Incapacity benefit - Tribunal advice needed

black_paw

think they cause most of the stress !

corny04

I fully understand your problem. I was told by the housing benefit people to go onto ESA as I am recently widowed, not pensionable age, and left with mountain of debts. My younger son lives with me and pays all the utilities and the rent shortage and I just wanted some extra money to live off of without having to go to my young son (20). I suffer from osteoarthritis and some days walking is impossible although I use a cane. Since my husband death I also am extremely depressed and suffer from panic attacks and some days cannot leave my flat as I want to feel safe.
My doctor has written many times to the Pension people re my problems and I still had to go to London and be grilled by a doctor who absolutely ignored all my symptoms and my doctor's report. On getting the results back I now have to attend a tribunal which , that alone, is absolutely terrifiying for me. I have mounds to paperwork to look thru and I am in touch with some advice legal councillors in WALES who are trying to get me thru it but they are in Wales and I am in London. There does not seem
to be anyone to help. Nobody seems to help and I am afraid it is making me very ill. My doctor cannot believe that there doctor refuted I suffer from osteoarthritis - I am eventually having to have a hip replacement - he said my his orientation is fine.!!! When I refused to touch my toes or any of the other exercises because it is impossible for me - on his report
he just said I refused - not why I refused. My mental state was completely ignored.
I have worked since I was 15 - it is not my fault I have been left in
this predicament - I need to survive until I can draw my pension in two years time - I have never asked for anything and never claimed before.
I cannot stand the feeling of helplessness and nobody to help.
If anyone has any answers or can point me in the right direction please reply. By the way, when I ask the benefit people how I am supposed to live without any income I am told IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM!!!!!