ESA

[healthylass]

Have assessment next week with ESA can anybody advise me what this entails. Know few of you have been through this process Thanks

[mcpip]

its really pressuring bring everything you have about your health, make sure they understand how bad it is daily for your condition i would write more if i knew your condition

[Catmag]

Hi,

Sorry about the length of this but I want to pass on as much info as I can. The better prepared you are the less stressful it should be.

I have had 4 ESA assessments over the last few years with Atos. My best advice is based on my experience with that company is:

Get someone to take you & collect you.

If that's not possible take a taxi. If you do go by taxi, I think you need to pre-arrange that with the company. When they ask, tell them you are going home the same way you got there.

If possible have someone with you at the appt. They can't participate, but it's great morale support & they can take notes.

Whenever you are asked about your condition, ALWAYS describe your WORST days. My experience of Atos assessors is they deem everyone fit for work.

Don't exaggerate but don't give any indication of good days, it may not be a favourable outcome.

Take along as much info/evidence as you have.

If possible get support letters from specialists you see.

I am not trying to worry you, but I have had to appeal 3 of my 4 assessments. The last one I had a letter from my psychiatrist, it was the shortest of all the appts.

I do hope this helps and please feel free to get other input, as we may not all have had the same experience. Also feel free to get back to me on any info provided. I'll try to help as much as I can.

Cheers, Catherine.

[nodmeister]

Join benefits and work website. Worth its weight in gold. Get's you through the highly suspect process, mostly. I absolutely swear by them. I wish you the very best of luck.

Nod x

[Bananas5]

Best advice is as nodmeister already said...Benefits and Work really are the very best.

And Good Luck. Tell us how you get on

x

[Poppy_Ann]

Just a quick note to add to what has already been said go to you doctors and request a copy of your records especially a copy of your prescriptions which prove how long you have been suffering from your condition, if your notes are on computer then they will cost around £20 for a copy but if they are on paper then the cost can go up to £50 and if spread across both computer and paper then they can ask for both fees

I have forgot how many of the face to face interviews I have now had between ESA PIP and the army they all ask for their own separate meeting I once did two separate interviews two days apart and at the first I asked if they could do both at the same time but they would not do it I thought it may have saved them some time but no rules are rules.

good luck with your meeting.

Regards Poppy Ann.

[Offcut]

One thing they cannot make you do is something that will cause you pain,discomfort or distress? But they will push you, they did with me. I took all my hospital notes and tests which I had sent as part of my assessment well beforehand. I also asked if they understood each condition was and how it affects me? To get a reply that he was not a doctor but a health professional. It came back as a fail and the reason was because "I could lift my arms up so I could work as I could lift empty boxes of a shelf? " They made no mention of my conditions at all.

I took it to appeal and the judge and doctor agreed in less than 5 mins with me and showed genuine concern on how I cope when my wife is at her part time job.

Remember that you may be seen on their cctv on entry and leaving and they can use that as evidence. There is every chance you will be kept waiting longer and observed while sitting or standing.

There was a spate of dirty tricks were lifts had boxes in so you had to use stairs people asking directions so that they could prove dexterity? coins glued to floor! Hard to believe but been done.

[healthylass]

Thank you everybody for your help and support. Will let you know how I get on

[johnsmith]

Google for the local voluntary agency who can explain what ESA requirements are to you.

Take someone with you who has known you for several years.

ESA has legal definitions so you need to look up legal definitions and seek advice from the appropriate voluntary agency specialising in benefit issues as to what they mean. You may think definitions follow Oxford English dictionary definitions they don't. They follow legal definitions which have particular meanings. Get advice on the correct meaning of the words.

Follow the advice of the local voluntary agency who will know how the local ESA office operates.

All the best.

[Clycat]

I had my first health assessment 3 weeks ago and was dreading it having read horror stories on here. I copied all my medical papers, hospital discharge notes and consultant letters and set off on the bus alone. By the time I got there I was very unsteady on my feet and had to wait in a cold bare waiting room for over two hours. I must admit that as I sat there it felt like a punishment and I had already decided in my head that I would not qualify for the support group as I can feed and dress myself - it is moving around where I have difficulty and my right hand plays up on and off. I am being assessed for a spinal stimulator.

When I was eventually called, it was a doctor that I saw and he already had all my medical notes and had read them! I have CRPS and have been off work for 2 years. He said that I really should consider using a wheelchair - something I have resisted so far.

On Thursday, I received the letter from DWP and have been put in the support group. My monthly benefit has increased and been backdated. Having read the stories on here I was amazed but very very relieved.

I hope you also have a good outcome.

Jo

[NFDK in reply to Clycat]

Clycat - your post gives me lots of hope for some humane treatment for myself. I too am a CRPS sufferer, diagnosed in autumn 2015. I am expecting an appointment for assessment any day now and am terribly anxious about being put on the bloody spot and under the disgusting ATOS microscope yet again. I had to go through all of this for PIP last year.

[Toplady]

I had my assessment on Christmas Eve! I made sure that I had a copy of every doctors letter, every occupational health report and anything else that I thought might be useful. I went in my wheelchair and also had a decent experience. I was placed into the Support group and my benefit was backdated. There are many websites which will help you prepare and give you an idea of the questions they will ask (mine was identical virtually to my assessment for PIP) Just make sure that you give full answers to all the questions and describe your worst days, don't say that sometimes you can do something, make sure you emphasise what your issues are, the people who do these assessments are not doctors so you have to educate them in what your condition is and how it affects you. Don't refuse to do what they ask you or they'll put it down that you have refused and it'll go against you, also try and give examples of how you are affected , for example the last time I tried to get out of a chair unaided, I ended up in casualty as I thought I'd fractured another bone (I've got severe osteoporosis and recovering from a fractured sacrum) and gave the date so that it proved what I was saying. Be honest but be firm and don't let them intimidate you.

Best of luck and hope it goes well 😄

[jaffa7]

Just add my bit. The dirty tricks that offcut mentioned sound a bit far fetched, but they are indeed true. Another example is being asked to remove your socks - turns out they want to check how much hard skin people have on their feet, because from that they think they can infer that people walk much further than claimed !

Also though, if you are on medications, and those medications have side effects that you struggle with, make sure you tell them that too. Sometimes the side effects of some meds can be almost as bad as the condition you suffer from, or certainly cause extra issues. I have had chronic pain for 7 years now and am on various types of meds. The high dose of morphine has led to me struggling with memory sometimes etc, not to mention the constipation. For the constipation i now have to take Resolor - and that in itself causes other issues. So yes - make sure they are aware of any issues arising because of meds if you have them

[healthylass]

Thanks for your comments.

[Byfergie]

They have to prove that you are fit to work .your other responders have offered good advice always have a witness or voice record them ,keep a diary ,keep a diagnosis of condition in detail cause even if they are a doctor there is a lot of ignorance.

Remember if you have been working and stuff before that your contributions are and have paid for their wages and that they are no doubt subcontracted at great expense to the tax payer .

If your condition does not fit into their good and bad days then break it down for them give them a picture .

your go can help with this form if you are to ill to go there I think they have to come to assess you at your local gp.

Remember that your dla form and decision will be helpful take a copy .

Remember that records charges can be overturned by the practise manager.

Also that atos etc are charged it was 15.00 a correspondence and has probably gone up . Let them pay.

Your local hub or a benefits specialist cab will help .

Decisions can be appealed and over turned remember that a lot of commission is earned by these people if they assess you and turn you down (well that was the case).

Don't be ashamed of your illness or made to feel less than .

Always send correspondence by signed registered post it's more expensive but you have a record of it and they have to sign at the other end.

Present yourself as you usually are don't dress up it won't go in your favour.

If you need to stand when interviewed do so don't put a brave face on etc

You should be able to receive a copy of the form they filled out if they turn you down so you no what errors have been made don't hesitate to deconstruct and criticise do it a little at a time get support where necessary .

Good luck .