Why is the test for sickness benefit so flawed?

I recieved my outcome today, I failed even though I am really ill. You need 10 points to pass. The people who passed who are not sick at all know how to answer the questions. If you answer yes and get over 10 points you are 'sick'. I got 0 points, even the questions I answered as positive he marked incorrectly. The people who 'beat the system' answered Yes to questions like 'Do you sit for hours doing nothing, Can you answer telephone or take a message, Can you read a magazine or follow a TV programme, Do you need to drink Alcohol before midday etc. I am in recovery from Alcohol and it makes me even more ill so I lose 2 points already. Because I TRY to do these things and I am on medication, I get 0 points. Do sleep problems interfere with daily activities? The medication I am on makes me sleepy and it DOES interfere but examiner marked it 0. All the people who cheat the system and who are getting sickness benefit, know how to answer untruthfully and get help, but sick have to suffer!

I just dont think its fair, my OWN doctor booked me off for 3 months for depression(I'm on medication) and alcohol recovery. I am also physically ill suffering from Ultecaria(unknown allergy) as well as on medication for psychological problems, which put myself and others at risk in the workplace. But people who know how to act MAD and answer the questions correctly have no problem even though they are not ill at all!

just had the same never got points because I do not drink,also never got points because I am neat & tidy apperance
I HAVE HAD 3 BRAIN HAEMORRHAGES IN 6WKS
have a shadow behind coil in head & only allowed out house once a week under supervision for weekly shopping .my neurosurgeon ,doctor ,health vistor have all sent in appeal letters . I have a job my employers will not allow me back to work yet
get a welfare benifits officer through your local council to fight your claim .
I get no money as partner & sons work,students & my job is still open

Its a way to cut costs.

I'm sorry but I do not think being a recovering alcoholic means that you shouldn't work.

If you are dependent upon alcohol that speaks for itself. There is a right of appeal and it does not cost you anything to do this. You may see why they do not think you qualify. That then makes it easy for you as you will know the answers.

Do not give up. Appeal.

Best wishes to you.

I went through a similar examination...to assess my mental health.
it lasted 15 minutes
the doctor only spoke to me half that time.he was not English so I had to keep asking him to repeat each question.
I was not examined at all.
total time of actual examination less than 5 minutes...
there is no way any Doctor can assess your state of mind from a 5 min interview..
Its just a paper exercise(that the taxpayer is funding at great expense) to remove people from the official figures.
Its a con which will effect the people who most need this service

you can appeal if you dont agree with the decision. Explain that the examiner has marked some answers wrong and as ask for another test

It's a pile of bollocks isn't it! I failed when I was still really ill and there are people I know who are unashamedly blagging it. I made the mistake of being honest but when I got the report back it looked like it was from a different interview. I think the key is to lie through your teeth and be obnoxious and intimidating enough that the authorities can't be bothered dealing with you and just keep overlooking your review. And have you tried appealing? forget it. You get one appeal form, no more. I used mine because the report from my interview 'got lost'. When I finally recieved my report, I tried to appeal against it but they said 'No, you only get one appeal and you've used yours'.

My brother is a recovering alcoholic and he works every day. It was not always this way. For a while he was on disability and sat around with nothing to do and drank all day. He claimed he was too ill to work. He is a lot better now that he has to go to work every day to pay his bills.

I do not know how they have knocked back this claim as i helped some one fill their forms out who is on sick for the same thing and just weeks ago the job centre would not let him sign on as they knew he was incapable of work even if they got him a job. Are you aware you have 14/28 days to appeal this and you will be payed hardship allowance while your claim is looked at or you could claim jsa but you would have to look for work. My aunt took the hardship route and was awarded the claim in her favour and she suffered drink related problems also and she got a cheque for near a 拢1000, they make you see a different doc who you can tell that the first didnt answer the form properly and im afraid you most likely will have to make your illness alot worse than it is if you want to pass for the sickness benefit and your right its the ones that can work but just dont want to.

Come off it, you like drawing benefits.