Yes the Benefits and Work site is excellent on all aspects of ESA. I would not have been able to help my husband win his case at tribunal if I hadn't paid the subscription and used their guide. You can get alot of information off there free. Alot of people on this site have used their guides to help them fill in forms. Your local CAB or Benefit Advice Shop might also be able to help and the CAB has a website adviceguide.org.uk/ which gives self help tips. Good luck with it. If you can't get local help fill the form in over a few days carefully reading each question. List medication or treatments that you have tried to use but have perhaps given up because of an increase in pain or side effects as well as those that you are now on as it shows that you have tried everything in your powers to get well. Get as much support from your doctor or specialist and ask them to write letters of support. You can add additional pages if the space isn't enough just rememember to put your name and national insurance nos on them. Good luckx
i have just had my medical for my ESA still waitling for outcome but that is by the by. take your time and read all the questions carfully, what i did was i bought a note book and put allmy answers down on there first or you can download the ESA50 form and fill it on your computor first, but at all time taking your time. remember you have to put down what you are like on your WORST day, if you take meds what they are for, how long you have been taking them, there side effect, what i did there was to remove the information leaflet that you get in your meds and underlined the side effects i was suffering and sent them with my form. get as much supporting evidence from your GP, hospital consultants and anyone else involved i your care. take copies of these and keep one for yourself so that when you attend your medical you also have them for your peice of mind.
if you can contact CAB or any other agency that can help you fill out your form and if possible ask if they can come to your home to do this as they have in the past for me. if you are not able to travel to assessment centre then request that your assessment be carried out at your home you will have to ask your gp to fax them with the reasons you are not able to attend centre.
PLEASE PLEASE ask for your assessment to be recorded be it at home or assessment centre. if they do assessment at home do not let them wander around your home. also be the assment be at home or centre take someone with you, theycan offer you support during this stressful situation and also take notes even though it is being recorded. they tend to look at people differently if they attend alone. if you have to attend centre please be aware that you are being recorded at all time that is both audio/video so that they can see what you do while waiting,ni.e you haev stated that you cant sit for more than 10mins but their recording shows you sitting happerly for 30 mins. they can use this against you, your assessment is not over until you are in your car as they will still have the cameras on you while you are leaving the centre, and you must ask for you travel expenses this is your proof that you attended.
soory that te post is so long but i have been on other forums before my assessment and i gave me a load of useful information which helped me. if there is anything else i can help wit just let me know
I have pasted you a link below to the CAB benefits advice pages, you should find a great deal of useful information and contact details, it really is a good place to start along with the benefits and work site:
I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? The ESA50 is a fit for work form (that needs completing by the claimant of ESA) that leads to an assessment for eligibility to work. I genuinely hope this is what you meant?
i just wondered as i had read it in a post. pins out but they gave me nothing they just pulled them out and it made me feel really sick and they bled a lot. I cannot shower for another 2 days and cannot drive till I can do emergency stop I have to go back in 6 weeks for a check up. cannot wait for my shower and to drive. once all heaed li have to get the the other one done. how you are well
That sounds quite nasty for you? I genuinely hope that it is not giving you too much pain? I would go mad if I couldn't get in the shower whenever I wanted!
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