Thread by @BlokeOnWheels

#Thread Seven years ago today I applied for income -related ESA, at times the application process was very confusing, particularly the fact that during the initial call I had to do things like confirm my date of birth three times (surely once could have been enough) 1

And attempt to explain that I could not specify the number of hours per week I had attended the history and politics university course I had just finished because it varied so much between semesters as I'm sure a lot of UK uni students and staff can appreciate. 2

It took two calls to sort out this issue, and to confirm that I would infect need to provide medical evidence of my own unfitness for work for the first 13 weeks of my claim, despite initially being told it was completely up to my GP. With that having been sorted 3

It was onto the ESA 50 form (I think there is a similar one for UC) in which I had to detail everything that I can't do for myself, which is a lot of stuff! Luckily I had Mam helping me because in those days, everything had to be completely handwritten which is impossible 4

for me. Some of the questions were quite confusing in terms of what exactly was they were asking, for example, there is one about raising both arms above your head "as if to put something in a jacket pocket" now I can do that, but it would be 5

Extremely difficult for me to actually put something in the aforementioned jacket pocket, a fact which I later found out was completely immaterial to the question. (Why mention it then?) Anyway, after that mammoth clusterfuck was out the way, there was then 6

A very nervous wait of several weeks to see if my application would be accepted and whether I would have to go to a dreaded face-to-face assessment. Luckily, I was very fortunate in that I didn't have to and was placed straight into the 'Support Group' which means that 7

I was declared completely unfit for work. Presumably, based on the fact that I cannot move myself around at all unless I am in my electric wheelchair (the distinction between electric and manual is very important in terms of assessment) and also cannot 8

transfer from one surface to another, such as from chair to bed without the assistance of another person. While it was welcome for the DWP to basically confirm what I already knew, the threat of the 'brown envelope' forever hangs over me and any other disabled people 9

Currently claiming benefits. Additionally the eventual managed migration of all all of us from legacy benefits to UC could cause even more stress to us all. It has been promised that the transition will not involve any form of eligibility reassessments, but this is the DWP, 10

So I'm certainly not complacent. One thing I have going for me is that my disability ain't gonna get any better. My legs have never been anything more than a decorative accessory for my whole life, I don't think they can start working now, although a jobsworth 11

From a government contracted assessment company may disagree. Anyway, having read through this you're probably thinking 'Joe, mate, why are you telling me all this? Well basically because for roughly 15 months after all this happened, I would spend my days 12

Relentlessly playing football manager, watching telly and not really a lot else. However, since I joined Twitter at the end of 2016, and particularly over the last few years, my life has become so much more than that. I'm now an online activist and disability rights campaigner 13

I've built this marvellous, positive community which continues to grow and thrive every single day. That's all the result of you lovely people and the fact that you always enjoy what I have to say. I also don't feel as though I have to hide or be ashamed of anything 14

When I'm talking to you lovely people, your kindness, positivity and general loveliness is all very much appreciated. I'm also thrilled to have so much support for the #RightToLove campaign in addition to your solidarity in calling out the demonising rhetoric 15

Espoused by the Tory leadership candidates in relation to people in receipt of benefits. We cannot go back to the Cameron and Osborne language of 'scroungers' and 'cultures of dependency' instead we must finally recognise the fact that 16

No person ever chooses to have a disability, whether that be from birth or acquired later in life. The fact that I and many others can't, and will not be able to enter the labour market is not our fault. No amount of 'trying harder' or 'putting my disability to the side' 17

(Yes, somebody really did say that)Is going to change my reality. No, it does not completely define me, but it is a massive part of who I am and my wife would be fundamentally different if I wasn't disabled, something which I often think about, but I certainly don't lament. 18

If you've made it this far, thank you very much for reading and thank you very much for being my friend and outlet on here, I'll level with you, when I started this thread I had no idea it was going to be one of the longest I've ever written! #DisabilityBenefits #DisabilityRights

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