So, it’s a couple of weeks since my last report was posted on Listen Up and I have hot off the press news, from DWP/PIP… he/she/they say…………….. YES… RESULT 💚
My dear friend can breathe, take a moment and sit back and plan for today, tomorrow and in fact for the next three years, yes, year’s… unless he has a change of circumstances.
And, truly lovely, they really heard his circumstances, and having genuinely listened, he’s been awarded a further element of surprise – standard rate mobility – so a little more support each month now.
The possible cynic might say he should’ve had this already if they’d listened better originally, yet, let’s acknowledge positives, not hindsights, bit like the current political arena eh!
We have GRATITUDE that now the clunky system can bring HOPE in a brown envelope, at least for him. Our real hope is that those in authority read this, take his experience and make the simple humble changes for the next claimant, remove some barriers, humanise the person, bring some emotional intelligence to people’s situations and design a system that is fit for purpose in 2023 and beyond.
I guess I’ll write again in 2026 with a glowing report of his renewal experience, full of care and compassion, that’d be the best gift we can hope for.
On one final point. One less scared person, yet many still facing something like… inject human values into this fractured system please.
Miles and his mate.
Hi Miles,
Am new to Groundswell, am very moved by these posts! It’s so frustrating that DWP act in this way and don’t see how it saves time or money! Like you write, “inject human values into this fractured system please.”
Here’s hoping DWP see this! hope to meet in person at some point but thanks for writing such thought provoking pieces, Dannie
So glad to hear that your friend’s decision went the right way. As you say, the system is still a problem for many thousands more.