Do I qualify for ESA?

[diner2000]

Hi, my name is David.

I have spinal problems. Lumber spondylosis, Osteoarthritis and 2 bulging disks in my spine. So you could say my back is knackered through work.

I have had to go for one of these atos tests. After working all my life and paying national insurance and I become ill with a degenerative disease.

 

What is going on with this country? What happened to human rights?

 

We have to suffer with gen illness so they get away with paying us money we paid into this state. It makes me sick!

 

I was in real pain all through the horrible examination. Lying on the bed, and it was in a position where it made my back really sore, and then raise your legs. My legs started shaking with pain.

 

I thought they had gotten rid of the ----. I didn't think they did work for atos. And what does atos stand for? They dont give A-tos about anyone, only the money they are making out of this country.

Edited August 17, 2012 by freakyleaky
Just adding punctuation.(And removing offensive stuff)

[antone]

Hi David, welcome to CAG. Is there any specific issue or question we can help you with?

[diner2000]

hi i would like to know if i qualify for esa im in a lot of pain and i dont think if they make me go back to work i could stand it im in pain standing up and sitting down my doctor has said im not fit to work with my condition because repetative movement causes a lot of pain for me lumber spondylosis 2 bulging disks austeoarthritus please help

[antone]

You may qualify for ESA, yes. It depends on a number of factors:

 

• Do you meet the basic conditions - that is, does your condition affect your ability to work
  
• Do you meet any of the ESA descriptors - scroll down to the Appendix of the linked document for a full list
  
• Your NI contribution record - have you worked in the last few years?
  
• Household income, including that of a partner, if you have one
  
• Any savings you may have
  

 

That's not an exhaustive list, of course. There's no harm in making a claim. You'd need to get a fit note from your doctor.

[Nystagmite]

Can a mod change the title please? DSA is something for disabled students.

[antone]

Can a mod change the title please? DSA is something for disabled students.

 

Done.

[abc123def]

I have disc degenerative disease, osteophytes, crushed discs, facet joint disease amongst other things. I don't qualify for any financial help for this, and scored 0 points with ATOS on physical grounds because you can still do things despite pain and limited mobility. I have to say though that once well enough, my back won't stop me working.

[Nystagmite]

Cheers Antone.

 

ESA is based on what you can and can't do and not the name of your conditions.

[count orlok]

I have disc degenerative disease, osteophytes, crushed discs, facet joint disease amongst other things. I don't qualify for any financial help for this, and scored 0 points with ATOS on physical grounds because you can still do things despite pain and limited mobility. I have to say though that once well enough, my back won't stop me working.

 

You are lucky your back is not bad enough to stop you working, many are not so lucky. How are you managing to get by now though; having failed the WCA you are denied any sickness benefits, yet as you are not well enough to get JSA you can't get that either?

[abc123def]

I am blessed my back is not bad enough to stop me working it is true, I am very thankful. I can't stand more than a minute or two due to pain, can't bend or carry, but can walk and I can sit on chairs if they are not low ones.

 

I did pass/fail (whichever way you are looking at it) the ATOS test due to mental health descriptors. I hope to be well enough to work in the near future.

[count orlok]

I see. That was fortunate. Usually they are not that good at recognizing psychological disabilities.

 

I hope you are given enough time to get better properly, and not be forced into work before ready. Which I'd imagine would do more harm than good.

[abc123def]

Yes, that's what my social worker says. I am having graded exposure therapy to try and be able to answer the phone and talk on it, answer the door and go outside etc. I do think losing ESA too early would be an impossible hurdle for me as I wouldn't manage to apply for jobs so JSA isn't an option. Every day I dread the post arriving and I look for brown envelopes but I hope the therapy is successful and that I won't be like this for long. Apparently my goals are too big, I want to be well and I want to be working so I feel a total and utter failure and often feel suicidal because it feels so impossible and my social worker is saying that my goals are achievable but they are long term as I need to get better first, so we are working at having some medium and short term goals in the meantime. Trouble is, will ATOS agree with the short term and medium term goals or will they want the long term ones right here and right now.

[count orlok]

I know how you feel. I had the goal of getting into some kind of work for over 15 years. I even went to university at 40+ to get more qualifications. It took a New Deal course with A4e to finally get those stupid Ideas out of my head. Now accept things as they are, and spend my time caring for my wife.