Failed ESA medical - what to do next?

mouse_

healy wrote: »

The assessment rate is as above - £64.30.

Thanks. I wasn't quite certain is the assessment rate was different during the appeal process, i.e. an appeal assessment rate rather than the general assessment rate.

Limana68

MrsA1939 wrote: »

Hi Healy
Can you tell me if my husband is receiving the correct rate £64.30 ESA he had a stroke in October and went onto to ESA in April, he had his ATOS medical at the beginning of August and not yet heard anything

Thank you

Just to let you know my hubby had his Atos medical on 17th July and did not get his decision until 20th August! Then he was placed in the work group- really upset him as he receives DLA- High rate care and High rate mobility- he would never be up to working again! Its so unfair. He has now received another form to fill, near enough exactly the same as the first one when he first applied for esa- you'd have though they would have all the details he wrote in the last form and also from the results from the medical! Its so disheartening for people who are genuinely ill.

Good luck with it

Li

MrsA1939

Hi Li

Thank you for that, life does seem so unfair doesn`t it, hope he gets better luck next time.
We have a postal strike here but hoping he hears something soon

cit_k

Are you still waiting for your appeal...

mouse_

cit_k wrote: »

Personally, I would say appeal.

See a welfare rights advisor (free) also.

I know what its like to read those medical reports, everyone I get makes me ill, and furious, and depressed, and so many different emotions over time - its crazy really that they can

1 - actually let the system produce such rubbish in the first place
2 - let it get past the doctor who is supposed to authorise it as a true account
3 - let it get past the atos quality assurance
4 - let it get past the decision maker

and then send it to people who are at their most vunerable.

It should be illegal, it really is a form of torture.

Good luck, let us all know how your appeal goes - you should be able to get money coming in (via benefits) during the appeal btw.

Sorry for the long delay in replying to this. I did appeal and included a covering letter picking apart the medical (they sent me a copy on request) . They immediately put me in the support group and I didn't have to attend an appeal. It was such a surprise!

mouse_

Thanks peeps. I'm so sorry I have waited so long to reply. I did appeal. I included a covering letter picking apart the medical results (they sent me a copy on request). Within a few days I received a letter telling me I was being put in the ESA support group and I didn't even have to attend an appeal. There was no real explanation for the change of heart other than the assessor failed to mention I was using a walking stick! After I saw the rheumatologist I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and have been on steroids for two years. I am now only on 2mg a day and I am much better. The rheumatologist said it would take 2-3 years to "cure" so I am on schedule. Thankfully I retire in 8 weeks and can wave goodbye to the circus that is the welfare system.