I AM AWAITING A DATE FOR MY APPEAL FOR ,ESA TO BE HEARD AT TRIBUNAL THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME BEFORE A TRIBUNAL FEEL SO STRESSED,

[iris29]

I AM SUFFERING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION,ASWELL AS CHRONIC BACK PAIN, CONSTANT HEADACHES INSOMNIA,I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I CAN TAKE,IM ABOUT TO GO FOR A MRI SCAN TO SEE IF ANYTHING SHOWS UP REASON OF MY CHRONIC BACKPAIN,AND IM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT FAILING AGAIN AS THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IM APPEALING INFRONT OF TRIBUNAL.

[Hidden]

Hi there, Hang in there, life's too short without all the stress that these people put us thru.

Iv recently had 2 heart attacks & suffer with horrendous migraines & im also awaiting an appeal date for ESA. But, i recently won an appeal for DLA, & even got awarded an increased rate by the appeal panel.

What reasons did they give you for not approving your appeal last time?

Iv discovered that if ur totally honest at the tribunal, which is what you are, & just give them short sharp answers that don't require any further response, they have to keep things rolling & they make a quicker decision.Fingers crossed & good luck for your MRI scan. Let us know how you get on. Good luck

[iris29 in reply to Hidden]

hi thanks for reply, at the medical at atos the woman who did the interview, said she could see i was in pain and said i didnt have to try to bend to reach my toes as she could tell i was in pain and even as i was getting up off the bed, i was dizzy and she went and got me a drink of water,i nearly fell off the bed, my son in law was there with me, and he had to grab hold of me, when i then got the letter with results of the medical,refusing me any further esa,saying i was capable of work as i look after my grandson who lives with me and i sometimes walk him to school,on a good day she said i was fit 2 work, my grandson is 8yrs old and his school is only across the road from where i live,she never mentioned me nearly falling off the bed,or having to get me water, there was a few things she didnt mention,and some she did mention, never happened,the stress is terrible, i appealed and it is going to tribunal, just waiting for a date, had bloods taken today, my gp is arranging a full health check,mri scan next,then wait for results of bloods and scan results,hopefully i get these results before i receive my date for the appeal, i just feel like screaming,i feel so low,the stress is unbelievable,i really dont know how much more of this i can take,they will end up putting me in a straight jacket and sending me off to an asylum soon i think

[Hidden]

Nooooo, don't let them get to you, because then they've won!!! By what you have said, I don't think you will have any problem at the tribunal. Just tell them like it is. They don't work for the DWP and are totally independent, and can do whatever they want regardless of what atos or the dwp have previously said. I was told that they like to see you turn up with lots of support, so maybe if your son in law could go there with you also, im sure that would help.

I was told that I could get a job that only involved me going on a good day, didnt always require me to drive and only involved me carrying a empty cardboard box!! I suggested they try and spend a day in my life!! Haha, that bit didn't go down too well, so that bit isnt advised lol. But I won my tribunal and got allocated a higher rate by the tribunal.

Keep positive, just be honest and you'll be fine.

Your pain sounds horrendous and I truly hope your gp can help you. I really do wish you the very best of luck.Id love to know how you get on with everything. I will keep everything crossed for you.

[iris29 in reply to Hidden]

hi there, thanks for reply, this is all getting me so down, i just feel like throwing the towel in altogether,ive rang them 2 let them know my son-in-laws new mobile number,as he has sent a letter in and told them if they have any questions they want him to answer concerning my claim he will be more than happy to answer,anyway they took it and said they are just waiting for a date when the tribunal will hear my appeal,im really hoping my results of the health check and bloods and hopefully mri scan results are back in time for this hearing,

[Hidden]

Fingers crossed for you but, I believe that you could wait for up to two years for an appeal hearing under the original laws but now that those have changed, there are no time limits set for when appeals must be heard by. So, im sure that you'll get all your tests done in plenty of time. Good luck, and I hope uv not had to wait too long already.