me and my Various benefits story

[Getinthebackofthevan]

Hi,

 

Don't know if this'll be any use, but I retired on health grounds in September after 14 years service with the NHS. I got my full pension and lump sum, I recieve the highest rates of the care and mobility components of DLA and I'm in the support group for ESA which means I get £195 per fortnight, this since last April after 'passing' (!) their medical. My understanding of being in the support group for ESA is that basically they'll now leave me alone and not expect me to fill in any further forms or attend any more medicals, and my pension doesn't affect my payments.

 

Good luck with your retirement - it takes a bit of getting used to, especially when you've been forced to take it due to health problems. :)

[EYEBALLS01]

Hi. Thanks for that. It`s getting even weirder as I got a phone call from DWP this morning (Saturday?) saying that they owed me some money to do with my mortgage interest. Although the lady could see my queries on her screen and saw that I was waiting for a callback she was from a separate Dept but did confirm that I would remain on Contribution based ESA.

 

The other thing is that I`ve had two medicals at home with the same ATOS medical advisor and if you read both his reports I should be on the Support Group. Even the Pathways to Work lady agrees and has deferred my interviews twice. I`ve written to them about all this but my letter seems to have gone into a black hole or waste bin so I`ll have to send it again.

As for enjoying my retirement I am starting to but it`s really strange having done shift work all my life being at home all day. I never really wanted to finish early but my work is undergoing dratic changes and the day after I got my retirement they disbanded 5 teams one of which was mine!

[Getinthebackofthevan]

Hi again, Eyes

 

Yes, I would definitely advise you to chase up the letter that's gone into the ubiquitous 'black hole', as it's really worthwhile being allocated to the ESA support group, rather than the work related one, which most people, regardless of their problems, seem to be parked in. For a start, you'll get a bit more money in the support group, which is always useful when you're on a fixed income, but the main plus of it for me is that they leave me alone!

 

As a matter of fact, after I'd done my post yesterday, it got me thinking and I realised that actually when I went for the ATOS medical, my examiner, who was a local GP (not mine, but I recognised her from work) said in her report that I would be 'fit for a return to work' within three months. This in the face of a shedload of written evidence from my GP, my MS Specialist Nurse, my Neurophysiotherapist, my Occupational Health Consultant, the eminent professor who is my Consultant Neurologist and the fact that I'm on the highest levels of DLA! (and that's NOT an easy benefit to get as you'll no doubt know).

 

That said, (and here's the amazing part), the DWP disregarded the ATOS examiner's report and allocated me the ESA support group anyway, so it just goes to show that the DWP are capable of making sensible decisions every now and then and not treating all disability/sickness claimants as if they're liars and/or scroungers. It makes me wonder if the DWP have a 'Rubbish Illnesses That Aren't Worth Arguing About' list and anyone with one of these illnesses gets put in the ESA support group, whatever the ATOS examiner's report says. Who knows?

 

So yes, as I said, do go ahead and push for the support group and please make sure that you get a report or a letter from every professional who has had any input with your health condition, now matter how brief - they really do make a difference. As for retirement, I was a bit of a lost soul to start with when I first went off sick in 2008. I missed my friends, the routine, our patients at the clinic where I worked, everything really, feeling part of a 'useful' society, 'paying my way', all that kind of thing. It does pass, though, and I soon settled into a different way of life, and whilst I've kept up with my old workmates and we regularly socialise, I've been able to do all sorts of computer-based things such as writing and research that I never had time for before because I was at work. Every cloud has a silver lining, so best of luck! :grin:

[EYEBALLS01]

Thanks for that it`s nice to get a nice,friendly answer and from one who empathises. I am starting to my retirement although stuck in most of the day.

 

I`ve posted off another letter today and also a certificate of ill health retirement from Capita who are much like ATOS and are very difficult to deal with. I got an upper tier full pension the criteria being that I was deemed unfit for any work so the support group should be obvious to them!

 

I`ll let you know how I get on. Cheers for now

[EYEBALLS01]

Hi

I`ve been on before so may well repeat myself. I was medically retired in November 2009 and got a good lump sum and a yearly pension.

I wrote to Jobcentreplus and later phoned them and was told that as my ESA was Contribution based I would continue to get it.

 

That seemed ok but then a letter and cheque arrived giving me arrears of Income Related ESA!

 

At the same time I got an FF260 saying that the payment was for mortgage interest arrears!

 

I also got a letter from JPlus quoting dates in July 2009 saying that my ESA would be £89.80 per week but would go down to £40.30 in August 2009.It then said that I would get from 17 th April 2009 £42.90 per week due to a change in housing costs.

 

I did request SMI some time ago and got a letter the same day (10/03/2010) saying that they were takiing £ 60.30 off my allowance to pay an amount (presumably this amount) straight to my mortgage lender.

 

I also got a breakdown of my ESA award. The date on the top was 10th March, but the dates on the bottom to which this applied was 18 April 2009 to 29th May 2009!

 

I`m awaiting a call back from the mortgage section regarding this but the ESA person I spoke to said that there was nothing on their sysem changing my payments and I would continue to get £179.60 per fortnight.

I`m totally confused by all this and would be grateful for any advice.

Many Thanks

[EYEBALLS01]

Bump please

[Brainless Idiot]

I am in a similar position - having worked for a government department for 30 years - Now Out of Work - unable to find suitable work - claiming ESA (Contribution based) in the WRA group + DLA, although I have mobility problems and my speech is vitrually non-existant - DWP don't see this as a reason to put me in the Support Group (expecting me to carry around mains powered "aids" ?)

Anyway - If I push hard enough - I should be entitled to Medical Retirement and receive a lump sum and associated pension (enhanced !!) -so if ESA is unaffected - I too will go for it !!!

[EYEBALLS01]

Dear Brainless.

Yes very similar If you need any advice with your ill health reirement application feel free to PM me. Cheers and good luck!

[ErikaPNP]

Eyeballs, did you get your answer in writing?

[EYEBALLS01]

Erika

I have a certificate from Capita saying that I meet the upper tier criteria and am unfit for any work. I have sent a copy to ATOS who have not yet replied.

I have though just received another ESA pack to fill in. When I phoned DWP they said it was nothing to do with the appeal. I have also just been given a third deferrment by Pathways to Work as they can see the condition I`m in

[EYEBALLS01]

Hi, After much nail biting my wife`s DLA, both at the higher rate have been renewed. In the past there has been a time limit on it and my own says`indefinately`

 

Neither of these are on her new award.

 

There are two issues:

1) My gets very anxious about this and would be greatly relieved if it was long term. She has been very ill for 15 years and will not improve

 

2) We have a motability car and I would have thought that they would need to see how long for. We change the car this December.

 

Many thanks in advance

[ErikaPNP]

Now, don't take my word for it, but....

 

I have seen a lot of these awards lately with no time limit. The information I have is that "indefinate" awards are no longer made, but if DLA feel the person's needs are unlikely to change, no time limit is given, but instead they will look into the claim from time to time and send out renewal forms randomly.

 

I have not had this confirmed by an official source as yet