ESA medical not completed

NASA_2

daska wrote: »

That's exactly what I tried to do. I wasn't allowed to.

Who or what stopped you?

daska

erm... everyone? every time I rang anyone to try to claim IS I was told I couldn't and that I had to apply for ESA. And by everyone I mean the advice line, the new claim line, SS finance officer etc. It did turn into a complete nightmare, this bit is a doddle in comparison to earlier in the year when I was trying to sort out HMRC, DWP, LHA all on my own. It got so bad that I ended up contacting my MP to get him to sort the various departments out.

NASA_2

If you meet the qualifying condition they cannot stop you claiming IS.

daska

but they did! and not just once! and try as I might I could not get any explanation as to why. not even when the job centre contacted me after my MP got in touch. I cancelled my first ESA claim because the conflicting paperwork that arrived every day was so stressful and even then they refused to let me apply for anything but ESA

Don't get me wrong, I have a lovely support worker now who helps me work out what all the letters are actually talking about, so it really is very much easier than it was but whoever devised this system forgot the 'welfare' bit.

krisskross

Do you and your son live alone?

daska

not any more, I now have a live in carer

krisskross

daska wrote: »

not any more, I now have a live in carer

Blimey! Is that expensive?

daska

it's paid for by SS because I have substantial care needs

krisskross

daska wrote: »

it's paid for by SS because I have substantial care needs

So I understand even less why you knackered yourself out over the course of 4 days if you have a live in carer to help. And also if you have such substantial care needs why you would have to attend a medical for ESA? Surely a home visit from the examiner would have been better.

daska

It would have, wouldn't it, but they stated that this wasn't possible. I have since discovered that they should have told me that they would if I got a letter from my GP, but that doesn't help much after the event. (My GP is writing to them to support the need for all future medicals etc to be done at home.)

Again, it's not quite as simple as I didn't manage my energy well. The events of the previous days were the kinds that drain my energy. DS2 having a cold wasn't controllable, but after two weeks of clingy, snuffly, unable to sleep 2yr old I wasn't even starting in a good place.

It's taken me 3 years to get to the point that I can consciously 'not do anything' in order that I might do something later but I still resent the notion of curtailing my life, or DS2's life, any more than the illness makes necessary, and certainly not so that someone can see a 'fake' me. If they put me under stress then that's life, but they should see the effect it has, not a me that's coping because I've deliberately not spent time with my son.