ESA assessment questionaire aritius in knees

nufclad147

HI was looking for abit advice concerning the ESA questionaire questions
First il explain my situation abit in order it may help with abit more advice.
Im currently on JSA but have stated to job centre plus 8 months ago when making the claim that im experiance sore knees and would like to it noted on me job seekers agreement no heavy lifting and this was placed on my claim. This has been fine with them as i have done job searches matching kind work I feel I can do like driving and factory work. Then 2 weeks ago i started new deal and when a job for garden landscaping appeared in front of me an told to apply i expressed i cant do heavy lifting nor do i think now i can do even the driving jobs as working the clutch in my car is begining to hurt me.
the new deal supervisor went off an withing 2 hrs came back with a job for hostpital porter. I said look im not been funny here but do you really thing giving me a job where im walking all day really going to help my condition.
She asked me if i had medical evidence of my claim to sore knees an i said no Im aware i have a problem i just try stay of my feet. I was told that I either apply for the job or face my JSA benefit sanctioned. I collected my belongings an walked out new deal i wasnt putting up with that kinda treatment.

The next day i visted my DR an explained i have a problem with my knees the left knee been worse and its worsening as i get older to point i spend alot my time off my feet because an active day brings alot discomfort at end of day. If im active a few days or more i sart develope a limp. I told him that im been bullied by new deal to apply for jobs i feel i cant do and even driving is becomming hard with pains workin clutch. I was sent for xrays yesterday and have been told to wait 10 days before seeking another appointment with my GP. So thats where i stand to date on that side of things I did tell my Dr that i wanted to place a claim for ESA an that to apply i would need a medical certificate from him to along with the claim, hes relpy was 1 step at a time we will get results of xrays 1st.

In meantime i have been looking into ESA cryteria and did a mock online assesment but have come stuck at the wording of the questions. I will give examples below an try explain how they apply to me and what im stuck on in ways of understanding.

Walking with a walking stick or other aid if such aid is normally used.

Cannot walk up or down two steps even with the support of a handrail

the answer to this question in my case is yes i can walk up steps but its very painful on my left knee

Bending or kneeling

1 Cannot bend, kneel, or bend or squat, as if to pick a light object, such as a piece of paper, situated 15cm from the floor on a low shelf, and to move it and straighten up again without the help of another person.
2 Cannot bend, kneel or squat, as if to pick a light object off the floor and straighten up again without the help of another person

phsyically i can do this but i get pains in knees bending down let alone picking objects up

So do i fail, as phsyically i can do the above but start hitting pain barrier attempting them. It also needs to be understood the dull pains i get in bed after an active day.
In short the questionaire seems to be geared up into asking things i can do physically but it hurts , so would i answer no i cant do these things if im in pain trying. I ve been told that you answer the questions in a worse day situation and at present i feel pain walkin up stairs and bending 24/7 7 days a week, this is because i try to keep of my feet alot but.. if say for example i went for a 2 mile walk with my friend an his dog garuntee next day il feel pain simply walkin on level ground. So what im saying is to keep my symptoms to a minimum I really have to be very inactive.

sorry for the bible lenght post i hope some 1 can give some advice
to which id be most greatful

soolin

People with more experience will almost certainly be along shortly but a couple of things strike me from your post. Pain in your knees is probably not uncommon and might even be something as simple as lack of exercise which is why you really need to do what the doctor says and wait for the Xrays. If something shows on them, or if the doctor suspects any other conditions that he is willing to write on a medical then jobs can be tailored more towards your needs. You say for instance

i went for a 2 mile walk with my friend an his dog garuntee next day il feel pain simply walkin on level ground

and I think you'd be surprised how many people this would apply to, without it necessarily being a medical conditon. However no one can second guess why this is without medical imput.

The online assessment you mention appears to be quite clear and as you do not fall into their categories, which may be quite narrow, you would not be eligible. There is no way round the questions unless you choose to answer them incorrectly which would probably lead to more problems.

No one here can help you specifically with any medical condition so you must liaise with your GP and if necessary a specialist if you are referred on. Not being able to do a physical job doesn't mean you can't work at all and once you have been through the system and have proper medical advice you might be able to say apply for telesales or telephone work, or maybe even till work at a supermarket, only an expert can advise you there though. Until you know what is wrong though the job people will probably not be able to help as they will just see someone who has refused several jobs and is therefore not eligible for any further benefit.