Finally got the dreaded letter saying I have to move from IB (as part of my Income Support) to ESA and all that entails.

They say they're going to ring me in the next fortnight- anyone know why? I'm awful with phones, totally terrified they'll (easily) tie me in knots.

Then they say I get the ESA50 form. Then the medical.

I've spent the weekend trying to read on here about what to expect, but that just seems to mean chaos.

I had a medical followed by a successful appeal in 2001 but it was six months of hell. I was on about £25 income support each week to survive on for over six months and it broke me mentally and physically. I am terrified of ending up there again.

I'm also on DLA now - high rate care/low rate mobility. Iif they award me no points in the ESA medical, will they take the DLA away as well? I'm sure I've heard of them doing that to someone.

I'm seeing my CPN to help me tomorrow because I'm already freaking out.I just don't want to end up as broken as the last medical fiasco left me. Ant help appreciated.

Hi. I applied ESA and had to fill in ESA50 form. 0 points, appealed and lost. '2nd stage arthritis' and even a cripple bus pass but as my arms work, I 'can' work.

Now on JSA.

they call you just to tell you more information about what is going to happen and how the benefits are changing if you do not want to take the call they will send you the ESA50 out anyway.

they can look at your ESA medical report and inform the DLA if t you failed your ESA medical i have know this to happen before now but not always .

make sure you get your CPN to send in your most recent care plan all current medications and also a detailed report about your condition and how it effects you on a daily basis the more information you give the better you can explain it to them.

i know it can be scary my sis has been on ESA for last 4 years and it was easier for them to make a decision with all the above info we sent in but im sure your CPN will know what to do i myself work in mental health so i know how distressing it can be for you but please dont worry .

there is alot of help and advice on this site from members who have been though and are going though the same thing we are here help any time its needed

Hi. I applied ESA and had to fill in ESA50 form. 0 points, appealed and lost. '2nd stage arthritis' and even a cripple bus pass but as my arms work, I 'can' work.

 

Now on JSA.

have you not reapplied for ESA?

They provide you with the number they will call you from, keep this next to the phone and do not answer. They may try again but when they realise your not going to answer they will send you a letter informing you of the next stage.

As for the whole assessment fiasco, you should not be at all surprised when they award you zero points, they have a target to meet in conjunction with their contract with the government, something which they deny but is perfectly apparent to the rest of society with any modicum of intelligence.

Thank you for all your input. I'm prepared that this will probably mean a bad medical and an appeal.

I'll speak to my CPN about what he can provide tomorrow. He has already said there is a bloke from MIND attached to the office who can help. He did my last DLA application which got me the indefinite award and my health has deteriorated since then.

I've been diagnosed with chronic pain as well as other physical problems. I have a couple of specialists- I'm a bit of a walking disaster area I say.

My psychiatrist is great as well. I'm in the midst of a CICA claim (nearly three years and still ongoing) and he has been great about doing reports for them. He's diagnosed Bipolar and PTSD. I have a care plan and my husband is my carer.

I'm in a lot better place than I was twelve years ago for evidence. But I'm terrified of going through all that again. We literally starved at times, even selling furniture for food. We couldn't pay any bills for months. Now I have two young children, one who is disabled and a baby. I couldn't bear it for them to go through this. We don't even have a local food bank if they leave us without food again.

Try not to panic. My social worker at CMHT tells me none of her service users have ever not been awarded ESA when supported by evidence from CMHT. A few of them are placed in WRAG but she has attended interviews with her su's and no one has ever been pressured and they are either well supported or left entirely alone. By the sounds of it, with all your evidence, you should be fine.

Thank you so much for your replies. My CPN says between him and their worker from MIND doing the forms and including my care plan, they will try and get me the support group.

I'm not convinced but I'm trying to be positive- failing miserably but trying. Anxiety through the roof. I have a phobia of doctors- part of the PTSD- so not happy about the medical at all.

You may find that if you provide enough information, you may not have to see a doctor.

Finally got the dreaded letter saying I have to move from IB (as part of my Income Support) to ESA and all that entails.

 

They say they're going to ring me in the next fortnight- anyone know why? I'm awful with phones, totally terrified they'll (easily) tie me in knots.

 

Then they say I get the ESA50 form. Then the medical.

 

I've spent the weekend trying to read on here about what to expect, but that just seems to mean chaos.

 

I had a medical followed by a successful appeal in 2001 but it was six months of hell. I was on about £25 income support each week to survive on for over six months and it broke me mentally and physically. I am terrified of ending up there again.

 

I'm also on DLA now - high rate care/low rate mobility. Iif they award me no points in the ESA medical, will they take the DLA away as well? I'm sure I've heard of them doing that to someone.

 

I'm seeing my CPN to help me tomorrow because I'm already freaking out.I just don't want to end up as broken as the last medical fiasco left me. Ant help appreciated.

I'm in almost the same position as yourself though I've already had the phone call and the form sent out. Please don't worry about the call. It lasts literally 2 minutes if that. All they do is confirm your details, tell you they are going to send the form out and what date you need to send it back by, ask if you have any questions and if you understand everything and that's it. They don't go into anything about your condition or ask you anything personal (apart from confirming your identity).

I'm also on DLA but remember you have good and bad days, some worse than others, some downright awful and unmanageable and some ok...you are only seeing this person once...they have no right to decide or assume on a scale of 1-10 how bad your day is when you see them. That's if you are called in for a medical at all.

I have to get through addiction services before a psychiatrist will see me so I'm scared too, though that's not the main reason for my claim somehow I can't imagine it going down too well with ATOS.

Just know you're not alone xx