ESA Personal Advisor Interview - help needed please

[rockpiler]

Dear friends

 

I am writing on behalf of my daughter.

My daughter suffers from severe mental issues and when under pressure

she blacks out and is unable to remember who she is or anything at all

about her past. We are forever trying to find her after she has had

some sort of pressure and wandered off. She is also in a lot of

physical pain from internal scars.

 

On 20 July she had to attend an ESA Personal Advisor Interview

 

She was told at the interview that she has a year in which to find a

job. At least I think that is what she was told as straight after the

interview she phoned and told me this but that is all that she can

remember. Her memory of the interview has gone due to the stress

involved and the thought of having to try and find a job. Her husband

did go along to the interview with her but he is not saying the same

as she is about it. He says that she has 18 months in which to find a

job. Of course that is not the point as whatever happened the thought

of having to find a job and go out to work is causing her so much

stress it is impossible to speak to her or get any sense out of her at

all. There is also the stress involved with the thought that she will

lose her benefits if she does not go out to work at the end of this

period as they find it so difficult to manage as it is. Since the

interview we have been having to watch her constantly to ensure that

she does not wander off as when she does so it is difficult to find

her again.

 

I am not sure if your site is the one where I can get some help for my

daughter or not. I have registered with it but I do not know where to

go from here. The doctor says that she needs to appeal and get in

touch with Citizens Advice. Is this the best way to go? or other? It

is not helping that I do not have any paperwork about the result of

the interview - all I have is the origianl letter that she was sent

for the interview on the 20th.

 

Please tell me what to do and where to go from here in order to help her.

 

Thank you

[Nystagmite]

Your daughter is not required to look for work whilst on ESA. She can do if she wants.

[SWLABR9]

Yes get in touch with the CAB as your daughter will need face-to face advice. This same face-to-face advice will be unavailable after April next year, I'll mention in passing, as the government, the same people who are funding the ESA testing, are withdrawing funding for legal aid for benefit claimants. I suspect what she was told is that she has a year (probably less) on ESA before it runs out and her husband, who I assume is working, will be expected to support her. Contributory ESA which is what it sounds like she's on only lasts for a year. After that she'll be able to apply for non-contributory ESA but won't get it if her husband is earning more than £7,500. I assume your doctor was suggesting she appeal with a view to be put in the support group (she'd be in the WRAG now I'd guess) and that is something to be looked into but best to do it with the help of a professional and do it ASAP too!

[Nystagmite]

if your daughter is put into the support, the 12 month time limit doesn't apply.

[SWLABR9]

Which I meant to point out, sorry!