New E.S.A examination.

[jensw]

Hi I was wondering if anybody out there has had to have one of these E.S.A examination? I've heard that they're totally different now. Its been well over 3 years since my friend had his and with an appointment next month he is a little unsure so I just thought I'd see if anybody out there has any ideas of what to expect. Forewarned is forearmed so they say.

[TheAuthor]

Hi jensw

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I have not personally undergone anything of this nature myself, but I have pasted you a link to the CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) cache on this:

citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

You could also contact Janet, who is the FMA UK benefit adviser. I have pasted her contact page below:

fmauk.org/contactsmenu/help...

I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck with your assessment and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[jensw in reply to TheAuthor]

thanks for youe message,i will pass it on to my friend.

[Milder]

I had mine a few weeks ago. Its a bit like the PIP assessment but much less intense. Similar questions and had to do the movements (how far can you bend etc). It took a good 45-60 minutes to do. Good luck.

[jensw in reply to Milder]

thanks for that but my friend hasnt gone for pip but i get your drift after checking there website.

[Hidden]

My husband had his the other day. All i know is the charity Disabled people Against Cuts, have put out a warning against trying to do it yourself. They recommend getting specialist help.

[jensw in reply to Hidden]

i will check out there website and thank you for the info.

[Newquay]

Good morning.

I had mine about 5 weeks ago.

I did ask for it recording as I had, had a bad time at my PIP.

I must say first of all totally different, she was pleasant but after all she was being record so she had to be.

The very first question was how has your illness effected your life, my answer totally ruined it.

The question are just about what you do in your days (fill the Time).

I was asked can I make my own breakfast at my PIP I just said yes most days, wrong answer. SHOULD have said not without causing me more PAIN Evan though I do make my own,

It's the PAIN ELEMENT that needs to come into it.

Asked if you need help with showers etc  

Can dress myself

Mostly what's on the form but they twist the questions.

Give you a laugh now.

I have had a big operation I was ask how I was doing from it, I just said I am ok it only hurts when I cough now.

She said how often is that, I said when I cough, but how often, and it went on so in the end I just said well I will make a note for you and post it because I don't count my coughs,but what a stupid question.

But be ware if you say somethings hurt they will ask you how often.

Hope this helps a little but it was just fine but if somethings cause you more pain to do so tell them,

When it came to the examination I ask if it cause me more pain do I still have to do it, She said no, So I just said to her well I am in a lot of pain now so I will just stay here and she was fine with that, I did make it clear that they had cause me a lot of stress and pain because I had to go to them. 

I did ask for a home visit. I got my ESA .

Best of luck.

Glynis

[Hidden in reply to Newquay]

Well done N

[jensw in reply to Newquay]

Wow that sounds a lot you're going to jump through hoops now they're not literally

[loraine12]

Hi I had an ESA interview about 6 months ago. They kept me waiting so long I was in agony by I was called. I saw a nurse although others saw a doctor. I was asked a lot of questions and they went through my application which I had, by then, forgot i'd even filled in. I was then asked to do some simple movements like ands above the head which I partially did. When asked to put both hands behind my back I refused and explained that it was too much for me and it would be very sore the next day. The nurse was a little scary I felt she was briefed to be that way, having said that it was better than I expected. A week later they wrote saying I was in the support category and entitled to £104 instead of the £70 or what ever it is. The letter that followed said I no longer was required to provide a gp's note but I could attend interviews on a voluntary  basis!!! If you don't reply they assume you don't want to do this and I have never been invited to any interviews(as if anyone would offer a job to someone who has been off work sick for 3 years and would say' no i'm not any better )

Hope it goes ok for you, there's no undressing or invasive stuff, just describe  things as you would on your worse day so say what you cannot do rather than what you can if you push yourself. Good luck x

[eli2a in reply to loraine12]

my experiance was pretty much the same, i always say if they "politley" suggest i go to work, if u find someone who can be sure im reliable (cos im not) considering i have multiple problems and who would choose to give up living to merely existing im only 38 & honestly see more active o.a.p.s than me and then thats a whole other issue (age)

[jensw in reply to eli2a]

well i feel you pain as im older than my years.thanks for the info.

[Scouser58]

Hello jensw,,,, I have had 2 appointments for a face to face with some men who work for the E.S.A. and they just watched my approach to the desk and then sat asking me questions about how I do things and my carer was with me and made a few comments,,,they are mainly wanting to know about my ability to go back to work,,,which I told them I was not able to do,,,,,this thing,,that thing,,,and can not do anything like that,,,, I have had 2 letters from them asking about what help they can give me to go back to work,,,,,that is all they are interested in,,,getting you off the esa books and back into work,,,,,,,,that is how my appointments went,,,,,and nothing since.

Did you happen to see Casualty on Saturday night,,,they had a return to work nurse sent from esa,,,back to work and he was struggling to do the job,,,,,,this is how I see it being when people who have been in and through a lot of ill health could possibly be,,

Tell your friend to relax and do get stressed out,,,,,if he is not ready or able to be pushed back to work,,,tell them,,and give them plenty of examples about what he is not able to do and how he is in the morning,,,,etc,    ttfn from Karen.,

[jensw in reply to Scouser58]

thank you and im sorry to hear your wasnt great.

[ailsamary]

I had no problem with any of my assessments and was given more than I expected.

I don't blame the assessors, its not something I would want to do myself. But the companies have been given targets by the government and they are the ones to blame over this.

Unfortunately we have all seen or know people getting benefits that they are not entitled to and unfortunately these people get shown in the media and give the rest of us genuine people a bad name

[jensw in reply to ailsamary]

I know  its a little mad out there and i agree that  there only doing there job.

I havent had to deal with them but the system is rubbish. What can you do but do your best and always smile 

[ailsamary in reply to jensw]

Oh totally agreed. I have been on the receiving end which is possibly why I feel that way.

I used to be an A&E nurse mainly doing triage. I have been shouted at, threatened, sworn at, called most of the names under the sun, but at least I had some people who were grateful, and could sometimes have job satisfaction despite all the targets, and meeting targets becoming the sign of a good nurse !!!