Weather is rainy and cold, and I feel like giving up.!!!!!! Failed my reconsideration for ESA.

[maisiemoo14]

Got letter yesterday to say I've failed my reconsideration for ESA and next stage is to appeal against the decision but I haven't got the energy or fight in me , as so far I've been fighting since January.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I've blood tests on Tuesday as my new doc thinks I've Fibromyalgia, it would explain the tiredness, the aches and pains through out my body, my back locking on me etc

Last week, I've just been appointed an advocate, after months of waiting but like he said his case load is about 40 people.

He's coming with me to see my new doc on 22nd, my Emphysema seems to have got abit worse(I'm huffing and puffing a lot more) and the children have noticed.

I want to appeal but my energy levels are zero !!!!!!

[Hidden]

Hi

I'm sorry you failed your ESA - I know they are tightening up a lot now and fibromyalgia is still not easy to provide evidence for so it is harder to get through the assessment. It must be hard for you finding things so difficult but feeling they are not taking you seriously enough, especially as you have children which must make things more difficult. Hopefully the consultant will clarify what's going on for you.

Suex

[marmar12 in reply to Hidden]

I HAVE THE SAME CONDITION BUT RESEARCH THE EFFECTS AND FILL OUT THE APPEAL LIKE ITS A BAD FEW DAYS U HAVE TO FIGHT IT APPEAL AS WHY SHOULD THEY MAKE YOUR LIFE HARDER FOR YOU

[bepete]

Hi maisee.

I am very sorry to hear about the decision on your ESA.

But at least you have your advocate now to try and help you out.

I am not too well up on the firomyalgia, I will look it up after ive written this.

You know my story masiee , well different people have told me go to CAB, for help getting money.

I don't suppose you have tried that one have you ?.

The next docs appointment is a couple of weeks off yet , are you ok until then?, maybe you could get some kind of crisis payment to tide you over.

I am not really up with the payments system, but hopefully ,someone on line will be able to help you, some time today.

I worry about paying my bills etc, and got a shock when I saw my bank statement the other day,

But I am now thinking sod it !, if I were to go bankrupt, theres no shame !

After all the accident wasn't my fault , and eventually ,in a few years I will get my compensation pay out, but as I say that takes up to 6 years !.

All I can say for now is I wish you well and good luck.

Pete x

[21esme in reply to bepete]

Pete,

Has the other driver got insurance? Have they admitted liability? If so you should be able to get interim awards which are then offset against final settlement.

Sarah

[bepete in reply to 21esme]

I have had just one interim payment sarah 3000 back in January, ive spoken to my solicitor for more .

[21esme in reply to bepete]

Oh good. I can't help it I spent 10 years working in commercial insurance claims! Just want to make sure you are getting what you should be able to, to make it even a little easier.

[bepete in reply to 21esme]

Thanks any help is appreciated .

[Hidden]

So sorry Maisie you are having these problems getting ESA. I know what you said but you need to appeal and I am sure your advocate can help with that. I understand that around 40% of those who do appeal win their case. Good luck with it xx

[Stilltrying_]

Hello Maisie, I so hate this system; it is so unfair! I have seen a film about it and don't know whether to post to make others aware, but there are triggers in it (people talking about feeling suicidal)

You must appeal Maisie. I have been through the same thing. I felt like completely giving up on life as my home would have been affected as well, but i did win my case. However they can review when they want; the system is wrong and making everyone more ill.

Please do allow the advocate to guide you; that is what they are there for. It isn't you I can assure you. They make you feel like a fraud and a cheat I know and they make you feel so bad that you can't go on. But the advocate will help.

I am in a situation where I know I could be reviewed at any second. I was reviewed last year and in a terrible state whilst I was waiting to hear; in the end they never contacted me and I thought well I am getting the benefit so presumably if they had changed the decision then I would have heard. We are not talking big amounts of money here. It is just the fact that we know if we were forced to work we would be more ill. I do the little bit I can by volunteering but I even stopped doing that because the case made me so ill.

Be strong. Don't think its you .There are people all over the country going through this terrible injustice Maisie. It really is a terrible system. I only got my help through having a support worker and an advocate and the CPN and psychiatrist to support me with letters. You will need to send in all the evidence you can. It is soul destroying and makes you want to finish it all but don't let them beat you Maisie. Hopefully in a few years time the stupid system will be "reviewed" and changed itself . Gemma X

[Photogeek]

Hi Misie sorry about your ESA. I'm in Ireland so know nothing about English

system. What does ESA mean, can I ask what age you are? In Ireland they go

A bit on age and with cutbacks they have bit cuts on Benefits so fewer people

Will qualify. Be guided by your advocate and stay strong

Hannah

[bepete in reply to Photogeek]

Employment support allowance,,Hannah.

[Photogeek in reply to bepete]

Thanks for that.

Hannah

[Binky1]

Hi Maisie and nice to meet you on here

I'm sorry they have failed you for your ESA, I know how stressful it is as I've been there but I strongly hope that you definitely appeal as they can't continually treat honest, genuine people like this

It's a shameful system nowadays & if anything is going to make you depressed and anxious with low self esteem it's this ... and that's why we're in this mess already ... we don't need these pen pushers to judge us in a ten minute cold clinical 'assessment'

Make good use of your advocate & I wish you lots of luck with your appeal

I have heard someone say that you should be telling them how you feel on your very worst day

Stay strong

Lesley x

[mimi70]

Definatly appeal, i know going through everything all of the time can be hard work but try writing it down so at least you will not keep having to repeat everything over and over again, ok so your advocate may have a caseload of 40 but there is a lot of advice out there, ard u i wales? I know a bit about benefits here, here you can claim jsa while a recnsideration is taking place, but unlike jsa ordinarily you are not expected to work, this may give you the breathing space you need to get your case 2gether good luck

[marmar12]

APPEAL I USED TO BE AN ESA ADVISER, GET HELP FROM CITIZENS ADVICE TO WRITE THE APPEAL AND KEEP A COPY. U HAVE TO FIGHT IT IT TAKES MONTHS TO HEAR THE APPEAL AS THERE ARE SO MANY WRONG DECISIONS BEING GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY ILL. ITS ALL ABOUT DWP/GOVERNMENT SAVING MONEY. IF U WENT INTO THE ASSESSMENT WITH NO HEAD THEY WOULD STILL SAY THAT U ARE FIT FOR WORK GOOD LUCK

[gardengnome]

i get the impression it is almost becoming standard practice to make applicants go to appeal, it kind of seems the system relies on people running out of energy, a crafty way to economise, Get what advice you can before putting in the paperwork, good luck..

[Topbananamac]

Keep going,one day at a time,....! shame as my wife helps peps with ESA with her job working for a disability society ,i might ask her advice for u