i need some guidance .. i

[bluesue]

have to go to a tribunal as they say i dont tick all the boxes anymore with my fm so esa gonna stop .... feel so ill and try to hide it from my kids although my middle child has been diagnosed with it now. gp not that helpful just pumped full of drugs!!! pain management team are great but dont count for my defence!!!! any ideas guys??? thanx

[julieevh]

You need to contact Admin and ask them to email you the benefits and work helpsheets on ESA (remember to include your email address), then go through the help sheets and see where you haven't "ticked the boxes"; my initial guess is that you robbed yourself of points by ticking "it varies" when in fact you needed to do the ESA for the worst of times and give them the situation you suffer from on your very worst days. By writing them a detailed letter emphasising the percentage or frequency of time for each relevent statement then you might well be able to salvage the situation.

eg On the question about the distance I can walk I ticked "It varies" because for no more than once day a month I would be able to walk for 200metres before needing a rest, I would need to rest for half an hour before walking again and would not be able to repeat the 200 metres again. For at least 15 days in a fortnight I would be unable to walk unaided for more than 25 metres, I do not have the upper body strength to use a self-propelled wheel chair for any distance at all. On fewer than 14 days a month I would be able to walk between 25 and 100 metres before needing a substantial rest. For several days each month (between 3 to 10) I find that I am feeling so weak that I can not leave my home let alone walk distances. In conclusion you can see that although I ticked "it varies" for about 95% of the time I can not achieve this feat of walking 200 metres.

I agree it is very painstaking and tedious but then appeals are! Hopefully it will be worth it.

If your GP is not helpful is there another doctor in the practice you could go to? If not seriously think about finding a more sympathetic and proactive Doctor.

Why shouldn't the pain mangement team write a statement about how your pain affects your ability to function; even if there is a small charge it might be a worthwhile investment.

Do you have a careplan? If not ask your GP to refer you to social services; they will assess whether you need a carer and if they can help you with adaptions to your home. Obviously include this with your evidence to DWP.

Good luck

((((( gentle hugs )))))

Julie xx

[eranox]

Do you have a social worker or advocate? either way you MUST appeal and take someone to the medical with you, so they can remember all the things you have forgotten. And don't forget to tell them how bad you are on your worst day.

Some of the drugs are helpful.. It has taken many years of experimentation to get my right, but they def help now, but not enough to work any more. I do have a carer so told them If they found me a job they would need to find her one with me, at the same time!! Good luck x

[Hidden]

This makes me so mad.. tell them you are too ill and in pain to attend.. get them to come to you... if you could fly you would... send them your "energy" bill... be your worst day!!! Love to you x

[hugosmum70]

I KNOW SOMEONE WHO SUFFERS PANIC ATTACKS AND ON THE DAY OF HER MEDICAL SHE HAD ONE AND COULDN'T GO OUT OF HER FRONT DOOR. SHE RANG THEM AND ASKED FOR A HOME VISIT. THEY REFUSED. TOLD HER THEY DIDN'T DO HOME VISITS AND THAT THEY WOULD MAKE HER ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. AND PROMPTLY STOPPED HER MONEY. SHE WAS ABOUT 5 MONTHS BEFORE SHE FINALLY GOT HELP TO GET IT REINSTATED.

SORRY BOUT THE CAPS..........AM DEALING WITH MY SON AT PRESENT. HES IN A STATE .HE HAS FIBRO. RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AFTER YEARS OF PAIN. JUST RECEIVED AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN ATOS MEDICAL ABOUT 30 MINS AGO .ITS IN 2 WEEKS. TIME.

HE CANT KEEP ADVICE IN HIS HEAD FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINS. SPECIALLY IF MORE THAN A COUPLE O THINGS. WE HAVE NO TRANSPORT BUT HES EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO CASTLEFORD FROM WAKEFIELD.that's about 40mins bus ride AFTER hes got into Wakefield town centre from his home. apparently its a half mile walk from castleford bus station to the centre where the medical is to be held. a taxi would cost far too much. just checked that and its £15-16 each way from his home to the centre.hows he supposed to afford that? looks like mums bank will have to pay.again.and again it will still be around 25-30 mins drive depending on traffic. luckily it is in middle of day so shouldn't take that long. with luck. any advice for him would be more than welcome, tho i think he knows the chances of him NOT being put on work related thing is very slim. hence his panic.

[hugosmum70]

just spoken to the person i mentioned above... shes just told me she has another ATOS medical on 22nd oct. this the 4th date they've sent to her. from what shes saying it sounds like the last 3 are appointments they've made and then keep changing which as shes already on max dose of antidepressants, has panic attacks as i said,OCD and a drinking problem wont be helping her depression or anything.shes trying her best to get off the drink but these things just send her back on to it. shes just confirmed Atos have been sending her dates for medicals then changing the date,.its disgusting what they are doing