How real is Daniel's situation?

Just look up the figures. Thousands alone have died and still thereafter recieved a letter claiming they are ''fit for work'' It's a very accurate movie but maybe not quite as bad as the reality. Its a sad day when a french software firm (ATOS) are allowed to decide who is or isn't ill enough to recieve help regardless of what the claiments qualified Doctor says.

Wow I have just seen this film - I came on to ask the same Q as I don't live in the UK .. I was sure that it would not be representative of what goes on but from the posts here I can see that it is.. I am astonished.. and now v v v angry - watching the movie was frustrating - but then I got a relief at the thoughts of it not being accurate.. shocking..
A very well made movie - I really felt for Kate having to steal tampons etc... a few wee things to help her feel human.. after she had provided legitimately for the kids.. and the fact that she had to move from london to get a house? is this for real?

It's socialist propaganda and only highlights some negatives without looking at fraud, so called asylum seekers getting cash and anyone at all turning up from the EU with a family, demanding accommodation and job seekers allowance, and being given it.

All I can say is, TinTin, you are very fortunate to have your benefits given so easily as this is certainly not the norm for most claimants.

My younger brother (aged 19) was diagnosed with a massive sub arachnoid cyst that required surgery. He then had a stroke leaving him with right sided weakness and memory loss.
Despite this, he was deemed fit for work and had to limp around looking for work and PROVE he'd been for interviews. His memory loss at times was so bad, sometimes he'd forget that he had an interview and he'd be penalised for non attendance.

Eventually, after 4 appeals he was deemed unfit for work and was allowed DLA.

Aged 25, he was then left seriously mentally and physically disabled in a hit and run accident. There was no money from SS to pay for carers as he was wheelchair bound, so he was placed in a care home awaiting a care package.

Almost 10 years later there is still no care package in place and what is worse, is that he has had to attend these meetings to prove he's as disabled as the paperwork deems him to be.
I've seen panels of doctors and assessors gasp in horror as we wheel him through the door.

I'm lucky in that I've never had to attend the job centre plus for anything but I know how easy it is for circumstances to change and for people's lives to be turned on their heads.... And this system certainly leaves people feeling worthless and without dignity.

Unfortunately yes they certainly do ignore medical professionals. I was a project worker and supported a few people who were ill/disabled that were declared fit to work by the DWP despite evidence to the contrary.

www.xenutv.com

The nature of the treatment at the hands of the DWP is VERY accurate. I can confirm first-hand that the knowledge of medical professionals IS ignored in many cases. One claimant who had no arms was told that they could "learn to use their feet".

The attitude of Sheila in the Job Centre was perhaps extreme. There are however people in these roles who are unsympathetic, perhaps the film laid this on thick but I can understand why. The film was not a documentary but still had very relevant and well made points about the DWP and their practices that are clearly more concerned with governmental cost-cutting as opposed to the welfare of those under it's jurisdiction.

according to the director, the scenarios shown do happen - he cited a case where a sanction was brought against a man for failing to complete an interview he turned up on time for - his reason for not completing it was that he had a heart attack.

The people doing the assessments are not doctors, the person I know who had one managed to get the assessor to admit that he was a sports physio only.