Dreadful Nonsense

A special man from the county council arrived at the door on Wednesday, to double check that I was who I said I was, that my claim for disability benefit wasn't fraudulent, but most importantly to MAKE SURE I STAYED INDOORS AT ALL TIMES.

I didn't realise this was a requirement here when claiming on the benefit. I've checked the forms I filled in, and nowhere on it does it say that I must STAY INDOORS AT ALL TIMES. What's more, it doesn't say I must STAY AT MY REGISTERED ADDRESS AT ALL TIMES. But the man from the county council patiently explained to me that the disableds aren't allowed to freely roam the streets.

He then checked my medication, how often I visit the doctor, whether I've been working, threatened me with having my benefits cut not once but TWICE in the space of a five minute conversation, asked me what I used to work as, asked me if I'd considered retraining, finally warned me for a THIRD time that the benefit would be cut off if I worked, and left, warning me to NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE again as it was against the law.

I do get the point of these visits, you know. I understand that some people - and I find it hard to stomach, I really do - would claim benefit when there's absolutely nothing wrong with them, and use the time provided to get up to all sorts while living on less than what they'd get if they were claiming the dole or, I don't know, begging on the street, or cashing in those slips of paper that the bus gives you instead of change. And in case anyone was in any doubt, the government do pay out an absolute fortune to those of us unfortunate enough not to be able to work - they splash out on NEARLY €500 A MONTH! That's roughly £3.60 sterling. A MONTH! FOR FREE! Imagine the life you could have on that...

Seriously, try to imagine. Rent in the area I'm living in averages around €550 a month for a shared room in a house, bills not included. Bus journeys are €1.65 per trip. A pint of beer costs around €5. A packet of fags is now more than €7 (I think. I wouldn't know. I don't smoke, obviously.) My mobile package is €45 a month, before cost of calls. The ntl package for the telly costs around €60 a month. Feeding the dogs costs around €40 a month. My medication costs over €60 a month. A visit to the doctor costs €50 each time you go, more if you can't leave the house and the doctor comes to you. My epidurals cost €350 a throw each time. Imagine trying to live a normal life on just under €500 a month. YOU LIVE LIKE A KING! A king that never leaves the house, eats, buys new clothes or shoes, socialises, smokes, drinks, watches television, gets medical attention or takes any medication.

Thank Christ I've got my parents to pull strings, get cheap meds, cover my hospital expenses and be the patient saints that they are when I spend all my money going to Fringe festivals and paying off my mobile bill. I'm not for a moment complaining that I personally don't get enough money - I just can't imagine trying to live off this pittance if I was out in the real world. And for someone to be calling unannounced at your door, asking a barrage of frankly personal questions and then threatening you to take away the magic money they've so kindly provided for you from the taxes you've been paying for over 10 years, well.

No wonder people on the street stare at me when I'm out walking with my special needs stick. They know I'm not supposed to be there.

This entry was posted on 26 September 2004 at 8:44 pm. 0 comments

Dreadful Nonsense

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