I, Daniel Blake

Good morning, Mr Blake. My name's Amanda.

I've got a couple of questions here for you today

to establish your eligibility for Employment Support Allowance.

It won't take up much of your time.

Could I just ask firstly,

can you walk more than 50 metres unassisted by any other person?

- Yes. - Okay.

Can you raise either arm as if to put something in your top pocket?

I've filled this in already on your 52-page form.

Yeah, I can see that you have

but, unfortunately, I couldn't make out what you had said there.

Yes.

Can you raise either arm to the top of your head as if you are putting on a hat?

I've telt you, there's nowt wrong with me arms and legs.

Could you just answer the question, please.

Well, you've got me medical records.

Can we just talk about me heart?

D'you think you could just answer these questions?

Okay.

So was that a yes, that you can put a hat on your head?

- Yes. - Okay, that's great.

Can you press a button such as a telephone keypad?

There's nowt wrong with me fingers either.

I mean, we're getting farther and farther away from me heart.

If we could just keep to these questions, thank you.

Do you have any significant difficulty

conveying a simple message to strangers?

Yes. Yes, it's me fucking heart.

I'm trying to tell you but you'll not listen.

Mr Blake, if you continue to speak to us like that

that's not gonna be very helpful for your assessment.

If you could just answer the question, please.

- Yes. - Okay.

Do you ever experience any loss of control leading

to extensive evacuation of the bowel?

No. But I cannot guarantee

there won't be a first if we divvent get to the point.

Can you complete a simple task of setting an alarm clock?

Oh, Jesus. Yes.

Can I ask you a question? Are you medically qualified?

I'm a health care professional

appointed by the Department of Work and Pensions

to carry out assessments for Employment and Support Allowance.

But there was a bloke out in the, er, in the waiting room,

he says that you work for an American company.

Our company's been appointed by the Government.

Are you a nurse? Are you a doctor?

I'm a health care professional.

Listen, I've had a major heart attack.

I nearly fell off the scaffolding.

I wanna get back to work, too.

Now, please, can we talk about me heart?

Forget about me arse, that works a dream.

Piper, you lazy bastard.

Will you get out of bed and do some housework!

China!

China!

Sorry, Dan, just got a text to go to work. I'm late.

Did you enjoy your chicken tikka masala?

- How did you know that? - Cos I can bloody smell it.

How many times have I told you about leaving rubbish lying about the place,

stinking it up?

- Can I dump it later? I'm running late. - No. Now!

Dan...

Erm, I've got a big favour to ask

I'm expecting a package. Really important.

They've changed my hours, so I won't be in.

Can you keep an eye out for the postman?

If you swear nae more rubbish.

- Catch! - Don't you fucking dare.

- I'll kick your arse into next week. - Okay.

Daft as a bloody brush.

When can I go back to work?

Ah, not yet, that's for certain.

You're making progress.

I think if we just continue you on the same dosage.

And, yeah, rehab exercise.

We'll see if we can the pumping capacity to increase.

- Yeah. - And it might.

But if not, we might need to look at fitting you with a defibrillator.

Keep up with the exercise, keep moving. That's gonna build you up.

But you need to be rested as well.

Well, I'm a bit of a night owl, you know.

I got into the habit when I was looking after the missus

before she passed away.

How you doing, son? How you doing?

- All right. - How's the old ticker?

Ah, you know, me marathon days are over.

But, you know, I'll be fine in a month or two.

Ah, well, be leaving that Viagra alone.

I'll keep it for you, shall I?

Aye, I probably need it more than you.

Right, well, owt you want here?

- Have a look - Oh, that's nice, aye.

Meranti, aye, African Meranti. It's great, man.

So, er, d'you reckon you'll get back to Ferguson's?

Depends on the work, I suppose.

I mean, you know what it's like. It's up and down.

Aye, well.

Gotta see this.

There you go.

Oh, that's a lovely piece.

Aye, I'll have the... I'll have the lads drop it by for you.

Erm, are you all right?

I'm on the mend.

I mean, I can get your shopping sorted out for you, you know.

Like, the heavy stuff and that, like, it's nae bother.

Thanks, Joe. You know, I like to get out and about.

Gives us something to do.

Well, give us a shout if you need anything.

I mean, I mean that.

You, you gave us a big fright, you know.

BBC Radio Four, it's twelve minutes to 1:00.

Now the shipping forecast, issued by the Met Office

on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

at double-O-1-5 on Tuesday the 20th of October.

There are warnings of gales in Trafalgar, Fitzroy...

Please be aware that this call may incur a charge.

You will be charged at the rate set by your service provider.

This number is for benefits enquiries only.

If you are calling to make a new claim for benefits, please redial,

0800-055-6888

to help answer your query as quickly as possible.

We are sorry, but all our customer service agents are busy at the moment.

Please hold and we will answer your call.

Oi! What are ye playing at?

I knew it was ye! I knew it was ye letting your dog shit round here.

I'm walking me dog.

I knew it was you bringing your dog in here, shitting all over the place.

Oh shut your mouth, you stupid baldy bastard.

Oi! Ye, if I come down there, I'll rub your bloody face in it, man!

Take it to your own place and let it shit round there.

- Go and get a bag and clean that up. - Aye, I'm gonna get a bag

I tell you what, ye talk shite!

Here, look, you just get a bag!

- Come back here and bloody clean that up. - Oh, shut up, man, will you!

Hey! I'll come and shite in your garden, shall I?

Shut up.

Hello?

Thank you for waiting.

Please continue to hold and we will answer your call as soon as possible.

Morning, mate. Got a package for Mr Max Million.

- "Mr Max Million"? - Yeah. Mr Max Million.

My address?

Yeah, definitely this address.

- Where's it from? - China.

Oh. Give it here.

D'you know how long I've been on this phone?

One hour, forty-eight minutes.

Jesus Christ, that's longer than a football match. It'll cost a fortune.

I'm sorry, sir, but it's been very busy.

There must be some mistake.

I've got a serious heart condition.

I'm in rehab and the doctor's told us I cannae go back to work.

Now, I was getting the benefits fine until that bloody assessment.

I see you've only scored twelve points, er,

and you need 15 to obtain benefits.

Oh, points, that's your game?

I'm sorry, sir, but according to our health, er,

health care professional,

you've been deemed fit for work.

So she knows better than my doctor,

a consultant surgeon and a physio team?

Well, I wanna appeal.

Well, that's fine, but you'll have to first request a mandatory reconsideration.

What the bloody hell does that mean?

It means the decision maker will reconsider it

and if he comes to the same decision, you can then appeal.

Right, well put us down for that, then.

Okay, sir, but you must wait

to get a call from the decision maker.

Why?

To tell you what the decision is.

But that's already been decided.

It is, but you're supposed to get the call,

before the letter.

Well, is he gonna change his mind?

No, the call's just to discuss the decision.

Well, I know what the decision is, I've got the letter here in front of us.

D'you want us to read it to you?

But he should have called you first.

But he didn't.

But he should have.

Well unless we've got a time machine, we're pretty much knackered,

divvent you agree?

Er, he has to call you first, sir.

Listen,

can you not just put him on now, so I don't have to waste any more time?

I can't do that, sir.

Where is he?

He'll give you a call back when he, er,

- he gets the chance. - When?

I don't know, sir.

This is ridiculous, man.

On the one hand, Jobseeker's Allowance,

only for those able and ready to work.

But if you're ill, you have to apply for Employment and Support,

get an assessment carried out.

Well, I've done that but they've knocked us back.

Right, well if you've been deemed fit for work,