Even the dole dont want me

[luupysue]

I went to see the disability works advisor today and she told me to sign off get a sick note and go onto ESA. I didnt take everything in cause all I could think about was all the people on here who have had trouble with ESA. Can anyone please advise me what to do please

[Silvermyst]

I can only tell you how it was from my personal experience, and when I hear some of the horror stories, I realise how blessed I have been. This is what happened with me:-

* Initially I went to see my GP, (having their understanding and support is really important). I explained to them that I no longer felt able to cope with my job as a direct result of my health problems. My GP then gave me a sick note. After seeing my GP I went home and wrote a list of ALL of the health issues I have (including mental health problems) and how they were impacting upon my work, ALL of my medications (no matter how trivial), and the names and contacts for my GP, rheumatologist, support workers, disability advisers etc (I realise you may not have all, but make a note of the ones you do).

* Armed with the sick note and my list, I rang up and made a claim for ESA, they filled in the form on the phone and then sent it to me to read through, make any corrections, sign and return. I would suggest you read through it a couple of times to be sure nothing has been missed.

* The job centre then wrote to me and I was put on to contributions based ESA initially. There is an assessment period (13 weeks) at the end of which you WILL have to attend a medical examination with a company called ATOS. You will need to continue to supply sick notes throughout this time.

* The medical is not something you can avoid, and is quite stressful, but the decision made at this time will effect what happens next. Before you go, get some advice from the Community Advice Service or the equivalent in your area. Take someone with you so they can help to fill in the gaps if needed.

*The Outcomes:- Outcome 1 (as in my case) is that you are placed into the 'Support' group. This means that you will have an increase in the money that you receive, you will no longer have to provide sick notes and they will not try to get you to attend the work focused interviews and such. Outcome 2 is that you will be placed into the 'Work Related Activity' group. This means you will receive an increase in benefit (not as much as support group) and will have to attend work focused activities. I cant give as much information about this group sorry. Outcome 3 is that you are deemed fit for work. You can find much more information on the government website.

* The decision:- If the decision that is returned you are not happy with you are within your rights to appeal. Should you do this you will be kept on the assessment phase benefit until such a time as the appeal is heard and a decision made (my CAS adviser told me that it can take up to 12 months!) Again get the support of an independent agency (such as CAB) to guide you through the appeal process).

I hope this makes the process a little clearer. It is my personal experience and Im sure there are others that can provide lots more information but its a start

[luupysue]

thank you i feal at this stage already useless so god know how i will feel in a year . Once again thank you x

[sabine]

Hi There

I think the advice that silvermyst gave you was very concise and spot on. I too have heard a lot of horror stories about ESA. But my experience was on the whole not too bad.

I initally had sick notes from the doctor and then along will support from my support worker I went to the ATOL assessment. After which I filled in another form for an ESA assessment and then because I was "successful" was awarded ESA for 2 years.

now though due to the new introduction of PIP (Universal credit) I don't really know what to expect and because of thease changes I was 'out sourced' from the job centre even though according to my medical professionals I am unfit for work .

I think the main message is to stay positive and don't be afraid to question decisions if they have 'gone against you'.

lots of luck, take care.

[Silvermyst]

Not true Luppysue, you are NOT useless at all, you didn't ask for this, it is beyond your control. But I can empathise with how you feel. I went through a similar stage of emotions when I finally made the decision that work was no longer an option. Would have been easier if the company I worked for were in any way understanding, but that's another story.

The fact is almost 12 months on I realise now that a break from work was exactly what I needed for me to focus on my health rather than trying to juggle all the time and making myself worse in the process. This may be just what you need to get your Lupus more manageable and then when you do, you may feel like going back, and with the right support there is no reason why you should not.

Try and reason out the scary stuff with the practical... helps me anyway

[luupysue]

thank you for your advice its hard to stay positive when there are times i forget my own name or freeze mid sentence. i am not going to let the system beat me or get me or get me down and i am going to ask for all the help i can in filling forms in

i don't come on this site very often but think i will be from now even if its just to read everyone's blogs as it might help.

Thank you x

[katerowley]

Did the advisor also tell you about the loss of benefit?

im on JSA been told i should be on ESA but the citizens advice told me i could but i would lose £30 a week, and after 12 weeks ASOS would probably find you fit for work and you would be back on JSA.

I didnt see the point of switching benefits for three months .

[luupysue in reply to katerowley]

they just signed me off saying i would get contributory esa for a year then signed me off saying get sicknotes from the Dr and send them in every month i rang to make the claim today they said they will send forms out as the system was down. Ha I bet it was

[fabwheelie]

this previous blog has some good info lupusuk.healthunlocked.com/...

and a link to how they score you for if you get ESA and which group which may help you fit your symptoms to the assesment form direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_d...

[luupysue in reply to fabwheelie]

thank you

[katerowley]

well according to the assessment form im 40+ points.

[katerowley]

I feel i need to air this so people who are on JSA know all about it.

background info been disabled since 1995 with lupus/cancer/arthritis etc, been on and off the work programme, finished work in January 2012 when i found out i had cancer, had to have 2 ops to cut it out my back so now have problems on my left side.

I went to sign on yesterday Cannock jcp, and it looks like i have a sanction, the adviser used the excuse that other people are applying for the vacancies you should be to, (know these vacancies require driving licence/car/heavy lifting, and already working in the role, and experience - none which i can do or have) when i challenged him if these "other" people have the same disabilities has me, i got total silence the lights are on but no one is home. False Allegations were made against me that I am not doing job search/ inventing my illness I am just listing websites on my job log, i was fuming by the time he had finished slandering me

I then had to come back two hours later to see someone else, by this time my feet were killing me to the point i could hardly walk, and she implied to me ( i couldn't get her to get off the fence) you had to be fit enough to do the jobs, which then made me think well what about all the people they moved from ESA to JSA, or if your a Muslim is it work with pork or get a sanction.

I feel like I'm being made a scapegoat of they miss their targets, never mind lets pick on the disabled. Since march i have been at college taking level 2 in computing to help me get a job, and sending spec letters to companies when i could find nothing to apply for but it seems these don't count.

So i have been forced to starting next week claiming ESA, as the job centres view is you have to be able to do the job there is no way at the moment i can stay on JSA, and nor can i compete with able bodied people, i tried that in 2011, and got told i was not quick enough.

At the present moment i hate this country and i hate this government and i cant wait for them to be out of power.

[kamal1986]

Hi i won my appeal and they put me work related activity component my question is that my illness is gone worse now can I apply for any other benefit thanks