ESA Benefits and Entitlement.

[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.

[denphone]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 ----------

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]

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]

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 ----------

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]

Hi chris I google esa questioner and I found one

[dilli-theclaw]

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]

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]

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/images/image/samples/esa/sample_esa_physical_lcw.pdf

It's produced by Benefits and Work who claim to be on the side of the claimant andAt 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/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-claims

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

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@money/documents/digitalasset/dg_195544.pdf

[Welshchris]

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]

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.

[peanut]

Everyone will be cured of all illnesses within a couple of years. Well on paper anyway.

[alferret]

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.


My wife takes these also, but for Fibromyagia & I can vouch for they type of side effects mentioned.

Hope it goes well for you :tu:

[peanut]

Another thing they look out for regarding medication is not the amounts of medication you take, but if your illness is controlled with medication. If it is, then you deemed fit to work.

[Taf]

A letter from any and all specialists will really help.

[Fingy]

From very recent experience of applying for DLA for my son and having to ask for a reconsideration as it was declined the first time.

On any forms if it asks you if you can do something and you say yes, but add that it is only yes because of x or y, you need to select no then input the reasons above. From what I have been able to research the people looking at the claims have no medicial background and are purely trained in reading the forms, several have admitted to not reading any additional reasons unless the no box was selected.

Also give the example as your worst possible day, do not concentrate on what you can do, rather what you can't. It is a total nightmare and heartbreaking to complete but you can do it.

[moaningmags]

We've just posted my husband's ESA form back to the same office who for the last 7-8 years have said he's unfit for work. Will be interesting to see what they think now under the new rules given that the questions have been answered in exactly the same way for the last 7-8 years.

[Hugh]

From very recent experience of applying for DLA for my son and having to ask for a reconsideration as it was declined the first time.

On any forms if it asks you if you can do something and you say yes, but add that it is only yes because of x or y, you need to select no then input the reasons above. From what I have been able to research the people looking at the claims have no medicial background and are purely trained in reading the forms, several have admitted to not reading any additional reasons unless the no box was selected.

Also give the example as your worst possible day, do not concentrate on what you can do, rather what you can't. It is a total nightmare and heartbreaking to complete but you can do it.This is excellent advice.

My wife works at the DCS part of the DWP, and she says too many people are too proud to state the difficulties they have, but instead state what they can occasionally manage - her advice is to answer according to your worst days, not your best.

[Welshchris]

My wife takes these also, but for Fibromyagia & I can vouch for they type of side effects mentioned.

Hope it goes well for you :tu:

i have been told i may have the start of Fibromyagia in my legs due to shaking when i try and put pressure on them say if im walking down stairs or a hill. I thought it was sciatica at first. And its not because im over weight im 5ft 7" and just over 10 and a half stone so im well under the overweight catagory.

---------- Post added at 08:54 ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 ----------

This is excellent advice.

My wife works at the DCS part of the DWP, and she says too many people are too proud to state the difficulties they have, but instead state what they can occasionally manage - her advice is to answer according to your worst days, not your best.

i have been told this to.

I am supposed to have someone to accompany me everytime i go out which in life is impossible. To get into town i sometimes have to take upto 4 tramadol within a 2-3 hour period and by this time im completely off my trolly but its the only way i can ease the pain enough to get things done such as pay bills, do some basic shopping, attend hospital appointments, even the ride on the bus is agony with bouncing around. I have been known to wander into moving traffic because im not fully aware of my surroundings.

[denphone]

From very recent experience of applying for DLA for my son and having to ask for a reconsideration as it was declined the first time.

On any forms if it asks you if you can do something and you say yes, but add that it is only yes because of x or y, you need to select no then input the reasons above. From what I have been able to research the people looking at the claims have no medicial background and are purely trained in reading the forms, several have admitted to not reading any additional reasons unless the no box was selected.

Also give the example as your worst possible day, do not concentrate on what you can do, rather what you can't. It is a total nightmare and heartbreaking to complete but you can do it.


Yes you must state your worst days totally and do not go on about any good days as l am afraid if you go on about your good days then you will not get the benefit awarded to you.

[AdamD]

This is excellent advice.

My wife works at the DCS part of the DWP, and she says too many people are too proud to state the difficulties they have, but instead state what they can occasionally manage - her advice is to answer according to your worst days, not your best.

I was the same, I was to embarrassed to admit I couldn't leave the house due to anxiety :(

Probably why I had to go through the appeal process last time around, heh.

---------- Post added at 12:09 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------

i sometimes have to take upto 4 tramadol within a 2-3 hour period and by this time im completely off my trolly but its the only way i can ease the pain enough to get things done such as pay bills, do some basic shopping, attend hospital appointments, even the ride on the bus is agony with bouncing around. I have been known to wander into moving traffic because im not fully aware of my surroundings.

I take something similiar for migraines (It's called..Zydol)

I usually take two, which leaves me feeling like I'm on another planet, sometimes more if the pain is worse, which completely knocks me for six, so to speak.

Makes you wonder though, if you suffer from migraines, like I do, every 2-3 weeks, for 2-3 days at a time, which employer do they think is going to be symapthetic about and not fire you?

I took two days off in one year at my last job and was disciplined for it, heh.

[candy1567]

Hi welsh chris

I am a social worker and also benefit and cab manager trained.

the first thing is not to panic, incapacity benefit is being fazed out and ESA is replacing it. ESA has 2 levels, work and support related groups.

All that will happen is that u will get a questionaire to fill in, put in as much information like u did wen u first claimed incapacity benefit, dont forget to put the side effects of any medication especially the gapapentin, which has a lot of side effects and put down how all this effects u on a day to day basis.

If u are under the the hosiptal, gp, mental health or social services then put these down as contacts also.

wat will happen then is that ur claim will be looked at and will be decided if u are awarded ESA and if so which group u will be placed in. They may decide they need more medical information and will send u for a medical at one of there centres. It is not a medical where they examine u, its more of a wat u can and cant do medical wise.

If they then decide u dont qualify there is an appeal process which can be started.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE UR MONEY TAKEN AWAY UNTIL AFTER THE APPEAL DECISION IS REACHED.

you will still be paid ur benefit whilst they change u over to ESA.

It was just like wen they changed from supplementary benefit to income support and then from sickness benefit to incapacity benefit.

Usually is someone is refused a benefit they are entitled to it is because they havn't filled out the forms with the correct or enough information.

Also if u need help with the forms go to the CAB, dont use the benefit advice workers from a solicitors office as if u do need to appeal a decision they they wont represent u where as a CAB will have tribunal reps for support.

Wat i would advise u to do for the next few days is to keep a diary and write everything down to do with ur illness, how and wen u have taken tabllets, did u need extra painkillers etc. How much pain u where in, did it effect ur eating habbits, personal care habbits, how u felt, u need to write everything down.

Then wen it comes to filling out the forms u will have notes to help u, this is expecially useful wen filling out DLA forms!!!

Also take a copy of the forms before u post them back as they do have a habbit of going missing!!!!

And remember, u have the medical evidence to back u up, also it goes on how much ur illness or disability effects u on a day to day basis and how u function.

Hope this helps

Juliex

[PeteLockwood]

if you are genuine, you have nothing to worry about.

[denphone]

if you are genuine, you have nothing to worry about.

Well l was genuine 11 years ago then 2 months later l was very close to death unless l had a LVAD inplanted into me.

[peanut]

if you are genuine, you have nothing to worry about.

Haha, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a quite a while on here. I mean like as if being genuine really matters anymore. :rofl:

And to candy1567, thanks, a good post and some excellent advice there.

[denphone]

Haha, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a quite a while on here. I mean like as if being genuine really matters anymore. :rofl:

There are many genuine claimants who do not get their entitlements and there are a minority of claimants who have nothing wrong with them and get everything.

[candy1567]

its not a question of if ur genuine or not

its all down to how u fill the form and how the adjudication officers determine if u are awarded the benefit. You are awarded points for each section of the form and if u gather enough points then u get the benefit. But it can be interpreted in different ways as to the information u put on the form.

During my stint as a CAB manager i have known ppl who should not have been awarded DLA who where not genuine and knew how to play the system.

They got the benefit as they knew how to fill in the forms correctly, which wording to use and which sections they needed to fill in.

Yes the system has now changed where u have may have a EMP visit from a gp wen u apply for DLA but the benefits system as a whole is open to abuse.

If u have got medical evidence to back up ur form then u dont need to worry, also it takes months to even get to the appeal stage.

The biggest problem is the filling in of the forms, u have to make the form fit the person and make the form work for u.

Juliex

[peanut]

its not a question of if ur genuine or not

its all down to how u fill the form and how the adjudication officers determine if u are awarded the benefit. You are awarded points for each section of the form and if u gather enough points then u get the benefit. But it can be interpreted in different ways as to the information u put on the form.

During my stint as a CAB manager i have known ppl who should not have been awarded DLA who where not genuine and knew how to play the system.

They got the benefit as they knew how to fill in the forms correctly, which wording to use and which sections they needed to fill in.

Yes the system has now changed where u have may have a EMP visit from a gp wen u apply for DLA but the benefits system as a whole is open to abuse.

If u have got medical evidence to back up ur form then u dont need to worry, also it takes months to even get to the appeal stage.

The biggest problem is the filling in of the forms, u have to make the form fit the person and make the form work for u.

Juliex

So is it not true that if you pass their simple tests, eg pick up a empty box, reach for a cup etc, then you are deemed fit enough to work?

Another question, if you are put in the work related group for ESA, you are on that benefit for 1 year, so what happens after that 1 year is up and you are still no better off illness wise? Can you be restested for the ESA allowance?

[Welshchris]

Hi welsh chris

I am a social worker and also benefit and cab manager trained.

the first thing is not to panic, incapacity benefit is being fazed out and ESA is replacing it. ESA has 2 levels, work and support related groups.

All that will happen is that u will get a questionaire to fill in, put in as much information like u did wen u first claimed incapacity benefit, dont forget to put the side effects of any medication especially the gapapentin, which has a lot of side effects and put down how all this effects u on a day to day basis.

If u are under the the hosiptal, gp, mental health or social services then put these down as contacts also.

wat will happen then is that ur claim will be looked at and will be decided if u are awarded ESA and if so which group u will be placed in. They may decide they need more medical information and will send u for a medical at one of there centres. It is not a medical where they examine u, its more of a wat u can and cant do medical wise.

If they then decide u dont qualify there is an appeal process which can be started.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE UR MONEY TAKEN AWAY UNTIL AFTER THE APPEAL DECISION IS REACHED.

you will still be paid ur benefit whilst they change u over to ESA.

It was just like wen they changed from supplementary benefit to income support and then from sickness benefit to incapacity benefit.

Usually is someone is refused a benefit they are entitled to it is because they havn't filled out the forms with the correct or enough information.

Also if u need help with the forms go to the CAB, dont use the benefit advice workers from a solicitors office as if u do need to appeal a decision they they wont represent u where as a CAB will have tribunal reps for support.

Wat i would advise u to do for the next few days is to keep a diary and write everything down to do with ur illness, how and wen u have taken tabllets, did u need extra painkillers etc. How much pain u where in, did it effect ur eating habbits, personal care habbits, how u felt, u need to write everything down.

Then wen it comes to filling out the forms u will have notes to help u, this is expecially useful wen filling out DLA forms!!!

Also take a copy of the forms before u post them back as they do have a habbit of going missing!!!!

And remember, u have the medical evidence to back u up, also it goes on how much ur illness or disability effects u on a day to day basis and how u function.

Hope this helps

Juliex


Thanks Julie x

---------- Post added at 15:06 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------

I was the same, I was to embarrassed to admit I couldn't leave the house due to anxiety :(

Probably why I had to go through the appeal process last time around, heh.

---------- Post added at 12:09 ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 ----------



I take something similiar for migraines (It's called..Zydol)

I usually take two, which leaves me feeling like I'm on another planet, sometimes more if the pain is worse, which completely knocks me for six, so to speak.

Makes you wonder though, if you suffer from migraines, like I do, every 2-3 weeks, for 2-3 days at a time, which employer do they think is going to be symapthetic about and not fire you?

I took two days off in one year at my last job and was disciplined for it, heh.

Zydol is just Tramadol under a different name.

---------- Post added at 15:08 ---------- Previous post was at 15:06 ----------

if you are genuine, you have nothing to worry about.

Total Rubbish...

When i went infront a board for the first time and won my DLA a number of years ago there was a woman in a wheel chair that had her leg amputated. She was telling us that a week after the operation she was was sent forms for DLA to reapply and she filled them in and on the forms informed them of the operation and so on and they stopped her DLA and she won it at the appeal as i did so its rubbish if ur genuine u will get it.

[nashville]

I agree my friend lost his high rate of DLA. He had to go in front of a panel & he was so humiliated with the questions & their manner, He felt so degraded & flustered. He now has no car to get around & has been depressed every since. He had worked & paid tax all his working life. I also think the Doctors who come to the house to see patients get paid for not passing you. I was just out of hospital after a back operation & could not move & I was refused. I had to appeal & wait for months as the operation was not a success, before I received anything. I get a form to fill in every 3 years. I am dreading the next one which is due at the end of this year.

[Welshchris]

I agree my friend lost his high rate of DLA. He had to go in front of a panel & he was so humiliated with the questions & their manner, He felt so degraded & flustered. He now has no car to get around & has been depressed every since. He had worked & paid tax all his working life. I also think the Doctors who come to the house to see patients get paid for not passing you. I was just out of hospital after a back operation & could not move & I was refused. I had to appeal & wait for months as the operation was not a success, before I received anything. I get a form to fill in every 3 years. I am dreading the next one which is due at the end of this year.

This is what i dont understand. The DWP have had letters from 2 seperate doctors to state that theres is NOTHING AT ALL they can do for me in the way of my Spine and Osteo Arthritis yet every 2 years i have to fill in forms. Yet i know people who have had operations which they will be on their feet and working again within 12 - 18 months and have been awarded DLA indefinately. It really doesnt make a blind bit of sense.

[denphone]

I agree my friend lost his high rate of DLA. He had to go in front of a panel & he was so humiliated with the questions & their manner, He felt so degraded & flustered. He now has no car to get around & has been depressed every since. He had worked & paid tax all his working life. I also think the Doctors who come to the house to see patients get paid for not passing you. I was just out of hospital after a back operation & could not move & I was refused. I had to appeal & wait for months as the operation was not a success, before I received anything. I get a form to fill in every 3 years. I am dreading the next one which is due at the end of this year.

Yes l have a serious ongoing condition and have a device inplanted in me and l might have to go on and have a heart transplant and l have had this condition for 11 years and yet every 2 years l have to fill in this dreaded form even though my consultant, doctor and community heart failure nurse tells them everything.

[candy1567]

The goal posts for entitlement change every couple of years, about 10 yrs ago u could get a DLA award for life so no more form filling. Now u usually get up to 5yr awards and need to re-apply.

with regards to ESA, if u are placed in the work group, u have to attend monthly meetings with the job centre for 6 months, but, wen u have been on ESA for 12 months u get another questionaire to fill in to see if u still fit the criteria for the benefit.

I have known and supported someone through an appeal for ESA, who has a medical diagnosis and who cannot work. He was sent for a medical and he scored 0 points on the medical, so was told he couldn't claim ESA, we went to appeal, but before it even got to appeal he was awarded ESA due to the medical evidence we had as how could he score 0 points on the medical,

The form is one fits all, so u have to make the form work for u, put in as much info as u can, write about ur worst day, also now u can ask for ur notes from ur gp to be printed off and the letters from the hospital which can be sent in with the form for extra evidence.

Just keep ur chin up and dont let the buggers grind u down, every phone call u make keep notes, get the persons name, if u have the medical evidence to back it up then fantastic.

can i also say that the medical u attend is not a medical from a gp/hospital. DWP medical is to assess how capable u are to do a working job, not to diagnose illnesses, so i personally dont think it can be called a medical. For eg, if u have a mobililty problem then this does not rule out doin a desk job, they are assessing ur capability for work not to prove that u are ill/disabled. Just because ur doctor gives u a sick note to say u cant work, the DWP medical is assessing if u can do another type of work.

I dont agree with the benefits system at all, but hey u want to work for social services lol, u get screwed all ur life through the benefits system, then wen u hit old age social services take over!!!!

Juliex

[Hugh]

Julie, FYI, no one get's sick notes anymore - they have been replaced with 'fit notes' since April last year.

[Welshchris]

The goal posts for entitlement change every couple of years, about 10 yrs ago u could get a DLA award for life so no more form filling. Now u usually get up to 5yr awards and need to re-apply.

with regards to ESA, if u are placed in the work group, u have to attend monthly meetings with the job centre for 6 months, but, wen u have been on ESA for 12 months u get another questionaire to fill in to see if u still fit the criteria for the benefit.

I have known and supported someone through an appeal for ESA, who has a medical diagnosis and who cannot work. He was sent for a medical and he scored 0 points on the medical, so was told he couldn't claim ESA, we went to appeal, but before it even got to appeal he was awarded ESA due to the medical evidence we had as how could he score 0 points on the medical,

The form is one fits all, so u have to make the form work for u, put in as much info as u can, write about ur worst day, also now u can ask for ur notes from ur gp to be printed off and the letters from the hospital which can be sent in with the form for extra evidence.

Just keep ur chin up and dont let the buggers grind u down, every phone call u make keep notes, get the persons name, if u have the medical evidence to back it up then fantastic.

can i also say that the medical u attend is not a medical from a gp/hospital. DWP medical is to assess how capable u are to do a working job, not to diagnose illnesses, so i personally dont think it can be called a medical. For eg, if u have a mobililty problem then this does not rule out doin a desk job, they are assessing ur capability for work not to prove that u are ill/disabled. Just because ur doctor gives u a sick note to say u cant work, the DWP medical is assessing if u can do another type of work.

I dont agree with the benefits system at all, but hey u want to work for social services lol, u get screwed all ur life through the benefits system, then wen u hit old age social services take over!!!!

Juliex

part of this is wrong. i know of 2 people in the past year thats been awarded DLA for life.

As for me doing a job they will have to take into account the daily treatments i have to undertake, the side affects of my medication, my mental and physical problems.

[candy1567]

if u read the first couple of lines of my post it states that u now usually get a fixed term for DLA and then have to re-apply, i have not said that u cant get life awards, if u qualify then u will get awarded wat u fit the criteria for.

[peanut]

with regards to ESA, if u are placed in the work group, u have to attend monthly meetings with the job centre for 6 months, but, wen u have been on ESA for 12 months u get another questionaire to fill in to see if u still fit the criteria for the benefit.



Thank you for answering my question. All good advice, which seems to be hard to find these days. All you hear is doom and gloom with a feeling of no hope.

The stress they are putting onto people is immense, my neighbour has already attempted to end his life as the stress is pushing him right over the edge.

[denphone]

Thank you for answering my question. All good advice, which seems to be hard to find these days. All you hear is doom and gloom with a feeling of no hope.

The stress they are putting onto people is immense, my neighbour has already attempted to end his life as the stress is pushing him right over the edge.

Yes the stress on some people can be overwhelming and some people will find that hard to cope with.

[Welshchris]

Well i heard from them by phone earlier anking me some questions.

Now here is the part i dont like as i dont know how much more stress i can cope with...

The EWA50 form will be out to me within 7-12 weeks.. it can then take upto 12 weeks to put through the system and a decision will be made if i need to go for an interview or tests and then 12 weeks again thereafter.

[joglynne]

Well i heard from them by phone earlier anking me some questions.

Now here is the part i dont like as i dont know how much more stress i can cope with...

The EWA50 form will be out to me within 7-12 weeks.. it can then take upto 12 weeks to put through the system and a decision will be made if i need to go for an interview or tests and then 12 weeks again thereafter.

I really feel for you Chris, waiting to hear whether you have a fight on your hands must be horrible.

I can't make it better for you but can only advise you to try not to buy into a worry that you can't do anything about. Put the projected dates in a diary and then do your best to get on with your life. If you spend every day for the next 6 months letting something that may not materialise control all your waking moments you will be a gibbering wreck and none of us on CF want that to happen to you, and that goes for all our members in the same boat as I can't believe you are the only member on here facing the same review.

Also take heart, undoubtedly there will be people unjustly treated, and there are steps that they can take but there will also be a fair few who will not face a change in their benefit position and I sincerely hope that in the near future commonsense is brought to bear on this whole process and that people with the weight of medical evidence such as yourself are identified and fast tracked through all this palaver. :hugs:

[moaningmags]

We've just posted my husband's ESA form back to the same office who for the last 7-8 years have said he's unfit for work. Will be interesting to see what they think now under the new rules given that the questions have been answered in exactly the same way for the last 7-8 years.

Well now we know! My husband's claim has just been rejected and he's to make a claim for JSA on the 5th August.
I love that he's fit for work :rolleyes: after 8 years of not being, would be even better if he actually was fit for work!
The fight now begins, given that my husband's issue is constant severe leg pain made worse by any physical movement I'd like to know why she asked him to count up in 7s and spell world backwards :confused:
To anyone going through this process I wish you the best of luck as you will most definitely need it.

[nashville]

Sorry to hear about your rejection. They would just love you to give up. But keep on fighting.

[dilli-theclaw]

Well now we know! My husband's claim has just been rejected and he's to make a claim for JSA on the 5th August.
I love that he's fit for work :rolleyes: after 8 years of not being, would be even better if he actually was fit for work!
The fight now begins, given that my husband's issue is constant severe leg pain made worse by any physical movement I'd like to know why she asked him to count up in 7s and spell world backwards :confused:
To anyone going through this process I wish you the best of luck as you will most definitely need it.I am sorry to hear it did not go well, I hope your appeal goes better :tu:

I dread my assessment for sure, at the moment I am just trying not to worry about it.

---------- Post added at 16:55 ---------- Previous post was at 16:55 ----------

Sorry to hear about your rejection. They would just love you to give up. But keep on fighting.I get the feeling they are hoping / relying on people doing just that. Giving up I mean.

[peanut]

That and DLA being abolished, people don't stand a chance. Those that are on an indefinite award will no longer have that security. I predict everything will end up means tested, with a threshold so low that no one will get anything.

I had an appointment a mental health therapist the other week for pain management / depression etc, and without saying a word she went off on a rant (which was fine by me) about all the changes and the way things are being done with ATOS.

Scary times, that's for sure.

[moaningmags]

I won't give up, if it gets as far as him actually having to sign I'll be with him to tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine :)
Good luck with your assessment Dilli!
She asked very few questions about his mobility and I don't understand why she asked him to count in 7s or spell world backwards, that's questions you would ask someone with mental health issues not with a mobility problem.
It looks like they have a broad range of questions and a one size fits all so everyone gets asked the same questions regardless of their issue.

[TheDaddy]

I won't give up, if it gets as far as him actually having to sign I'll be with him to tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine :)
Good luck with your assessment Dilli!
She asked very few questions about his mobility and I don't understand why she asked him to count in 7s or spell world backwards, that's questions you would ask someone with mental health issues not with a mobility problem.
It looks like they have a broad range of questions and a one size fits all so everyone gets asked the same questions regardless of their issue.

I hope that the initial assesment is simply target driven and designed to weed out the workshy and feckless and that the appeal will be considerably more thorough, just to be on the safe side though Mags if it were me I'd be getting my MP involved now. Good luck with it :tu:

[AdamD]

I've had to see a "doctor" from ATOS twice in the past, they were both bloody useless.

They just read from a script and twice they put down the wrong answers, I was lucky the first time and it was agreed that I was unfit for work.

The second time they put down three wrong answers and I had to fight it through an appeal, which I won.

But this was before all this clamping down stuff, so I dread to think what the next review will be like. :(

[moaningmags]

A wee update.
We requested a copy of the medical report and were totally astonished to find he'd been examined by a registered nurse, not a doctor!
She missed his strongest medication off the report and had conflicting statements from one page to the next.
We're now being helped by a welfare rights officer for when we go to tribunal.
Social work have told us they're dealing with at least 5 tribunals per day, that's all they can do as there's only one room set aside for the appeal.
In the meantime his benefit has been reduced by £65 per fortnight although if/when he wins it will be backdated, doesn't do us much good now though.
For anyone else going through this, if they say you're fit request a copy of the medical report and contact a welfare rights worker through the social work system.
For anyone declared unfit for work I'd still request a copy of the medical report as in my husband's case nothing has changed medically for him in 8 years and for those 8 years they said he was unfit. It would have come in handy to see the difference from one report to the next.

[Welshchris]

im now without any Benefits what so ever.

Having had to reapply for my DLA and then ESA cross over from Income Support they "Lost" both set of forms within 3 weeks of each other. Blackpool lost DLA forms and Aberdeen ESA forms. So my DLA ran out and because they didnt recieve ESA forms in time they stopped my money. I have since sent copies of each forms but i will be without money now for 6-8weeks apparently. I have had to borrow money from my parents for my rent and council tax and also to live. Its costing me £20 a week to get to hospital for treatment which i can no longer even claim back. I am soooo annoyed at it all. I have a caseworker who is working for me and he is also not happy and said its a shambles.

[joglynne]

@ Welshchris. Get in touch with your MP urgently. If you can get them interested in your case and have them send an "MP'S Enquiry" to both of the offices concerned your case will be handled as a priority being overseen by a senior member of the management team at each office.

I hope the same procedures are still in place as, although I always hated the dang things as we had to drop everything in order to give a reply in under a set time, they did get results.

[Welshchris]

i am waiting to see my MP in a Surgery here.

[nashville]

This is a disgrace. I hope your MP can do something for you. Why o why do some people get everything & don,t deserve it & genuine people have nothing but hassle.

[Sirius]

This is a disgrace. I hope your MP can do something for you. Why o why do some people get everything & don,t deserve it & genuine people have nothing but hassle.

Maybe there are that many NON genuine cases flooding the system, The non genuine cases are then stopping the GENUINE cases being dealt with in the correct time :shrug:

I was told there are places in Manchester that you can go to be taught how to pass the tests and they even fill out your forms for you for a fee. :mad:

I hope you get it sorted soon Chris :tu:

[nashville]

I heard that story too. The people who knock you back also get paid more for each person they turn down. That for sure is not fare.

[Hugh]

I heard that story too. The people who knock you back also get paid more for each person they turn down. That for sure is not fare.Urban myth....

[joglynne]

I heard that story too. The people who knock you back also get paid more for each person they turn down. That for sure is not fare.

Urban myth....

I agree Hugh. They may be the wrong people to make the decisions but they are not getting bonuses for screwing peoples lives up.

[moaningmags]

It's not the person who examines you who makes the decision. They submit the report to the DSS and they make the decision based on that report.

[nashville]

But it depends what they say in their report makes the difference.

[moaningmags]

Of course it does, hence my directing you to post #52

[Welshchris]

It's not the person who examines you who makes the decision. They submit the report to the DSS and they make the decision based on that report.

i know of some of these nurses that do the decision making getting it majorly wrong.

There was one here in Swansea which was in the local paper, he had a medical as he is suffering from Terminal cancer and he was found fit and he appealed against it. Months went by and he was called in front of the board and the board said he was medically unfit for work, but when the guy on the board stated this the person suffering from cancer noticed he was writing the exact opposite down on the report to say he was fit for work and an argument kicked off and the guy suffering from cancer said if u find me fit for work after telling me i am unfit in the presence of my wife i will kill you.

With that the police was called and the guy was carted off BUT! even the arresting officer stated that what was done to the guy was totally unfair and an unfair practice by the board.

[Welshchris]

Right well at last my GP has recieved a letter from BOTH ESA and DLA and wants me there for 30 mins tomorrow tomorrow regarding it.

Any idea what this is for, is it for a medical or to sign forms?

What do they actually send to the DLA?

Reason i ask is i have seen a doctor who wrote a report out stating that because i didnt show any inflamation in an MRI he doesnt think i now have Arthritis even tho its shown on previous scans and he now claims i have Cronic Pain Syndrome. I have seen two docs since and neither agree with this statement because i am on a drug called Methotrexate that can mask inflamation + i may also have Psoriotic Arthritis which the inflamation may not show on an MRI according to two doctors.

I just find it odd that i was under a doctor from aged 14 until last year when he retired and he was adiment i had Osteo Arthritis and it had shown up a few times in MRI Scans in spine and knees especially and i see a new doc now and he didnt even examine me and sent for MRI and claims no. But what i also find funny because it makes no sence he states that i show no signs of any inflamation what so ever in one part of the letter and then in another part states that he is sending me for an Ultrasound for Inflamation in my right leg which has now spread to left also.

[nashville]

This is a terrible situation. This stress wil be making you worse. Hope you get a better result.

[Welshchris]

Stress is certainly making my Psoriasis worse.

Treatment at the hospital was stopped 2 weeks ago because i put a stop to it cos they wernt applying ointments correctly and i was burning and already its creeping back and very inflamed.

[Welshchris]

Well by the looks of it im gonna have to fight and fight because of the mess the doctor has made of the reports.

First off she refused to take into account past doctors reports saying she can ONLY use latest letter from Raematology even tho he didnt even examine me, it only stated about lower back and not rest of spine, didnt mention kness, hand, neck or ankles as was in other reports and she also refused to take into account and put down on the report that some of the drugs im on will mask inflamation during xrays and MRI Scans.

She refused to accept that i suffer from Post Traumatic Stress and put on the report claiming she has a letter from my Shrink i dont. I tried to reason saying if he didnt think i didnt have it why did i have a letter which i showered her from a Thearapist which i see weekly which he put me under for Post Traumatic Stress.

Some of my Medicines wernt even on record at GP cos i get them from Hospital and she wouldnt take them into account nor did she ask me if i get any side affects or how they affect my daily life bearing in mind i take 18 tablets a day.

She questioned the fact that i need help to apply and wash off ointments for my Psoriasis and i said "Well it should be obvious, how would i be able for example to see and reach my own back to apply them?". She also didnt like the fact i had cancelled my own treatment daily at the hospital and its on record there i have put in a formal complaint over my care because they were not applying the ointments correctly which was causing me to have side affects and burning of the skin.

She Questioned the fact i have shortness if breath when walking even though its on record that i have and i was sent for an emergency scan of my chest just one week ago as both my legs are swelling with fluid and she did NOTHING! from the outset 6 month ago when it was reported to her and another doctor had to send me.

She also refused to take into account the swelling of the legs because they didnt know what the cause was saying well nothing more can be done and u dont need a scan on them as a raematologist said no. I then came home to find a message on my answerphone asking me to phone the hospital to make an appt which i have on Tuesday for a scan on my legs.

So by the looks of it im gonna have to fight and fight this with my case worker. I have also taken advice from a friend and going to make an appt to see MP as he had help from his over matters relating to medical care and doctors report after a Doctor doing a report for the DHSS pushed his leg so far back even though he told the doctor dont he passed out in pain and ended up in Hospital.

[nashville]

This is terrible. No One should be gpoing through this terrible ordeal.
What else can you do now?

[Welshchris]

Nothing at all.

I will have to wait for a decision now and appeal against it if i feel its wrong and state to why i think its wrong and hope they will listen to reason.

[nashville]

Things are not easy for you & the waiting must be forever.

[Angua]

Welshchris. Keep fighting and get your consultant to contact your GP. Even as a layperson I can see your symptoms are too varied and debilitating for you to engage in any type of work. Fingers crossed you end up in the ESA Support group.

What many people forget is the assessments are not just looking at qualifying for ESA due to disabilities but what you CAN do with the right help. Too often people who are signed off work are forgotten and left to rot on benefits. When what they need is helping into work they can manage despite their disabilities.

The fact that the jobs are not out there for the able bodied seems to be somewhat overlooked in the grand scheme of things.

[Welshchris]

Part of the reason i cannot work to Angua are because of the meds im on. The side affects also mean im a Health and Safety risk because im not spacially aware of people and get very groggy and tired and could bump or trip them up.

[Angua]

Biggest irony. Even the guy who designed the test said it was not fit for purpose.

[Welshchris]

Well i rang my local AMs office today as they are the ones in Wales that deal with NHS complaints.

The Guy i spoke to was the secretary for my Local AM and i explained the fact what was happening that the doctor refused to take a lot of my medical evidence into consideration, and the report she was going off there were questions of how accurate it is because of drugs i am on can mask inflamation in blood tests and MRI scans. I also explained she claims that she has a letter from my shrink to say i dont have Post Traumatic Stress even though i showed her a report to state he has me under a thearapist for Post Traumatic Stress, i also explained that the same day my GP told me about a report from my Raematologist stating that because blood tests came back negative for Deep Vein Thrombosis on my legs he didnt think i needed them scanned even though they are still swelling with fluid and when i came home i had an answer phone message from local hospital asking to make an appointment for a scan and when i asked who requested the scan it was my Raematologist lol.

He started laughing on the phone and said "Im very sorry but it all seems just so rediculous doesnt it"

I then went on to tell him a few more things thats been happening such as complaining about a nurse at the hospital after she mocked me for the way i have to walk because of my legs saying "You shouldnt walk like that! u need to put both feet flat on the floor and both feet in front of one another, theres nothing much wrong with your legs".

Also Parts of my notes vanishing, all of my notes vanishing for over 2 weeks, changes of prescription requests from Hospital to GP Vanishing, Whole reports from Hospital to GP dissapearing, My note and reports ending up in other peoples notes.

I also told him about the attitude from the hospital when they are blaming me for things that i am not responsible for and should be down to Doctor such as what happened 2 weeks ago. My Treatment was cancelled on the Thursday after i expressed concerns over the way ointments were being applied they were doing it completely wrong and therefore i was burning. The Following Tuesday i recieved a call from a Nurse with a right attitude Problem saying "I hope we can expect you for treatment sometime this week", i replied "I Beg your pardon?". She went on to say "Well you have not been here since last thursday and your treatment is meant for 4 times weekly as you are well aware". I said to her "well the doctor cancelled this treatment last thursday"... There was a pause and she said with an attitude "Well he didnt tell us", i said "well thats not my fault, its not my job to have to tell you, the doctor should have done this and not me".

He told me that he does agree that all medical evidence should have been included especially when the report they are going on doesnt cover all of my problems only one small part and theres questions over the accuracy of the report anyway and he said that the way i am being treated by the NHS does need to be looked at especially when it can affect reports for the DWP in general.

[Angua]

This site http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ is independent and may have some useful information.

I suspect it has been set up due to the high demand for help.

[dilli-theclaw]

I suspect it's been set up to make the site owners lots of cash.... Although there is some free stuff on there I'd be wary of paying a fee for what is freely available with a bit of googling.

[Welshchris]

Well i have just spoken to my thearapist. She has just checked through my mates for any copies of letters that would have been sent to GP in regards to my treatment and she cannot find this letter my GP claims to exist stating that i DONT have PTS only letters to do with dosages for my antidepressants for PTS. So if thats the case + if i find out my GP should have used other medical evidence i am going to launch a complaint against her.