ESA Benefits and Entitlement.

Welshchris · 09-06-2011, 15:01

I wonder if anyone on here can help me.

I recieved a letter this morning to state i will be contacted shortly because im currently claiming long term sickness benefit which is income support and this is being changed to ESA. Ive been told i will get a call followed by a Questionaire and then possibly an interview at the Job Center.

Has anyone been through this and do they have an appeal procedure if you think they have made the wrong decision? What are the Questionaires like? what do they ask in the interviews? etc... Ive heard so many bad stories about them making wrong decisions ive been physically sick with worry today not only am i having to reapply for my DLA but also my Standard Benefits now. I have been told by a lot of people including my doctors that i shouldnt need to worry but with these people u can never tell.

denphone · 09-06-2011, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshchris

I wonder if anyone on here can help me.

I recieved a letter this morning to state i will be contacted shortly because im currently claiming long term sickness benefit which is income support and this is being changed to ESA. Ive been told i will get a call followed by a Questionaire and then possibly an interview at the Job Center.

Has anyone been through this and do they have an appeal procedure if you think they have made the wrong decision? What are the Questionaires like? what do they ask in the interviews? etc... Ive heard so many bad stories about them making wrong decisions ive been physically sick with worry today not only am i having to reapply for my DLA but also my Standard Benefits now. I have been told by a lot of people including my doctors that i shouldnt need to worry but with these people u can never tell.

Yes there are a lot people who are physically sick with worry with the benefit changes which are happening now.

Jimmy-J · 09-06-2011, 15:15

Get as much evidence together of how your illness effects you in your day to day life. Make a list of all your medication, and what effects they have on you.

Most importantly make an appointment to see someone from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to panic.

denphone · 09-06-2011, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Product 13

Get as much evidence together of how your illness effects you in your day to day life. Make a list of all your medication, and what effects they have on you.

Most importantly make an appointment to see someone from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to panic.

Yes as you say the CAB are very helpful when some members of our family had problems but make that appointment straight away as there is a waiting list of 4 to 6 weeks in some areas.

Welshchris · 09-06-2011, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Product 13

Get as much evidence together of how your illness effects you in your day to day life. Make a list of all your medication, and what effects they have on you.

Most importantly make an appointment to see someone from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to panic.

i have an appt on the 15th with Citizens Advice to have my DLA forms filled in but the ESA ones i doubt will be with me by then.

With all my medical problems + medication + treatments i recieve at hospital its crazy how they could expect me to goto work.

nashville · 09-06-2011, 15:32

If you have a questions & answers near you they are very helpful. It is a worry for people who are really in need of their benifits & they treat them like criminals. Do not miss out any of your ailments. Write everything down before you go & remember it all. All the wrong people get away with this.

Good Luck

denphone · 09-06-2011, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshchris

i have an appt on the 15th with Citizens Advice to have my DLA forms filled in but the ESA ones i doubt will be with me by then.

With all my medical problems + medication + treatments i recieve at hospital its crazy how they could expect me to goto work.

Well 11 years ago they said l was fit for work well 2 months later l had 24 to 36 hours to live unless l had a LVAD implanted into me in a 12 hour operation up in London.

---------- Post added at 15:35 ---------- Previous post was at 15:34 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashville

If you have a questions & answers near you they are very helpful. It is a worry for people who are really in need of their benifits & they treat them like criminals. Do not miss out any of your ailments. Write everything down before you go & remember it all. All the wrong people get away with this.

Good Luck

Yes there are some people out there who have nothing wrong with them but they are in a minority.

g0mit · 09-06-2011, 15:40

Chris download a form fill it in take it with you to cab and let them look at it when you receive your form copy the answers on to it

Welshchris · 09-06-2011, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Well 11 years ago they said l was fit for work well 2 months later l had 24 to 36 hours to live unless l had a LVAD implanted into me in a 12 hour operation up in London.

---------- Post added at 15:35 ---------- Previous post was at 15:34 ----------

Yes there are some people out there who have nothing wrong with them but they are in a minority.

I was attacked at the age of 11 and left with spinal problems. I was diagnosed at the age of 14 with Osteo Arthritis in my Spine. Since then over time that has spread to other parts of my body such as Pelvis, Knees, Ankles, Shoulders and Neck. I have 5 discs in my spine which has worn and keeps on giving me nerve problems to and Sciatica. I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from 10 years of bullying at school which gives me panic and anxiety attacks, i get nightmares, i get really bad mood swings on a daily basis and have attempted suicide via overdose a few times. I suffer from non eplieptic seizures due to the Post Traumatic Stress. I also have Severe Psoriasis which i have to apply ointments 3-4 times a day + attend the hospital for treatment 3 times a week.

I take 4 Antihistamines to help with itching of the skin a day. The licenced dose is 1 and the dose im on is so high my GP refuses to prescribe and i have to get them from doc at hospital and these make me very light headed. I also take Anti Inflamatory, Beta Blocker, 2 lots of Anti depressent. This is without my Pain Meds which i take Tramadol 2x50mg a time (I have to take 2 of these before i even leave the flat for pain sometimes 3 or 4 within 2hrs) I take Cocodamol 30/500 ontop and also Gabapentin 900mg of this per day to help with pain.

Side affects of these meds make me drowsy and light headed and also major mood swings so im a danger to myself and others + i have been informed that employers cannot get public liability insurance for someone taking something like Tramadol because it can cause haulucinations.

---------- Post added at 15:47 ---------- Previous post was at 15:46 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0mit

Chris download a form fill it in take it with you to cab and let them look at it when you receive your form copy the answers on to it

where can i get it from?

g0mit · 09-06-2011, 15:51

Hi chris I google esa questioner and I found one

dilligaf1701 · 09-06-2011, 15:57

Some of the appeals can take upwards of eleven months to get dealt with from what I've read too.

I must admit I'm not looking forward to when I get the letter too.

denphone · 09-06-2011, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Some of the appeals can take upwards of eleven months to get dealt with from what I've read too.

I must admit I'm not looking forward to when I get the letter too.

Yes you are right as they can take a eternity.

joglynne · 09-06-2011, 16:05

I have been having a Google and came across this pdf which looks as though it could be helpful in giving you a guide on how your answers will be interpreted and examples of answers you can use as a template.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ima...ysical_lcw.pdf

It's produced by Benefits and Work who claim to be on the side of the claimant and

Quote:

At a time when most politicians seem proud to treat sick and disabled claimants with harshness and suspicion, independent and accurate information about how to claim and keep your benefits is vitally important.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/emp...nce/esa-claims

... and I think this is the questionaire, ESA50?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum.../dg_195544.pdf

Welshchris · 09-06-2011, 16:15

i found that ESA50 but what the woman i spoke to told me earlier on is that the questionaire will be a multiple question where u tick answers.

I rang up earlier to see if they could speed up the process and send me the forms before the 15th so i can have them all filled in at the same time and was told basically no.

joglynne · 09-06-2011, 16:30

Once you have completed the first few pages the ESA50 does rely heavily on questions with multiple answers with tick boxes. Just working through it with the help of my first link should help you work out which answers will help and which can be used against you.

Add, this is a new field to me but I do have years of experience with government forms so if any one needs to check out any interpretations of gobbledegook feel free to PM me.