ESA Mess!!! any help

clem28_2

hi, can anyone help me, been on esa since feb18th, just had results of medical and been placed in work focused help group.
today received a letter from atos asking for me to make an appointment for a work focused health related assessment.
What is this and is it what do they do.
Going back in hospital for major spinal surgery on thursday(4th op in 13mnths) tried contacting them but lady gave me head office number to tell me what to do as she did not know... but no one answering.
cheers

NASA_2

This is the form they will use to ask you the questions:

http://www.cpag.org.uk/esa/ESA_form_WFHRA_0907.pdf

Its meant to be done with the medical in my experience. I dont see the mess though?

Garlicbread

When I had my ESA medical the HCP informed me that at the moment they are not conducting the work focused health related assessment at the same time as the medical. I'm not sure if this is the case in every area. She didn't inform me that it would take place at a later date though but it makes sense that it should be done at some point. I was concerned that I hadn't had this at my medical and I might have to answer the questions with an A4E adviser.

It sounds like a good thing to me anyway. At least you will be able to talk about your health and how this impacts on work with someone in the health field. I don't feel that an employment adviser would have the same understanding of your limitations.

Try not to worry. This sounds like it is part of the normal process for the time being. It was done as part of the medical before but for some reason they have changed it for now.

System

Arrgg i didn't have one in my medical either, i was only there 25 mins before she disappeared to speak with a colleague then came back and told me it was over and they'd be in touch. I guess i should be expecting one at a later date. thanks for the link NASA

healy

Garlicbread wrote: »

When I had my ESA medical the HCP informed me that at the moment they are not conducting the work focused health related assessment at the same time as the medical. I'm not sure if this is the case in every area. She didn't inform me that it would take place at a later date though but it makes sense that it should be done at some point. I was concerned that I hadn't had this at my medical and I might have to answer the questions with an A4E adviser.

It sounds like a good thing to me anyway. At least you will be able to talk about your health and how this impacts on work with someone in the health field. I don't feel that an employment adviser would have the same understanding of your limitations.

Try not to worry. This sounds like it is part of the normal process for the time being. It was done as part of the medical before but for some reason they have changed it for now.

I have read that due to the ESA medicals taking a long time and there being backlogs that some areas are doing the WFHRA at a later date.

jennie09

i understand that this is where they focus on what you may be able to do rather than what you can not, i sympathize with you though as i had my medical last tuesday, i was dreading it, but i was only in about 10 mins at the most, i recieved a letter 2 days later and have been placed in the support group and am relieved as i wont have to go for any work focused interviews or anything in the future, i was surprised that my income support went from £64 Per week to almost £110, 45 more per week i am not botheed about the money as i would much rather be able to go out to work, i have been told i can also claim att allowance also, something i never knew.

healy

jennie09 wrote: »

i understand that this is where they focus on what you may be able to do rather than what you can not, i sympathize with you though as i had my medical last tuesday, i was dreading it, but i was only in about 10 mins at the most, i recieved a letter 2 days later and have been placed in the support group and am relieved as i wont have to go for any work focused interviews or anything in the future, i was surprised that my income support went from £64 Per week to almost £110, 45 more per week i am not botheed about the money as i would much rather be able to go out to work, i have been told i can also claim att allowance also, something i never knew.

AA is for the over 65s, perhaps they meant to say you could claim DLA.

jennie09

i am not sure, i am thinking of DLA, AA is for over 65.s you are right, i will look into DLA thanks.