ESA appeal, really angry at what a Nurse sent, my reply - ***Vindicated***

[HadEnough]

Ok i had my "Medical" in Jan, reconsideration refused, filed appeal, finally got my date at the end of Oct.

 

just recieved some new evidence from the tribunal service sent to them from the DWP, it's an opinion made by a Nurse, not happy.

 

I have wrote this letter in reply and i'm wanting opinions as to whether i should send it, I have quoted everything this nurse has wrote word for word.

I should say that i fully expect to lose my appeal because i will almost certainly unable to go to it because of my issues and if by some miracle i do manage to go i will look ok to them, i am either a complete wreck or almost fully functioning so i'm in a no win situation, so not all that bothered about upsetting the panel, besides win or lose i know i'll be back on the roundabout within weeks anyway ,,,,

 

I am now homeless again but I have a care of address which is.

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

　

Dear x xxxxxxx

I am in receipt of your “new evidence” dated x/x/10 and take exception to your attempt to mis-inform the tribunal panel, I will answer the points raised in your “new evidence”.

I fail to see why once again the fact that I attended the examination alone and walked there in 90 minutes has any relevance, this seems to be recurring theme in this fiasco.

Yes I did attend the examination alone, simply because I had no one who could or would attend with me, as I have explained in previous correspondence. Even if I had someone to come with me I would have refused, I expected a thorough mental examination so wouldn‘t have wanted anyone close to me to know just how bad I was/am, as it turned out I had no need to worry on that account, the examination I received was anything but thorough, I would hardly call asking me questions then talking over the top of my answers a thorough examination.

Yes I did walk to the examination. I had no choice either, firstly I couldn’t afford to take a taxi, and I find it impossible to use public transport because of paranoia and panic attacks, but even if I could have used either of these modes of transport I doubt I would have done, I would almost certainly still have walked. As I have explained in previous letters walking calms me down, relaxes me if you like, so I knew I would be better able to endure the expected thorough examination. It is also well documented that exercise is very good for depressed people, medical fact states that exercise releases needed chemicals in the brain to promote mental wellbeing, I am surprised that a nurse does not know this. I fail to see how me following my GP’s, ccccc Mental Health Team and my Counsellors advice has any baring, I have also stated this in previous letters.

You go on to say that “Despite depression anxiety and insomnia is self caring and manages most daily activities of daily living without assistance”, the first thing I will say is that for the first time in either the ATOS report or subsequent correspondence Insomnia has been mentioned. I feel that you have now accepted that I suffer from insomnia so must ask why this decision has not been overturned on that basis alone? The decision is supposed to include ALL illnesses and obviously this decision hasn’t.

As for “is self caring and manages daily life”, what would you like me to do? Just give up?, lie in bed until I fade away? Of course I “manage”, I have no choice, I have no one who can or will care for me! I have scared all my friends away with my moods and violent outbursts, my family can only just put up with me and I doubt they would if they were not family. Coping with every day life is not easy, in fact about 70% of the time I don’t cope at all, but like most people with depression I have bad days, very bad days and the occasional not so bad day. I have gone into this in some detail in previous correspondence.

You say “Mental state examination normal, with no expression of suicidal intent or selfharm”. Once again I have gone into this in great detail previously, not only on the ESA 50 form I completed, which both you and the GP who did the examination should have referenced but obviously haven’t, but also in subsequent correspondence. Firstly what exactly are the examiners qualifications and/or experience in mental health assessments? My own research indicates he is a qualified GP only, with no history of mental health care or specialities, much the same as my own GP, who’s word you refuse to believe even though my GP has known me for probably 30+ years and has spent much more time than the 27 minutes the GP who did the “Mental state examination“! I feel that the assessment by xxxxx Mental Health Team carries much more weight than this so called examination report done by a GP who was only interested in 1 word answers. I find it an almost super human achievement for this GP to do a full physical and mental assessment in 27 minutes, while most of the mental health specialists I have been assessed by have taken much much longer, solely on my mental health.

Moving onto “no suicidal intent or selfharm”, yet again both you and the GP who did the examination have either ignored the ESA 50 or failed to even read it, you obviously haven’t bothered to contact my GP, xxxxxx Hospital, xxxxxx Hospital or xxxxxx mental Health Team or even the nice lady who was my Counsellor, (Counselling I feel was wasted because of this dubious decision, because all I did was rage about this and didn’t deal with the issues I was sent to her to deal with in the first place) all of whom could very easily provided documented proof of both suicidal intent and a great deal of self harming. I have taken this from my letter to yourselves dated x/x/10 ,,,,,,,

“This is taken from The Contract between the DWP and Atos Healthcare

4.5 Basis of Medical Advice

4.5.1.3 is fully justified, particularly when any advice is at variance with other

evidence including the Claimant's statement or a medical report;

4.5.1.7 takes full account of and records the effects of pain, fatigue and

medication on the Claimant's functional capacity or care needs;

4.5.1.10 accounts for all conditions claimed to be relevant by the Claimant;

4.5.1.11 documents conditions which may be less tangible, such as claimed

mental health problems. These shall be fully explored and their effects,

or lack of effect, on disablement of the Claimant, shall be documented

and carefully explained; and

4.5.1.12 takes full account of the guidance in respect of each benefit. where

appropriate, in respect of the use of aids, prostheses and medication.

4.6 The CONTRACTOR shall ensure that if an examination is required then it shall be performed in such a way that it gathers all the evidence required to present the appropriate advice and provide the factual information in the manner required by the AUTHORITY. Any additional questions to be answered, or particular areas of difficulty that require explicit clarification, will be communicated to the CONTRACTOR by the AUTHORITY.”

As you can see it is a contractual obligation to gather ALL evidence, this is NOT optional, and the examination absolutely MUST account for ALL conditions, not some, but ALL, I’d also say that both the GP and You have a duty to ensure that this happened under various oaths, Regulations and Codes, so why no previous mention of Insomnia? This case should never have reached the stage of going to a full Tribunal hearing, this decision should have been overturned upon receipt of my first letter sent in February, this is a waste of the Tribunals time and tax payers money.

Moving on to the last piece of your “evidence”, you say “I note, despite complaining problem with concentration the appeal letter is 10+ pages long with no evidence to suggest completed by 3rd party”. I take offence at this statement, it is utterly untrue, this is taken from the first or second paragraph a letter sent to you on x/x/10,,,,,,,

“I apologise for the delay in sending this, unfortunately I have been having a very bad few months. I almost didn’t’t send this but xxxx my ex-girlfriend persuaded me to continue. I have been organising and researching for this for months, I have found doing this very difficult and at times impossible. The following has taken me 9 days to write, it is quite lengthy but I would have to say that if I was asked to write this appeal 2 years ago I would have been able to do it in just a day or 2“.

And this is taken from the first paragraph of a letter to you on x/x/10

“I would ask you to please take the time to read and absorb all the documents included with this letter and also the other documents I posted to you x/x/2010. I know it seems like I’ve over done it, but this is very important to me. I have managed to do this with the help of my brother, ex-girlfriend and sheer determination on my part, so it may not make sense sometimes and I apologise for that, but I’ve done my best in difficult circumstances and with almost no sleep”.

It is beyond belief that after reading this you could say “I note, despite complaining problem with concentration the appeal letter is 10+ pages long with no evidence to suggest completed by 3rd party” did you even read the 10+ pages?

　

I know that in other correspondence I have stated the number of hours ( approx 20 if I remember correctly), it took me to write it but I don’t feel the need to justify myself further. I very much doubt an employer would allow me to work in this manner, there is a huge difference between what I can manage at home and what would be expected in a work place!

In all my correspondence I have attempted to present facts backed up by documentation in a well thought out and ordered way, so I feel that you should be applying the same standards in your “evidence/opinions”. You do the Tribunal a dis-service by this poorly researched and presented “evidence/opinion” Surely all “evidence” you send to the tribunal should be an attempt to clear up the issues surrounding my appeal and not some thinly veiled attempt to mis-represent what I have sent in.

I would also like to say that if there could be any truth at all in my claims of the mental illness’s I’m am suffering, if by some chance my GP, xxxx Mental Health Team, various Nurses and Doctors at various A&E departments and my counsellor are right in their assessments, then writing such ill formed “opinions” in such a way could only have the effect of causing me further distress and mental harm, mission successfully achieved. Although, if, as seems to be the case you are putting forward, I am lying to them all, and you (without seeing or speaking to me) and the GP (in 27 minutes while talking over my answers to his questions) have managed to see through all my lie’s, then I can understand your reasoning.

All my submissions have been as well ordered as my current problems allow, with genuine concerns raised, in reply you have either not read my documents or more likely ignored the contents and attempted to cloud the real issues, here are a couple of examples,,

1, I have appealed because the “examination” was incomplete, not only in my opinion but according to the contract between the DWP and ATOS.

2, I took in a hospital release form, in the report it says “no hospital admissions in the last 12 months for chest problems”, the release form clearly states “chest problems” and was dated 6 months earlier. I included this form in the bundle sent to you.

Perhaps the interests of the Tribunal would be better served if you answered these points instead of the “opinions” you issued?

The only thing I have ever wanted was some time to try to come to terms with losing everything I had, and to try to get my feelings/emotions/temper under control, I only wanted to use the “safety net” which the benefit system represents and which I have been paying into for all of my working life. I have never been interested in the increase in payments which would come if I was found unfit, I only wanted some peace and quite for a while to try to get my head in order. I don’t want to be the way I am, I want everything back to how it was 2 years ago when I was happy, you seem to forget that you are dealing with a human being, at the moment a not very nice human but still a human. Instead I am being subjected to incomplete/incompetent examinations by a GP with no speciality in mental health who had no interest in my answers to his questions, who missed illnesses, ignored hospital documents and who may be, in my opinion, in breach of the contract between the DWP and ATOS and his Hippocratic oath. And the case seems to be, from the “evidence/opinion” you have presented that you have not read my “10+ pages”, and your “opinion” seems to be that if I am well enough to send in a reasonably well written, if rather long winded letter, then I must lose my appeal, would you rather I don’t think logically and send in utter gibberish with no research or documents to support it? Would I then be unwell enough to satisfy you? Am I supposed to forget everything I leant at school, or even college? Is my IQ supposed to drop to imbecile levels? I suffer from depression, anxiety, Insomnia and other mental health issues, these problems do not preclude intelligent argument, after much time and careful consideration, or diligent research as you seem to be suggesting.

I will say that the last paragraph is not meant as evidence but my opinion and bares no relevance to my appeal.

I am reasonably well educated with a fair grasp of what I feel is unjust and will always do my best to correct what I feel as unjust, that is why I put so much effort into this appeal, Some days/weeks I cannot face writing or even thinking about this issue but sometimes I can face it and it is at these times that I do it. I have said before that I can sometimes “obsess” about things for days or even weeks at a time, at other times I can’t even think about them without becoming upset, angry, or even suicidal. The past 3 days is such a time, yes I have been writing this for 3 days, after reading your “evidence/opinion” I went into a rage which lasted for several hours, I then calmed down a bit, with the aid of a long peaceful walk, which is advice given not only by my GP but by xxxx Mental Health Team, my counsellor and is backed up by all my many hours/days/weeks even months of research on the internet in an attempt to help myself “get over this“. After that walk I settled down to write this, anger is a great fuel for me when I need to do things like this. I suppose in some ways I should thank you for giving me this constructive outlet for my anger, (anger which your ill informed “opinion” started), but somehow I don’t think this is what my GP had in mind when he said I should try to work out my anger in a constructive way.

I must say that I hope you are right and the mental health specialist’s are wrong, and there is nothing wrong with me and I would like to thank you and the ATOS doctor for providing me with this miracle:/

Your Sincerely

　

　

　

After the last piece of “evidence/opinion” you presented I feel the need of a,,,,

DISCLAIMER; This has taken me a total of 23 hours over a 3 day period to write, I have lost my temper more than once or twice, my Insomnia has been much worse since I received your “evidence/opinion, I’ve almost given in and withdrawn my appeal because it is upsetting and stressful to me. This letter has been read, corrected and toned down for me by Miss xxxxxx and Mr xxxxx. My thanks to them.

[Penny For Them]

Hi Hadenough

 

It is good that you have written your thoughts on paper but please give yourself time to evaluate and think this through rationally. You have written some excellent valid points but in your anger you have contradicted yourself i.e. "Even if I had someone to come with me I would have refused, I expected a thorough mental examination so wouldn‘t have wanted anyone close to me to know just how bad I was/am" and "I have managed to do this with the help of my brother, ex-girlfriend. "

 

I had similar paperwork sent to my son prior to a DLA Tribunal where a DWP Decision Maker tried to defend their corner. At the time I was so stressed out caring for my son and working that despite having old and new evidence that could blow their defence wide open, I just didn't have the strength to put pen to paper. Nevertheless, despite my non response my son was awarded middle rate care and lower rate mobility. The Chairman at the Tribunal said that the medical evidence was jumping off the page and screaming at them.

 

Best Wishes

[HadEnough]

Thanx for your reply, i agree with you, thats why i posted the letter on here first, i don't think i have really contradicted myself though, theres a big difference between what people read and seeing me in total breakdown mode, but a good point, noted I will be posting it tomorrow but i will try to sleep on it and see how i feel tomorrow. I will probably alter it but i feel some of my anger should show through.

[starblackie]

Well done you hadenough, I think you have enormous courage and i wish you well. It takes alot to put together a letter that articulates so well. Its well thought out and written

[starblackie]

Another thought a Professor Malcome Harrington (think thats right) is asking for a call to evidence on how ESA is working out and peoples experience of it, dont know how to do a link thing but sure someone can. It is also on another thread in this forum. There is a time scale on this which i think is begining of Sept,

[Penny For Them]

Hi Hadenough,

 

Since my last post, I have given your letter much thought. I agree you should write and challenge the Nurse who from what you have written has made assumptions about you that aren’t based on any evidence. I would also check his/her wording in your letter with regards to you attending the examination alone and taking 90 minutes to walk there. Is he/she stereotyping you? He/she might be in breach of the DDA 1995 extended in 2005 e.g. Disabled people portrayed as being unable to function in home lives, family life, employment, social lives without the help and support of non-disabled people. You are protected by the act if your condition has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to last 12 months or is recurrent.

[HadEnough]

Hi thank you all for your kind words, I never thought about the DDA and wouldn't really know where to start but I'm not going to let this drop so will look into it. I have quoted the Nurse word for word and included all she has written so theres no doubt about the amount of effort and thought she put into it, NONE.

Star i'll be looking for the link you mentioned, i think i'll also be forwarding her evidence and my reply to my MP.

thanks again.

[ee-bee]

well done you for writing this letter ,the more of us that complain the better,i am still on ib at the moment but like thousands of others am dreading the esa medical,the pca was bad enough,

[HadEnough]

Hi i've just noticed that i haven't quoted word for word, here is an exact copy of the entire evidence,,,,

"Anxiety and depression, under care of XXX mental health team for counselling and taking anti-depressants.

Attended examination centre alone and walked 90 mins to get there.

Despite depression anxiety and insomnia is self caring and manages most activities of daily living without assistence.

Mental state examination normal, with no expression of suicidal intent or selfharm.

I note, despite complianing problem with concentration the appeal letter is 10+ pages long with no evidence to suggest completed by 3rd party".

 

I've just noticed that underneath it says "I can confirm that there is no harmful information contained in this report".

Anyone want to help me correct that statement?

 

I found the "call for evidence" thread and have just e-mailed them.

[HadEnough]

for the moment i have added this,

"I note that you have signed your statement with the following declaration,,,,,

“I can confirm that there is no harmful information contained in the report”

I beg to differ, I find that this “report” does contain information which is harmful and which has caused harm and will be taking advice as to my options regarding this."

 

No doubt i will elaborate some before i send it, any thoughts?

[Surfer01]

IMHO it may be better if you state that someone helped you compose the letter as it woudl have taken you many days to compile the letter. Secondly ask for the qualififactions of the person that examined you and the field in which they specilaise.

[Penny For Them]

Hi Hadenough

 

I hope you don't mind me giving you this advice but to minimise reprisal, I would keep your letter short, sweet and to the point. The reason for this is that having read the above i.e. the word for word account, it would appear that this Nurse has chosen her words carefully to avoid recrimination.

 

See below

 

"Anxiety and depression, under care of XXX mental health team for counselling and taking anti-depressants".

Here she has stated a fact which is to your advantage.

 

Attended examination centre alone and walked 90 mins to get there. (How far away do you live? How long would it take if you were fit and healthy? - What if anything is she implying?)

Again she has stated a fact but you need to look at what you have written (your answers) on your ESA 50 to establish how this could be detrimental to your appeal. For example what was your answer to Do you feel confident enough to leave home on your own and go out to places you know?

Despite depression anxiety and insomnia is self caring and manages most activities of daily living without assistance.

Again up until she states "and manages" is fact i.e. you do suffer with depression, anxiety and insomnia and are self caring. Interestingly she has stated you manage MOST activities and not ALL. Again look at your answers on the ESA 50 to see what it is she is implying here.

Mental state examination normal, with no expression of suicidal intent or selfharm.

Despite making reference to suicidal intent etc in you ES50, if you did not tell her on the day that you were suicidal or that you intended to selfharm then she is stating a fact. However, with regards to her saying that your mental state was normal, it would appear a contradition in terms i.e. she has already acknowledged the fact that you are under the care of XXX mental health team for counselling and taking anti-depressants. What examination did she conduct to justify this statement? More importantly, what experience does she have of mental health? Again look at your answers on the ES50. As with all conditions, people get good and bad days.

"I note, despite complaining of problems with concentration the appeal letter is 10+ pages long with no evidence to suggest completed by 3rd party."

Did she ask you at the medical who had written the appeal letter and/or how long it took to write? If not then this is pure conjecture. Another point, if your mental state examination was normal, she is again contradicting herself as she is acknowledging that you informed her of problems with concentration i.e. "despite complaining of problems with concentration"

Now I don't want to get your hopes up but if it is any consolation, I have seen much worse reports with people who have won their appeal. Now go prepare for your appeal by gathering as much evidence as you can from the people who know you and how your condition affects you. Remember, DWP, the Nurse etc are not the judge and jury.......The Tribunal are!!! They are interested in facts and evidence. They are not dull, they know that conditions fluctuate, they know that mental health doesn't stop people from walking, they are also aware that Medical Health Practitioners promote and advocate exercise. They are also aware that you wouldn't be under the care of XXX mental health team for counselling and taking anti-depressants without good cause.

 

Best wishes

 

 

 

 

[justace]

Is this being sent to the nurse?

Shouldn't it be going to the tribunal, responding to the nurses evidence?

I very much agree with Penny For Them

I would keep your letter short, sweet and to the point.

[jackieandwayne]

I've got PTSD and I won my appeal in ten minutes, in August. If it takes you to go into that tribunal and show them what you are like under pressure like this then so be it. After all, they have us all running around like headless chickens or performing monkeys right now. So you go in there and you give them the performance that they have provoked. Take someone with you who is used to your upsets and so on, I took my partner and he had to apologise to the panel! You think like I do, I paid into this bloody system for 32 years and never asked for a penny back or took a day off sick until all this - and I dont care what anyone thinks of me, whatever it takes to get what I am entitled to.....just waiting for the back pay now, not even a letter yet!

 

If these DWP/ATOS people insist on provoking people with serious mental health problems then they cannot complain when they get a reaction at a tribunal that puts them off their cup of tea. Just remember it is only for about half an hour, you won't die of it, and I reckon that if you give a letter from your consultant pyschiatrist to the receptionist to put to the panel just before you go in, as soon as they see "Community Psychiatric Hospital" you will get the award. I was fully prepared to have to have a complete PTSD ****fit with my captive audience, and I reckon the letter they had beforehand warned them off! I was also fully prepared to argue my case and had made lots of notes etc regarding the report from ATOS. They didn't even ask me more than three questions. And I was also more than prepared to defend myself if they used my ability to present a case like this against me.

 

Actually, in my case, they were very nice. Please don;t worry and work yourself up, you only need to work yourself up a tad on the day, be honest with them, let them have the psychiatrists updated report, and I think (fingers crossed) you will be ok.

[HadEnough]

I thought i'd better update my thread as my appeal is tomorrow (11am).

Well i didn't send in anything in the end, i guess i'd used all my reserves getting angry so that i ran out of steam, i've done absolutely nothing since my last post, and i do mean nothing, no leaving my caravan, well the odd shower or meal at my mums. I think i've just about hadenough, i don't care anymore about anything really.

I'm torn in 3 about even going to the appeal, the angry part of me, about 10% (not had much recently, just numb) says go, get the B******s. the don't give a s*** part of me, about 89%, says why bother and the tiny part of my true self i have left, about 1%, says to go in fighting with evidence, proof ect and get justice.

I'm pretty sure i will go but i can't see me putting much effort into it, probably just go and take it as it comes, i'm not bothered about winning the extra cash, it's always been about some peace to try to come to terms with whats happened so winning really doesn't matter that much to me, it did at the beginning but i've not got much will to fight for principles anymore. If i win then it won't be long untill i'm called in for another "medical" and if i lose then i'll just continue getting sick notes as it's six over six months, (if thats a problem then my new diagnosis is a personalty disorder) than after 13 weeks i'll have another "medical" so either way i'm not going to get the peace i need, it's all the same.

 

Sorry rant over, and it's helped a bit, off to get my paperwork in order before i change my mind, again:oops:.

 

I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow, i'll try not to keep you waiting too long.

[tinafromeast]

I thought i'd better update my thread as my appeal is tomorrow (11am).

Well i didn't send in anything in the end, i guess i'd used all my reserves getting angry so that i ran out of steam, i've done absolutely nothing since my last post, and i do mean nothing, no leaving my caravan, well the odd shower or meal at my mums. I think i've just about hadenough, i don't care anymore about anything really.

I'm torn in 3 about even going to the appeal, the angry part of me, about 10% (not had much recently, just numb) says go, get the B******s. the don't give a s*** part of me, about 89%, says why bother and the tiny part of my true self i have left, about 1%, says to go in fighting with evidence, proof ect and get justice.

I'm pretty sure i will go but i can't see me putting much effort into it, probably just go and take it as it comes, i'm not bothered about winning the extra cash, it's always been about some peace to try to come to terms with whats happened so winning really doesn't matter that much to me, it did at the beginning but i've not got much will to fight for principles anymore. If i win then it won't be long untill i'm called in for another "medical" and if i lose then i'll just continue getting sick notes as it's six over six months, (if thats a problem then my new diagnosis is a personalty disorder) than after 13 weeks i'll have another "medical" so either way i'm not going to get the peace i need, it's all the same.

 

Sorry rant over, and it's helped a bit, off to get my paperwork in order before i change my mind, again:oops:.

 

I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow, i'll try not to keep you waiting too long.

 

Just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and praying that you attend tomorrow.

Take care, Tina

[emmaf01]

I'm sorry your going through this, HadEnough, and I hope you are able to get to your appeal tomorrow.

 

I went through one myself a few years ago and it was a living hell. By the time I was in the waiting room at the tribunals service I was shaking and crying, completely screwed up inside.. Then the clerk turned up and told us the DWP had overturned their decision when they saw our evidence TWO WEEKS before. They just hadn't bothered telling us. Nice.

 

Have you got your notes/reports from your medical team and your own notes? Go in there and give them hell. You deserve to win.

[HadEnough]

To be honest i've only got the stuff i took to the medical and my appeal doc's but there should be enough to prove that the medical report was incomplete and directly contradicted medical evidence, namely hospital release forms for both chest problems, (6 months previious) and self harm/suicide, (1 month previous) report says no admissions for chest problems in previous 12 months and no intent to selfharm/suicide, so i don't really see how the report can count, obviously a flawed report, it's really just a question of how many points i get. if i do get enough then the only real difference it will make is i might have enough backdated pay that i can put a deposit down and enough for the first months rent for somewhere to live, bloody caravan is freezing. Thank God i've not allowed myself to slip into debt while the rest of my life fell to pieces, never used credit and never will, must be instinct.

Stupidly i've only just realised this, to late really because i've not put much effort into it recently, never mind because i think i have more than enough already, just wish i'd prepared mentally better.

I'll go in and be myself and hopefully i'll get my points across before it gets to much for me, just preparing some notes of important points to raise/make, i'll print off and take with me, i think i'll be ok.

[honeybee13]

Hello Had enough. I can understand that you feel drained by all this, as I did.

 

I remember one of the counsellors I saw, when I was talking to her about not keeping up with work, etc. She said to me 'What are you rebelling against?' and when I went away, I decided it was against nothing or against myself really and that it was counter-productive. I set to and cleared a backlog as soon as I got home.

 

You still have some hours left and can turn this around. Please post or PM me if you need further encouragement. It could all be worth it.

 

HB x

[HadEnough]

Hi Honeybee, it seems that i have more of my old self left than i thought, because the will to fight seems to be coming back. I'll give it my best shot. win or lose i know next time, and i'm sure there will be a next time, i appeal i'm not going to let it bother me, i'll use the time to recover rather than fret about something i can't change. I'm convinced that all this has made me worse and i'll not let that happen again, i will get better despite their efforts.

 

 

OMG i don't believe this,, just had a call from welfare rights asking if i'm going next wednesday???? i've got the dates wrong 27th not 22nd, how stupid am i? i'd even forgotten i'd been to welfare rights, must have been way back in Jan. And i'm fit to hold down a job?? don't know whether to laugh or cry. I just want to get it over with, now i've got another 5 days to wait, gonna go for a walk and calm down

[honeybee13]

Yes it's another 5 days, but does that mean you will have representation at the tribunal? That could be a huge help. You should use this type of example of losing the plot as an example of how you would be at work if you tried.

 

My best, HB

[HadEnough]

Yup i agree, sort of ironic really, I should have turned up:lol:

[emmaf01]

Did welfare rights say they will go with you? They were a godsend for me during my appeal and got me sorted with DLA as well.

[HadEnough]

Yeah he said he'd meet me 30 mins before, he also said that all we have to do is convince them that i was ill enough, he said that just getting the date wrong yesterday is 9 points so he couldn't see a problem. He said my evidence/letters were very good.

 

I'm glad my doctor overruled me on my last sick note, i asked for it upto the 22nd but he gave me an extra 2 weeks "just in case, you know what their like". 8-)

Edited October 22, 2010 by HadEnough
grammer

[emmaf01]

I'm so glad you have welfare rights with you to help. It made such a difference for me. My head is all over the place, so it was good to have someone there who can actually form a coherent sentence, never mind fight my corner.