In response to buffy 14 regarding ESA.

Following buffy14 post about contacting the MP for work and pensions regarding his recent declaration that; those on support groups with the most severe disabilities and health conditions should not be reassessed for ESA, I decided to contact my local MP to see what happened. I had myself received my call up and had just completed the lengthy form. In short I have lupus with multiple other conditions, been I'll health retired from nursing for three years after struggling to stay in work. Like us all I went through the indignity of the assessment proving to myself what I could no longer do. And was assessed by a nurse who asked me what lupus was. She had five reports from consultants suggesting I stop work.

I wrote a letter quoting the MP, saying I understood this would be a rolling programme, but asking why the private companies they employed did not take the initiative to put new claimants first and those already seen and assessed to be never fit to work in a different pile. This would save the tax payer money and professionals time.

I received a letter today. It basically repeated back what I had said.Here are some quotes; "reassessments are designed to ensure claimants receive appropriate support"

"One in five reassessments of ESA claimants find the claimant fit for work"

They do admit that for those with the most severe health conditions reassessment is unlikely to" tell us anything new for the purpose of administering benefit"

There will not be a list of conditions. They will " identify claimants with severe, lifelong, often progressive and incurable conditions with minimally fluctuating care needs who are unlikely to ever be able to move closer to the labour market"

This will be affective by the end of 2017. No responsibility seems to be taken in the mean time by the companies employed to start change.

My advice is the forms are designed to exhaust and put you off. You will always think I'm not that bad. We get used to our problems they become normal to us. Its only when you compare or really consider, can I do that without pain? Did I just type this without getting up, moving, changing hands, rereading the letter,having to turn all sound off in the house etc etc

My return letter was from Penny Mordaunt mp for disabled people, health and work.

[PMRpro]

Probably getting to know a journalist or two might achieve more than writing to an MP who will send back the standard rubbish.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I like the way it was third hand rubbish! I sent it to my local MP, who sent it to Damien Green, I got an answer from Penny Mordaunt. No one disputes the need for some sort of initial assessment or even return to work assessment if required. But none of them are grasping our argument of the general waste of reassessing those already considered long term unfit. It would be nice maybe if one of these MPs for health were at least doctors or nurses in a past life.

[PMRpro in reply to Hidden]

Or if THEY developed a chronic illness!

A peer at medical school had an awful climbing accident and ended up in a wheelchair. He finished his course nevertheless and then specialised in orthopaedics and trauma surgery - and worked in the limb fitting and rehab unit. He was brilliant - because he knew exactly where the problems were, better than anyone else.

[Buffy14]

It was a waste of time writing to Damian Green , I got a letter back saying they are unable to get involved with specific cases ( not what I asked them to do I complained in general about the assessment process) and it went on to say there is an appeal procedure. I think we all know that but shouldn't have to go through that stress . The forms are made to be impossible , they say if you can mobilise 200 metres it's zero points , mobilise includes being in a wheelchair so how can anyone get points and 200 metres is not far at all . Thousands of people with chronic illness and disabilities could still pick up a £1 coin or an empty cardboard box . They are changing things again now and I bet it gets worse . In the green paper they say ' we know that sending disabled people to work will make them feel better and help them recover ' how can you recover from an incurable illness . Thank-you for the information you have given us let's all hope lupus is one of the chronic illness's that is included in the new rules although what d o you do when you have already been to an assessment and been declared fit for work, I am appealing which won't go to tribunal for 3 to 4 months but there are no guarantees i know of a lady with scleroderma who has just lost her appeal for pip and had her motability car taken off her , it really is ridiculous x

[Hidden in reply to Buffy14]

I also invited my local MP to attend my next assessment she didn't answer, strange that!

Just thought I would feed back. I look forward to my assessment letter. I don't know how many ways people can explain that yes, there is a percentage of the population who would love be working like they used to, but just can't. Its taken me three years to come to terms with. But picking up a button is fine but if you can't remember where its going or you can't sit long enough to do it repetitively, how does that make you if for work.

Two of my four children have just got degrees neither could get a job in their field, what hope would I have?

[Buffy14]

Exactly I am 56 with SLE and other conditions and they think I am employable I have friends the same age who have been made redundant and can't get a job and they are fit it's crazy .