ESA letters from boss and friends - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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ESA letters from boss and friends

14 Replies

Hello, I will certainly have to meet up with a health assessor and I wonder:

1- do they ask the doctor for a letter or do I have to do that?

2-what are the friends or colleagues supposed to say? Personality? Work ethic? Do they just get called in?

many thanks

14 Replies
Rose54 profile image
Rose54

Hi

You just need any medical letters you may have and prescriptions

They normally do not request letter from GP and do not contact your friends or colleagues

assessment is biased on information on your form and what the assessor sees on the day they are normally a Health Professional

in reply toRose54

thanks

Treewade profile image
Treewade

If you take letters appointments prescriptions with you as well as notes for yourself it helps it doesn't matter then if she ask if you have evidence it's there if not cool it's a bit of bag space notes for yourself, I don't know bout anyone else but during assessments I feel like I'm being judged which makes me nervous and makes me go blank a lot having a note pad with you with diary things of how your effected on bad days even your basic symptoms meds etc can help it's amazing How many times I've walked out thinking I made an idiot of myself cos I couldn't even remember if my pain was dull or sharp it's both but when someone's asking I blank. Appointment letters are good they prove your seeing specialist. ESA isn't the fight PIP is but it's starting to feel like it I'm hearing more stories of people having to fight for it back even though they have much more accepted conditions such as MS. The assessor X are always friendly to my detriment I assumed that meant fair honest truthful all the things you associate with nice, it's not true, their priority is to save money, be prepared and be open honest with them overwhelm them with proof lol don't give them the option of saying no Hun, I know I sound like an arlarmist but forewarned is most defiantly forewarned with anything relating benefit the emphasis has changed if you show you can cope you can cope n don't need help, no mater what your disability. Sending love hugs n best wishes xxxxxxxx

in reply toTreewade

cool, that’s exactly what I needed. I know PIP is awful, they lie to your face then on the report. Good the ESA is better, for now at least. Many thanks

As far as I can remember (2016) you send in sick notes from your gp to work that should be enough,, being called in for progress updates is normal, see if you can find yourself a welfare rights officer locally and get onboard, are you in a Union? my nhs union rep helped me enourmously as did the occ Health Nurse.. Not sure what you refer to with letter from friends? how are they involved To claim ESA you need letters from gp (be prepared to pay) and any correspondence at your gp surgery from hospitals, physios, occ health etc all to back up your claim, explain how your illness affects your daily life in order to get correct level of ESA,, are you intending to stop work or lower your hours?

in reply to

Hello, in the health assessment part of the claim they asked for people to contact, doctors... but also colleagues, friends for statements.

Statements of what I wonder?

me too-I wonder I didnt rememebr anything like that on mine.

mattjoachim profile image
mattjoachim in reply to

This was one of the recommendations made by the work and pensions committee that held the injury into the way assessments are carried out. The recommendation was, Friends, colleagues, or neighbors who know you could also give statements as to the way your illness effects you. So they must e trying this out now on the new forms.

in reply tomattjoachim

that is a new one on me BUT you never know what the DWP will try on next I do hope you are successful,, What happened to you hun you sound like you,ve had an ordeal?

mattjoachim profile image
mattjoachim in reply to

In the past I had my ESA suspended after reassessment and I was previously in support group. I was in hospital when the result of my reassessment came through 0 points. Yes, I appeal and won but while I was waiting for Tribunal date ,I done a complaint to CHADA or Maxiuus I received an apology from their manager and a consolatory payment also from Maximus and letter stating my assessment had lacked detail in many areas and had omissions. A copy of this letter was sent to DWP so they had a chance to change their decision before Tribunal date yet a DM in the DWP would not change his original decision even though they were made aware it was a flawed assessment, That why my complaint was published by the Work and Pension committee who looked into how assessments are carried out. So what I am pointing out is DMs in the DWP are hiding behind flawed assessments they know are not fit for purpose.

in reply tomattjoachim

I would contact your local MP hun and ask for a visit or appt. show him/her your correspondence, my local guy helped me with PIP

mattjoachim profile image
mattjoachim in reply to

It depends, My MP is part of Government. I made my MP aware and asked for help with complaint at the time It was a waste of time . It not to his best interest to show up something that his own Government is overseeing and carrying out. i received help from another source

in reply tomattjoachim

I know they are liars and make things up. PIP was terrible

Patches12 profile image
Patches12

I had.my esa assessment.i took my daughter.with me .she had to drive me there .i took my letter from the hosp .we chatted about my condition the lady was very nice .she says im not fit for work but the descion wont be hers .im now waitin to see what my outcome is

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