ESA examination report.

[Boromoor]

Just got a copy of my Work Capability Assessment report from the DWP ( you have to ask them for it) and to be honest, it's not as "inaccurate" as I thought it would be; there are a couple of issues I have with it though.

At the start of the examination I was told "not to do ANYTHING that caused me pain"; so, when the nurse held my arms beside me and told me to lift them, I lifted them until I started to feel pain. Unfortunately, she wrote that, putting my coat on and driving was "inconsistent" with the the test results. Thing is, when putting my coat on, I expect to get a certain amount of pain, so it becomes part of my life and I try to ignore it. As for driving, you don't raise your arms high unless you cross them when steering, which you aren't supposed to do; also, as an ex-HGV driver, I reverse using the mirrors to see behind, so I don't have to turn round and I can steer normally. The only other thing is that, the nurse seems to think that my fibromyalgia could get better and that I may be able to return to work if I lose weight. Why am I overweight? Because I have fibromyalgia and can't do much in the way of exercise, I've lost as much as I can dieting (4st). What I have trouble understanding is, why I'm in the "Work Related Activity Group" when the report clearly states that I "work could be considered within 18 months".

[esagestapo]

The WRAG is for people who might be able to do some work in time, 18 months time ie when they expect you will be fit as a butchers dog, flying around army assault courses like a whippet.

[Hidden]

I,ve never seen a whippet going round an army assault course.... But I get your gist.... But I also see the point of boro if as I understand you get ESA support group for only a year why couldn't they have that and then be in the WRAG for the 6 months they are going to make this miraculous recovery ..... Or doesn't it work like that ... I can't get my head round ESA I just consider myself fortunate I don't claim it....

VG x

[Lucyw in reply to Hidden]

Hello VG

We have chatted before, but I wanted to ask you something

I am ending my work on Wednesday as the contract ends and also I can't continue due to my fibro pain everywhere. Each day I'm not able to stand as much or walk for as long.

I was told I'm not entitled to ESA or JSA as I own my house and have a bit of savings. So I either sell my house and go into rented and use my money to live on and then have nothing to show for all the years of hard work or just eat my house bricks.

Do you have any suggestions? I do receive DLA middle rate which I think might need to be reassessed as now I'm unable to work and that was the reason it was given at that rate.

Any advise would be lovely.

[sharron1 in reply to Lucyw]

Just been reading this, and to be honest i dont know what is going on, i have a interview with the atos and from one day to the next never know how i will feel/be, i have fibro/cfs and other conditions, but like you, if they take away my incapacity benefit, then i will not be able to get any thing, as like you, i own my house and have savings which when i work i save all my life, bought my house like maggie said. i now wish i had never bought my house and spent my money on holiday etc. this Atos is mad

[LindseyMid in reply to Lucyw]

Hi Lucy

This info may help:

fibroaction.org/Pages/Benef...

[esagestapo]

Oh yes, the military working dog is the stuff of legends. But I was using the analogy to draw a parallel between what the DWP expect and reality, IOW what they expect from the sick is impossible, but it does not stop them from trying.

[ladymoth]

I still think that all disabled people on ESA or in the WRAG group should join forces and have an Enlistment Day.

If every town in the UK had a queue around the local Army Careers office, the system would crash - it would be great.

Can you just imagine us lot going to Lympstone to take the Commando fitness test? the establishment would take weeks, nay months to recover!

[Hidden]

Just think of the poor instructors there waiting for us to get round the assault course... Some of them may curl up and die waiting the weeks for us to get round it... I could never get over a wall with a rope when I was well so I think I would just put a battering ram on my mobility scooter and just knock everything down ....

VG x

[Angeldancea812 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the laugh.

[ladymoth]

Am arranging for VG's mobility scooter to be painted with camouflage!

[Boromoor in reply to ladymoth]

Have to be desert camouflage for Afghanistan, maybe a large hollow rock made of fibreglass, to cover both the scooter and driver.

[Hidden in reply to Boromoor]

Rushes out to buy large desert boots I can get my special insoles in those..

And the rock is a much better disguise than gins Dalek cover

[Hidden]

Hmm well in that case I won't wash for a week and stick twigs in my hair....

Yours grubbily

VG x

[ladymoth]

Issuing rations and rifles, plus plenty of shampoo for VG!

I haven't got a mobility scooter - I suppose I shall have to carry my own rock?

[Hidden]

Will attach my sons bike to back of my mobility scooter you just sit on it with your rock covering it and you and I,ll tow you.... It's quite sandy so best to wear trousers unless you want knickers full of sand actually Leroy my snake would love it .. So warm he can sit in my basket with a little helmet on

[gardaqueen]

And presumably Leroy has his own camouflage?

[Hidden]

Hmm good point he is red ... I shall drape him in a little camouflage net

[Hidden]

The mind boggles at not actually being able to see vg tearing about. Bad enough in plain sight lol if they bring in driving licence tests we would all be carrying our own rocks altho I believe there are threebknown forms of life human animal etc aliens and then there is somethibg called army life. It is totally different to anything else so we may be excepted as the exceptional....

[sweetiepie]

I think that a few young men in fit condition, wearing (or not lol) their army gear, in any colour would probably have to show us what to do first though. It's only right that we have proper training.....

[psychorrax]

What a wonderful conversation, I have chuckled merrily whilst imagining rock covered mobility scooters with Leroy the red snake in a camo net I think it's wonderful idea to flock en mass to the local Army Careers Office as I personally would love the chance at an assult course. It would be more like an insult course with the amount of expletives that would come out of my mouth simply attempting to reach the first obsticle. They would also have to provide a toilet in the every 10 feet and an oxygen tank, not to mention the paramedics littered about the course.... Oh and a tent with somewhere for me to collapse away from anyone that I will be tempted to rip the spleen out of if they dare to ask if I'm O.K.

My mind boggles at the levels in the future we shall have to go to prove that we've actually got something chronic that we live with..........It is a fact that I'm sure we would all rather live without Fybro, CFS, CPS Ect. Bring on the Assult course, the ESA will probably give you 16 weeks to complete it.......whilst your waiting for the tribunal date

Gentle Hugs X

[psychorrax]

My HWMBO has just added that he would like to enlist the help of a Sargent Major to get me out of bed in the morning.........but he doesn't think there is anyone on the planet brave enough roflmao!!!