ESA - Help needed

Clonah

Hi, i have been off work since May 2008 and no longer get ssp so i have claimed ESA, to date they have been paying but today i have received notification that they are stopping all ESA as i failed to accrue any points on the medical!!

I am going to appeal but have heard that you can still get the esa whilst the appeal is pending, they say NO - does anyone know more about this i am desperate as it is my only source of income.

I have worked all my life and the past 20 years as a paramedic, that job is still open for me to return to but as i am currently suffering with Severe Spontaneous Migraines - 6 - 8 attacks a day it is impossible for me to return and the side effects of the medication make it impossible to do any work. It appears to me that just because the condition is not visible and fall nicely into their boxes i am penalised.

I would so appreciate any advice anyone can give, thank you

healy

You can receive ESA at the assessment rate whilst you are appealing the decision. If you have not got it already you need form GL24 to appeal or you could just make your request in a letter. You have one month to appeal from the date of the decision letter.

beachbeth

You need to go along to your Citizens Advice Bureau and they will advise you what your next steps are. I had my Incapacity Benefit stopped last November after a failed medical and the CAB helped me and put me in touch with Welfare Rights, who took on my case. I won my appeal at the beginning of May after attending a tribunal and now have my IB reinstated and backdated to November.

The CAB are definitely your first port of call in this case - they know what to do next and what forms to fill in etc.

Clonah

thanks for the advice, unfortunately with the problem with my head and the meds i often get very confused and find all this form filling etc very difficult. I hate the way i am and am desperte to get well to go back to my job. I just wish people would believe me and my docs and not make me feel like a sponger - which i would never be!
IThey are supposed to be sending me the appeal form, and i have also contacted Atos to get a copy of the medical report. Once i have everything i shall hopefully be able to make a trip to the Citizens Advice it just seems that no one is willing to help and i am expected to live on fresh air. It becomes even more disheartening that through my job i know of many wasters that seem to have benefit money thrown at them without any probs!!!

System

a family member had a medical recently and although he took his mri scans and all relevant medical info the "doctor" refused to look at them , apparently all he wanted him to do was touch his toes , difficult with 2 crushed vertebrae !

Clonah

Yeah i know it is all a joke, i have heard from the woman i see at seetec interviews of horrendous stories where innocent hard working people are penalised over the time wasters who seem to get it all with no questions:mad:

System

he desperately wants to get back to work but needs financial support for a short while untill the problem is sorted. it make me so mad a family down the road have been on sickness benefit for the last 12 years that i know of , both go camping with family for 2 weeks in the summer she is at the local car boot every single sunday come rain or shine yet when the medical is due the walking sticks/collars are dusted off !

Clonah

Yeah i understand completely where you are coming from, the injustice of it all infuriates me, which just leads to my condition worsening. I even tried to get the help of my local MP and they cant assist as they are on 'summer recess'! i have worked all my life and this is what it comes down to!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr