Are you sure that those people were not politicians. The DUP and their friends in SF seem to be in training to be Fat Cats.

The whole point of 'incapacity' is that it keeps claimants off the unemployment figures. But why is the 'opposition' not ripping into the government about the decline in the nation's health under NuLab if NuLab continue to support these ridiculous levels of 'incapacity'?

I am on incapacity benefit due to ill health. I have worked all my life (57 now) and due to the fact I saved for my retirement I get only a basic benefit. I have had to use up my savings whilst these fat folk and others kill the system. I was also put through a n intense assessment to decide if I fitted the incapacity profile. I doubt those who know the system got the grilling I got.

Anon, the system is being used to attack those who really are ill and provide an easy-out for those who are not. I don't believe, any more than you, that there are 3 million 'incapacitated' in the UK - unless there really are, in which case NuLab should be held to account for the catastrophic decline in public health.

ACNE? thats an incapicty illness?

More.

When I went to get 'tested' the job was done by a private company and I got a foreign doctor. This made the process difficult as English was not his first language.
The office was full of acne faced neds and others who had never worked in their lives. I was furious at what happened to me.
I failed the test and had to go to appeal which went in my favour without even an interview. I used a service called 'Money Matters' which helps people like me who did not know how things like this work. The panel could nor believe I was not accepted.

The system (or rather those who work in it) thought I was easy meat as I was a man with a history of honest work (I had been a senior manager in a blue chip company) and not a scoundrel.

Well said and thank you ANON.
I usually agree with 99% of what David says but this is the third time in as many weeks he has reffered to those of us who are getting IB as scroungers.
It's not on David.
Whilst i totally agree that the benefits system is a farce it's not ONLY for the reasons you state.
I won't go over my story again as i've already outlined it previously.
You want to try getting IB sometime? You want to attempt to stay working part time and see what help you get?
Or if you want you can swop with me for a month or two and check out the barrel of laughs living on IB is?
Please David, cease and desist from your unfounded attacks on those who need benefits in order to live.

David isn't attacking "those who NEED benefits in order to live"; he is attacking those who DON'T need benefits and who could easily work if they wanted to, but choose not to because due to this government's shoddy attitudes they can lounge around on their arses all day and claim benefits simply on the grounds of being "obese".

The problem is Tom is that David dosen't make the distinction between those who genuinely need IB and those who don't? Should the people he feels 'sorry' for be forced out to work?
It's gross generalisation and bad writing.
It's also important to remember that not everyone that is obese is so because they are lazy, over eating fat b*stards.
Many have secondary medical complaints that directly or indirectly caused them to be overweight.
I worked for 24 years it's also my money they are getting.
When approaching any topic you have to be objective?

Dunno....if you weigh 50+ stone and cannot physically leave your house, fair enough.
If you are "obese" but can somehow manage to get into a car and drive, then you can manage to drive to work.

Boy

Over the years I've worked with maybe four people who were --seriously-- obese. And their attendance records were very good.

If you're looking for it, its pretty easy to find physical reasons not to come into work, and docs who will play along.

I know people who husband their allotted annual "sick days" and hate to allow one expire unused. They work for the City of New York or other governmental agencies. Where you're looked down upon by coworkers if you work too hard.

I'm no superman, but I've not taken a sick day in twenty years. You go to work every day and you work really hard every day and you accomplish things every day.

Its what you do.

JM I do not think David was getting at the real sick. There is a class that are sick - reversion to work syndrome. There is a class that have been brought up to sponge and sponge they do. They know no other way. 'Its my right to get cash for nothing'.

To be sure of benefit buy a walking stick, don't look as if you care about your appearance, and act like you would pose a problem to an employer. Make sure you have a visible illness hence obesity and acne. Did I hear a bid for problems with 'nails'.

Last post on this from me.

The new system will target those who have a history of work and force them back. This is the Nulabour way. You have a better chance of reaching targets