Help with esa50 form

[leemack]

The letter you've provided gives information regarding diagnosis and treatment, but does not give information that is specific to descriptors. However, dependant on what your limitations are specific to the descriptors, certain things may be inferred from the diagnosis.

 

Can you go through the descriptors, pick out the ones which apply to you and then give real life examples of how the descriptors apply to you. Post it on here if you want to and think it will help, but this is a good first step before completing the ESA50.

[paulandrog]

thanks for your reply leemack, one of the reasons i put the letter in the forum

was to see if it would be good enough to support my case or would i need to get

another one as this one is a few years old but still nothing as changed. my neck is

still broke and im still in constant pain.

[leemack]

OK, in order to pass the 'assessment', you need to score enough points on the descriptors. Medical evidence can help to give them a reason to believe the difficulties you have, but the most important thing is preparing with regards to the descriptors. The computer system used to assess you doesn't take into account what medical evidence you have, and its the answers you give to the questions and the way that you approach the 'assessment' that will determine whether you pass or fail. Medical evidence (if the atos assessor actually reads it) will only be supplementary to the assessment and unless it speaks directly about your abilities with relation to the descriptors, will not be preferred above the computer based assessment.

 

But to answer your question, your letter just gives a diagnosis - whether from 2009 or 2011 this has limited value with an ESA 'assessment', where a diagnosis means very little except if its a terminal one or speaks to treament that gets you an exemption. Apart from this, the descriptors are ALL they are concerned with.

[paulandrog]

thanks again leemack for your reply, so basically its how i fill the esa50 form in, would it be worth

getting a supporting letter from the consultant and my own doctor?.

[leemack]

It depends what they write. The letter you have explains the damage. If an additional letter spoke to the descriptors you fill, then that would be useful.

Edited July 4, 2011 by leemack

[RaeUK]

... The computer system used to assess you doesn't take into account what medical evidence you have ...

 

That, leemack, sums up the dire mess of how the ill and disabled are treated in one totally messed up nutshell. Reminds me of many years ago when I worked in Materials Management run by an indifferent computer system. Somebody faxed around a cartoon (quite accurate as it happens) of a guy in the stores pointing to an item on the shelf. The indifferent storesman stating 'It's no good pointing to it, the computer says we haven't got any' ...

Rae.

[leemack]

That, leemack, sums up the dire mess of how the ill and disabled are treated in one totally messed up nutshell. Reminds me of many years ago when I worked in Materials Management run by an indifferent computer system. Somebody faxed around a cartoon (quite accurate as it happens) of a guy in the stores pointing to an item on the shelf. The indifferent storesman stating 'It's no good pointing to it, the computer says we haven't got any' ...

Rae.

 

You're absolutely right, I believe you could be sitting in obvious agony or struggling with breathing - or missing a leg, and if you answer the questions in the wrong way the computer would fail you - but then the system is only as good as the info being inputted - so the 'assessors' certainly have to have their portion of blame as well as the atos training system and the pressure to hit targets.

[paulandrog]

thanks for the replies, would it be better if i get CAB to fill my form in as

i don't feel confident in filling in the form myself.....i phoned my doctors and

the secretary told me to write a letter to my doctor asking what i want the doctor to say in

the letter but not even sure what points i want the doctor to make in the letter.

[leemack]

CAB or a welfare rights can help you complete the form.

 

With you doctor, you could always go through the descriptors, write a statement stating your diagnosis, medication and describing the relevant problems you have - ie the ones related to the descriptors. At the bottom of the statement make a bit for the GP to sign that says something like 'I confirm that the diagnosis and medication above are accurate and that given this diagnosis, I believe that (insert your name) has the difficulties stated above. I have seen (insert your name) x times in the last year. signed (space for gp's name and qualifications and surgery stamp).

 

You don't need to provide any evidence for the assessment, though with any back/spine problems it may be useful.

[paulandrog]

leemack your a gentleman thank you for all the advice you have given me so far,

you have been very helpful, just got appointment with CAB so hopefully will get

form sorted, as regards to the doctor he as gone on holiday for a week, so hopefully when form is

completed i will make a photocopy then send it in to the doctor for him to look at and give me a

supporting letter. Hopefully this will be ok.

[leemack]

Actually I'm a woman, but no matter - happy to help.

[paulandrog]

lmao sorry for that leemack dito me to lol

[paulandrog]

Hiya everyone. Just to update you, been to cab office this morning for help in filling my esa50 form, the woman i seen was

very helpful, so fingers crossed now to see what happens, will update you when i recieve more news.

thank you.

[honeybee13]

Hello again. I'm really pleased you got help and that it works for you.

 

Please let us know how you get on.

 

HB x

[Feebee_71]

Good luck,

 

My ESA50 arrived in the post this morning and I've got until the beginning of September to get it back to them in Croydon.

 

I plan to sit down and read leemack's sticky after the weekend when I've got some time to concentrate.

 

Feebee_71

[paulandrog]

Thanks for that Honeybee will let you know what happens. Good luck with that Feebee but

try and get some help with filling the form in ie:CAB. Leemack's sticky made very interesting reading,

hope it helps you.

[ianheadland]

Hi LeeMack...are you able to gibe me a link to the ESA50 how to complete the new forms please? This is my second time around bu the forms have changed since january wehn they were last done

thanks

Ian

[leemack]

Ian, I don't have a link - others might. I'm currently working on a guide with honeybee, though its been delayed by personal matters and my own ill health - hopefully will be ready in a week or two.

[Feebee_71]

Looking forward to reading the guide when it's ready. Will wait a bit longer before filling in my form!

[honeybee13]

Hi guys.

 

Leemack's own health isn't too smart at the moment and this is a big project with her doing most of the work. I'm sure she'll produce it as soon as she can. Someone posted a link to a copy of the form itself which I can post if you like.

 

My best, HB

[ianheadland]

I am sure we all pass our best wishes onto Lee and hope she is feeling better soon. It is never much fun being ill

regards

Ian

[MrHistory]

Hi LeeMack...are you able to gibe me a link to the ESA50 how to complete the new forms please? This is my second time around bu the forms have changed since january wehn they were last done

thanks

Ian

 

New form can be found here

 

MrH.

[ianheadland]

Hi Mr History...yes I appreciate you posting the form but the forms we were talking to Lee mack about are the guides she will be writing for how we complete them with the best potential answers.

regards

[Feebee_71]

Hi HB,

 

Of course we appreciate the time and effort put in by Leemack - she has helped me so much already with queries about benefits.

 

I wish her all the best and hope she has a positive turn in her health situation very soon,

 

Feebee_71

[leemack]

Thanks for the good wishes guys - I'll do my best to get on with the guide as swiftly as possible.