Failed ESA medical.

tickle

I had my medical last thursday.and i contacted esa this morning and they told me i did not score enough points.I did not think i would.
I am suffering from IIH and pappilodema.This is too much fluid around the brain causing severe headaches,dizzyness,the fluid is also around my optic nerve and has caused some loss of sight as my blind spot is enlarged.I also have sleep apnea and have been given a machine to help me to sleep which i can not use properly yet i can not get used to it.
So anyway i went for the medical and i took all my medication,cpap machine and letters from my neurologist,eye specialists.All my appointments that are coming up were also available.I mentioned an operation to save my eyesight i don't think he even wrote anything down.
I was in the room 7 minutes,i was not asked about my sleep problem,no mention of my brain condition was just asked if i can touch the side of my leg while standing and touch the back of my head.I was asked to do a eyetest.I told him i have lumbar punctures every 4 weeks which takes a few days to recover from.
I walked out of the room and told my husband i had failed straight away.The atos medical person did not even seem interested.I thought i would be in there at least 30 minutes not 7.

So the question is do they send you details of how to appeal? and do they stop my money straight away?

thank you

Tehya

Hi,

(((hugs))) I don't really know anything about appealing but I didn't want to read and run. Sounds just like some of the other ATOS medicals I've read about.

Good luck with the appeal, all I do know is that the assessment rate of ESA is paid whilst an appeal is being made.

Tehya

andyandflo

Hi there. I am sorry to hear of your experiences at the medical. Don't worry, there are thousands of us that fail the test - it's just the system.
What you are suffering from and how it's treated is one thing, what they are looking for is - given the various decriptors - the ability to carry out some tests which should show that you are capable of some type of work given your illnesses. To pass the test (seemingly) is that you are so disabled that you are bed bound and in constant pain that affects any sort of movement or physical activity. Sometimes I doubt that anybody on a life support machine would pass the test!!!
Having said that DWP will formally notify you in writing that you have failed and that ESA will cease forthwith. They will in the letter tell you your rights re. an appeal. If you do decide to appeal, you must submit one in the prescribed format within one month of the decision letter. Having appealed, they will reinstate your ESA at the assessment rate (£65 something pw) until such time as your appeal is heard which can be up to 9 months time!!
You are advised to prepare your appeal by gathering as much evidence together (Doctor etc - reports stating that in their opinion you cannot carry out the functional tests)
Unfortunately, and you may be one of the lucky ones, these reports have in the past been given freely by your medical people. I am now finding that this has changed in my area. You will have to pay for them now. Also as I have been advised to do is apply under the data protection act for copies of all medical records from hospitals, GP's & consultants. That will give you an insight into what your medical needs are. Sorry this is a bit long, but think about trying to prove your innocence with as much evidence gathered in a court of law.
If you can find someone to help either do it for you and/or represent you at the hearing all well and good. But that is now becoming a rarity.

kaya

wow, another failed report, i have not heard of anyone who has passed it as of yet, it seems that they fail everybody they see regardless of their condition, i am waiting to get called for mine and then fail it in the face of overwhelming medical evidence, dont dispair, fight them , i wonder what will happen when they say i am able to work and i have an industrial injury because i am on morphine and so drugged up i am incapable of holding a conversation sometimes let alone working, i will be applying to the courts to sue the doctor who examined me, another line of attack i have thought of is how any employers insurance company will allow me on the premises when i am so obviously unable to concentrate on anything, one of my meds is an analogue of heroin, would any company or their insurers knowingly allow somebody on the premises knowing that they are high as a kite and a liability likely to have or cause a serious accident? i for one will be making a covert recording of my so called "medical" for future use, i am aware of the differing opinions on recording such medicals but tec is so cheap nowdays its not difficult to record anything if you put your mind to it, i wish you good luck with your endeavours, and remember, dont let the barstewards wear you down, i am only claiming what i am entitled to under the current regs as i am sure you are

tickle

Thank you for the replies.
I am on medication for the illness which causes pins & needles in my hands which makes me drop things quite a lot.I have lost quite a lot of my eyesight so will need an operation in the next few weeks to help save the eyesight i have left.I also have to have lumbar punctures every 4 weeks to drain the fluid from around the brain it normally takes 2-3 days to get feeling a little bit better,but if they take too much fluid i can not move for days until it builds up again,then as it builds up the severe headaches start.It is a never ending circle of pain.

If i felt able to work i would not have had months off work in pain unable to lift my head off the pillow due to severe headaches.I would still be working there if i was able.
Just got to wait for the letter now then begin my appeal.Something to look forward to.:(

jonty1970

I failed mine last year too. (depression and panic attacks)
I would love to know where are all the jobs for the people kicked off these benefits?
And who wants to take on someone with medical problems?

daska

I passed my medical - probably something to do with it needing 3 people to haul me out of the building after I collapsed during it, pleasant it was not!

However, at the next hurdle, the doctor who carried out my work focused assessment falsely reported that I had returned to work...?! Anyway, the advice from the guy I spoke to on the ESA helpline was that ATOS make so many mistakes that he always advises people to appeal.

You can ring the ESA helpline and ask them to request a copy of your medical but I requested mine about 2 months ago and I'm still waiting for it to turn up.

hannahO_2

People ought to go to their medical expecting not to pass FULL STOP
Then when it really happens which is very likely (9 out of 10) and you will not be upset about it. Just take it as NORM.... play the system as it were.

Just found out the eastern european doctor who assessed my brother 5 years ago and made his life hell is still assessing clients :eek: My brother appealled and the decision was changed. No doubt he will lie again. This time around we are thinking of telling the doc what we really think of him cos after all no matter what we will say would not make any difference because he will either 1) not ask relevant question nor listen what we have to say 2)twist the facts or lie/disguised as mistakes 3)will not pass even though his doctor is issueing legitimate medical certificate.

cit_k

daska wrote: »

I passed my medical - probably something to do with it needing 3 people to haul me out of the building after I collapsed during it, pleasant it was not!

However, at the next hurdle, the doctor who carried out my work focused assessment falsely reported that I had returned to work...?! Anyway, the advice from the guy I spoke to on the ESA helpline was that ATOS make so many mistakes that he always advises people to appeal.

You can ring the ESA helpline and ask them to request a copy of your medical but I requested mine about 2 months ago and I'm still waiting for it to turn up.

Ring them up and pester them again.

dmg24

hannahO wrote: »

People ought to go to their medical expecting not to pass FULL STOP
Then when it really happens which is very likely (9 out of 10) and you will not be upset about it. Just take it as NORM.... play the system as it were.

I trust you can substantiate this figure with factual evidence? No, I didn't think you could!

bryanb

Sounds to me like you passed the medical. The idea surely is to be classed as fit enough to work?