today got a letter to say that the government independent assessor states I am fit for work -despite my GP issuing a sick note for depression. So what happens now is there is immediate stop of any ESA payments and I have to sign on for JSA now and find paid work. I cannot get my state pension as I am born in 1954 so forbidden my pension till 2020 - even though worked since 1969. But my concern is for all women on the pathway of rebuilding their lives.. we really can do with a strong and stable pathway of support not drops in benefits and shortfalls and times without for 6 - 8 weeks.... I am hungry just rummaging in the cupboards and making what food I have last.... days or till my next payment if it ever comes.... I think this is perverse treating women like this.. 63 yrs and with my history makes me feel not wanted or valued in this land of my mother and all our ancestors... All have paid tax to every King and Queen and government over the 1,000s of years we have been in England. I have been living on less than a tenner a day - in fact fiver a day with the deductions that have been made by the DWP.... I ask you can you live on this.......So much tax I have paid in over my working years for services for those in need and for when I was in need and to have it forbidden now is disgraceful. I hope I can find some funding for the projects I have on the go and find some paid work with an employer that can give me some freedom of hours as my health permits...... Last week I was in the APPG on Poverty meeting in parliament where a film was shown that blatantly showed the inadequacies of the DWP to support those in need of help. Women with kids constantly being evicted and shifted with the children having no continuity of school and friends all exacerbating mental ill health issues... The whole system needs challenging as we are not something of nothing but folk in need of help just to get our lives rebuilt not a system that batters us with every attempt to rebuild or the need to just have time and space to heal and recover from the pain and abuse against us.... Please continue to support the petition. I spoke with John a week last Friday and he is aware of this petition and will challenge government. I am trying to get women's voices heard.... and amendments made to DWP policies. Also we need accountability to said funds from government that have supposed to be put into helping women survivors of domestic violence as it ain't being seen on the front-line! http://womensvoicestobeheard.blogspot.co.uk/