I have received a letter to say I am to complete a form and attend an interview by health professional for an assessment. I have heard many times it is impossible to pass the assessment unless you have one foot in the grave!
Has anyone passed and can anyone give me any advice on attending the assessment.
Thanks.
Muffin.
it's not advice we need , it's a new government and a miracle ,I've just had mine and I filled it in and took to the docs to look at it and add his bit.
there is a very good site, benefitsandworks.com. if it s wrong ill double check it later, good luck , I'm sure someone on here will help you too.
philip
these assessments are always awful, remember that you do not have to 'perform' like a theatrical act, if you are sore then you are within your rights to decline to do their 'body tests' Do not push yourself to do any of their tests, be clear about discomfort and pain. There are no medals for pain tolerance and you will be penalised if you make the effort so don't. Try to always use your worst days as your baseline, good days are infrequent and will be taken as your level of ability if you use their example. If you cannot walk up stairs and turn up to find that there is not lift access, do not force yourself to try to climb stairs! Refuse to attend until disabled access is available, Wishing you all the luck in the world
Claire
Hi Muffin, definately have a look at the website which Philip said, 'Benefits and work'
I am so pleased somebody else on this site has used it, its brilliant. I was succesful in getting my incapacity benefit changed to ESA and had to fill in the forms.
If it wasn't for the works and benefits site, i dont think i would have got it.
It tells you all the pitfalls to watch out for when answering their questions. I thought that a lot of the questions didn't relate to me initially. When i realised how my symptoms did relate, i couldn't beleive it! Especially the questions about mental health, i thought they were mainly for people with learning difficulties, until i discovered how it can relate to depression and panic attacks, which i have linked to my RA.
Also, i decided to bombard them with information on each answer, ( i typed it all on paper as my hands couldn't cope with the amount to do, also got a friend to help me type it up) I figured if i did that i might not have to attend for the health interview, which is notoriously a waste of time, (if you dont go though you loose your benefit)
....So, i got letter back saying i had been put into support group...... OMG. the relief!!
You should have a look at the statistics of how many people have died or committed suicide because of this blasted change. Its criminal, Philip is definately right, its not advise we need its a change of government. It gets me so angry...... that is why i put all my energy into making sure i retained my well deserved benefit, it took a lot of time and energy to do it, but i was determined.
They are making the change for DLA to PIP the same, which is another reason to get the ESA as if it isn't granted, it makes getting DLA slimmer.
RANT OVER!!!!!! well for now, anyway!!!
Do have a look at this website, its for genuine people like us to make sure we don't have to suffer more than we do without the benefits which are rightfully ours to get.
Hope everyone on here has access to the Benifits and work website, nothing to do with the government, you all need to see it. Just google it, as i havn't got a link.
wow Philip & Vonnie55 a massive thank you for the website benefitsandwork.. I am having help in getting my application for DLA ,filled, as I am uable to hold a biro or type when I have swollen fingers knuckles (which is most of the time). The website is brilliant with its advice and I will be using alot of it. Again THANK YOU <3
My last assessment was in Preston on the fist floor ans as I have great difficulty in getting up or down stars they had to come to my apartment the Dr came in and just said that it was clear that I have RA and went,
I will remember that - if up stairs refuse to attend. Thanks for your help.
Muffin.
l must be one of the lucky ones for my assessment l had it with someone with a brain who could see the chances of me being employ by anyone was slim to no chance, just be honest, tell them what YOU can do and can't, few years l had a assessser l told her l had trouble walking and first thing in the morning the RA was worse, so she smile and offer me a job walking round 6hours a day from 7am 6 days a week,l only wish l could trun back time and instead of wasting my school days learn more and maybe then ld wouldnt have spend years in factory work, and maybe now even with what l got wrong with me l may still be able to work, instead of being on the scape heap
Thaks for your reply. I feel the same some times, perhaps if I had a better job I could have earned more, then it would not matter about benefits as I would be able to live without them. I thihk I will just have to take in on the chin, and what will be will be.
Thanks again.
Muffin.
Hi Muffin
Your local CAB can also be a useful source of advice and help when it comes to filling in benefits forms. It would also be worth finding out if there is a 'DIAL' office in your area as they sometimes have benefits specialists there. DIAL stands for disability information and advice lines but the individual offices may be known as something different locally. You can find your closest DIAL office on the Scope website: scope.org.uk/dial
Disability Rights UK produce a factsheet on ESA which goes into quite a lot of detail about the work capability assessment which you may find useful: disabilityrightsuk.org/f31.htm
I hope it goes well.
Kind regards
Sarah Kate
NRAS
Hi my first post I was diagnosed with ra over 15 years ago I was initially signed off of work for ever in my late twenties . Over 15 years later over a period of time I went from high dla to low , yes on some occasions my mobility has improved but my hands have now become painful and not very useful . I suffer after typing , driving and doing household chores . I was sent on a work capability assessment and failed by 6 points . I am on permitted work as soon as I felt I could work tried doing minimal self employment so I could join society and not be frowned upon . obviously on bad days was still able to rest without letting an employer down . I'm now having to go on income support or job seekers was wondering if anyone has any advice on help I can get . It was only this year that I was told about other health issues ra could give and I have always been a glass half full but now feel very bitter that if writing this is leaving me in a nights pain and limited use of my hands. What am I to do ? Off to rheumatoid consultant tomorrow and a bit like well cure me if I'm not allowed to be ill .
Any advice
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