It's a bit of a worry.

Bit of a technical post - sorry :(

Guess regular readers will know I try to help out on the Stroke Association if I can, and the fact that, as a Stroke Survivor I'm lucky enough to be lucid - which, as anyone who's cared for a stroke survivor will tell you is, if you like a bet, very much a bonus. 60/40 split to the negative in my estimation.

Many many reasons for this - you'd find, as I did over the years, that often people lose little, if any intellectual function. It's more than likely they would have communication difficulties -aphasia being an example. Often depression is a problem - and it's treatment. Other people are just locked into bodies that have limited function.

So here's the worry.

Changes in Employment Support Allowance have been rolling out for quite some time now, began before the present government, and, being a work and employment / or lack of work, and is a benefit not meant to last more than 13 weeks. The claimants are subject to some draconian independent medical checks. The T'internet is flooded with their horror stories at the moment.

Though the present government has announced that people on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are going to undergo 'medicals' from 2013, the truth is, there are many tiers of DLA, it has nothing to do with your income (you can be a multi-millionaire and be awarded it) and it's only loosely based on any medical problem. It's for help with care and mobility. I just get DLA.

Most people on DLA are required to fill in a rather complex form every couple of years to claim again. Don't fill the form in, it's stopped. If you don't appeal, a reclaim is needed. You're GP and hospital consultants are SUPPOSED to be consulted every time the form is filled in. Mine are.

Often, at random, or if there's a complaint or any suspicion people are asked to undergo assessment within the period they are awarded the benefit. That, for most, shouldn't be a problem. It can actually help. That assessment is carried out by the DLA.

Others, such as myself, are sometimes, after a few years, awarded Indefinite Status. Indefinite does not mean 'Permanent'. It just means you can be called in for Assessment at any time - and you can be 'upgraded' or lose the benefit if, in their opinion, you no longer qualify for help. There's an appeal process. However, you are only put on Indefinite status if it's considered that your care and mobility status is unlikely to improve or degrade.

I'm aware of the vagrancies of the web, and often downright dishonesty of some people.

But I worry about those who depend on others, and who depend on the vagrancies of the interviewers in the new system, where everyone is to be re-assessed.

In case you're wondering? No probs here. More later. I'll shurrup now :)