ESA assessment : Has anyone refused to... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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ESA assessment

My-chinaman profile image
25 Replies

Has anyone refused to do the tests on the ftf I know I won't be able to do them I have been before so know what to expect I'm worried if I refuse they will stop my money ..

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My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman
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25 Replies
BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3

Hi there

If what you are being asked to do is going to cause you pain, you must tell them that.

Do you have someone going with you to your assessment?

Tell the assessor that you are refusing due to the fact that it will cause you too much pain.

Lu xx

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to BlueMermaid3

Thankyou Lu unfortunately I have to go on my own as my only carer is my daughter and I been told she can't be there with me even though she knows all the pain I'm in ...

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3 in reply to My-chinaman

Why can't she be there with you?

I know plenty of people who have taken relatives with them.

Lu xx

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to BlueMermaid3

She's only, 8

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3 in reply to My-chinaman

Ah ok that's why my friend.

When is your assessment? Can someone from the CAB find someone to go with you? xx

Al10 profile image
Al10 in reply to My-chinaman

Eek! going on your own?? Oh no! Can you find a helper? Anyone? A random off the street? Someone from the Church? Mental health worker? Seriously I don't want to worry you but you must not go alone. You will be like a baby Gnu away from it's herd out on the savanna. Easy pickings!!

Brumchick profile image
Brumchick in reply to Al10

Please do not go alone.It will demonstrate that you can travel ,plan outings ,and self care whilst you are there.This will be very misleading as im sure you cant travel independently at will and repeatedly and in reasonable time .You MUST not go on your own .fibd soneone please .

Best

Brumchick

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to Brumchick

Thanks I will see cab tomorrow get them to find someone to come with me it's a long way from my home too they can't cater for me where I live and as I got mobility problems I am not allowed to use a lift ......But that's all I do use as can't go up steps ...I just don't know why I can't use a lift as makes no difference where I go there's a fire risk ...I'm going to phone them and tell them I have to take daughter .this is my carer even the school acknowledge this so why can't they she's not young in her head ...She won't run about make a noise or anything I am fuming so getting anxiety with this depressed .......

Brumchick profile image
Brumchick in reply to My-chinaman

I think you should request a home visit. You could have a friend helper on the day.Im bedbound with severe M.E and fibro and i just could not go to them as i ave awful potts syndrome it makes me unable to sit up or stand without almost immediate adverse symptoms.If you are housebound they must attend your home.?try not to show dis ambiguity it gives them the wrong idea. best wishes

Brumchick

Hi China- could you elaborate on what TFT testing you mean,? it seems to differ from county to county.You can get help from g.p on this topic.

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to

Ftf face to face assessment

bluebell99 profile image
bluebell99

Hi, is it possible you could take a neighbour or friend with you?

If there really is no one to go then please ensure you ring and ask for your assessment to be taped. You will not be able to ask on the day.

As far as I know they cannot make you do the exercises as long as you tell them that you will be in considerable pain during and after.

Hope it goes well.

X

biffbrain profile image
biffbrain

I recently went on assessment for pip . When asked to move my legs out to the side I said I can't do that . I did the other exercises as asked although my right arm did spasm really badly . When I got my letter back the assessor put that I had poor rotation of hips. I guess that's cos I said I can't do it . It's true though. To move my legs that way would have been agony .

Just do what u can and if u know u can't do something say it's too painful .

Wish u all the best with it .

Nanny40 profile image
Nanny40

Hi there, I just recently had my f2f assessment too, he could see the pain i was in but still had to show what i was able to do, wasn't forced mind and he was very helpful, you only do what you can, hope you find someone to go with you, I took my daughter for the support as we all need a little bit of that!! Good luck xx

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman

How old is your daughter??

Nanny40 profile image
Nanny40 in reply to My-chinaman

She's 18, have you got any other family who could go with you? x

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to Nanny40

No as my other daughter has to look after my youngest daughter..That's why I asked the assessment people to change it to a later date when she was on her break ...Why has things got to be so complicated ..It's ok I will go on own and hopefully get through it ok ...

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi my friend

I have never undergone anything of this nature but I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Fra22-57 profile image
Fra22-57

The thing what rattles me is that half the stuff they ask you to do doesn't relate to what's wrong with you.Things I was asked to do at PIPS one annoyed me later as I thought ' well I didn't say I could do that.' Like bending forward

Al10 profile image
Al10

Yes absolutely I've said no!!!! What will they learn from a Fibro person to see us do something once? Are they going to spend the rest of the day with us to see the harm they did as the pain develops? Will they see the hours or days or more that pain lasts? Any medic asking us to jump through hoops for no medical reason is meddling. It is bad enough submitting when they are checking out a new symptom. I'm always poorly after. My GP seldom sees that!

By asking you to prove or not your physical ability, I reckon they prove they have no understanding of our condition at all. I've been good and done as I'm told, and been hurt, now I've wised up and realise it is up to me to protect myself.

I can do all sorts, put on shoes, wash my hair but ask me to do it again or when I'm not ready, then I can't. I have to work around my fluctuations. Can an assesser see that? Or believe it, if they dont or wont understand fibro?

Make sure you have all your medical evidence and that it is under 6 months old. Sadly without it, the assesser doesn't have to believe you. Good Luck!

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman in reply to Al10

Thankyou x

hi I would advise you get in touch with the CAB asap and arrange for someone to attend with you. As for these "medicals" absolute joke, I applied for esa and dla for severe depression and anxiety attended the thing with a support worker (at that time I had one currently looking for another due to her no longer doing that work) anyway went in first thing "doctor" asked was can I move my arms legs etc stand up breathe in breathe out (Hokey Cokey time) and that was it no mention whatsoever how my conditions affected me nothing..its an absolute joke my support worker even asked the "doctor" what the point in it was ayway they failed me (not enough points) appealed it,went to appeal walked in room sat down they asked my name and I told them they then looked at me looked at each other the "judge" guy shook his head and his very words were "I have no idea why you are here go home" I remember it clearly,the whole process took less time than it did for you to read this post. I received esa dla and all my backdated money,anyway I really need to learn to stick to the point so yeah go get someone from the CAB to go with you please oh and have a great week everyone #muchlove from me

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman

Will go and see cab tomorrow thanks

Sheendog profile image
Sheendog

You should try your local social work department as they will help you and go with you if you give them notice as its not ideal going by yourself. Good luck.

My-chinaman profile image
My-chinaman

Going to phone up for an advocacy person to come with .x . Will let u know how. I get on ATM I'm in such a bad place could hardly walk last night massive flare up... god why do we have to do this assessment for a second time if they already know what's wrong with us they make us worse I am now resulting to crutches again thanks to them !!! 😖

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