. He now can't go out on his own or go up & down stairs or in & out of the bath alone for fear of falling & knocking himself out or being run over. This is how it will be for the rest of his life. The DWP refused his claim because he can still walk unaided & can still wash & dress himself - the fact someone has to be with him in case he falls doesn't cut any mustard with them. My poor mum has to follow him around like his shadow & when she was recently in hospital for a few days my brother & I had to take turns being with dad for when he went upstairs & to the shop. He has gone from walking up fells at age 75 to now being chaperoned everywhere and his independence has disappeared - but DWP don't think he needs any help!