The way to access the benefits system for me was by going to see my GP and then I had to... this was, I think it was, when I stopped working as a self-employed person, I went to see my GP and then I was, I was assessed by the benefits doctor and assessors and that was really demoralising. Demoralising, is that a word?
It was, I was put through tests, you know, can you pick up this pencil? And, you know, little tricks that they would do. Can you put on a hat you know. I just felt, I felt that they were unkind, they were, they weren't helpful. Some of the tests were painful and that was, that has it's own, it's own feelings, you know.
I just felt less than human almost. I did, I felt like a cow or something. It just felt awful because I think there are benefit cheats, you know. There are people that are on benefit that could be working and aren't, they see themselves, you know, easy bit of money or something. I don't know, I'm not them and I don't want to talk about them really, but well it just really hurt my feelings and the thing that was in my favour was that, you know, I said to them “Look I want to work”.
I was self-employed for seven years, I did work, I did my best and they left me alone after that, they believed me. So I have been on benefit for quite some time since 1994 and that hurts. I don't want to be on benefit, I want to work, give me a job! |
