Esa

layanna_jade

Hi all

I got fired from my last job due to my illness - long term ME sufferer (asked for a reduction in hours to better cope and then got fired as the role is 'a full time position') and have been on JSA since March.

My doctor has signed me off for twelve weeks today as I'm too ill to work and have closed my JSA claim and switched over to ESA.

Question is, what happens now? I've read so many scare stories about 90% of people being turned down and having to appeal that the mere thought of it exhausts and stresses me.

JSA was my only form of income and even though my partner works, I have financial commitments that I can't expect him to meet just because I'm ill.

Has anyone got any advice on the new claim process for this benefit?

Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

its untrue to say that 90% of people are being turned down for esa,remember you only hear the bad news about these things rarely the good

NASA_2

Its not 90% that get turned down. The rate has remained consistently at 69% of people 'failing' the medical.

I dont currently see the need to get stressed by the appeal - even if it is upheld another appeal can be made and payment will continue (So long as its not an appeal against FTA the WCA or FTR the ESA50).

Molly41

Ive generally had a good experience of claiming ESA (C). In fact when my claim was reassessed in January this year via the questionnaire the decision was back to me within a week of sending it to ATOS. The medical was stressful and I did have to appeal the original decision but this was awarded at the reconsideration phase. I have to admit feeling very worried at the start of the process but all was ok and has been so far...touch wood. remember that you get a very biased view on websites such as this. Its generally only the people struggling not those who have had a good experience of the DWP who post for advice. I have reported my good experience on a few occasions but it doesnt get much of a reaction. I would say dont worry...but you will. Im sure it will work out ok.

layanna_jade

Thanks to all of you for the kind words. I'll try not to stress about it.

Mupette

I've only had a few hicups with ESA. income based

I too was worried when i had to go on ESA, hearing horror stories of medicals you could barely get to and then being told you are fit to work.

A lot of scaremongering, I got awarded it and DLA due to fibromyalgia last year, and now it's MS, don't know if i have both now or just MS, doctors will not give me an answer on that one, but I've not had any issues explaining my illness to esa, if they want more information they contact your doctor.

I've not had a medical yet. Been on esa since September last year.

jellytastic

I too have had a good experience claiming ESA (C) was awarded it straight away and put into support group. I too was worried but if you are a genuine case you honestly have nothing to worry about. x

daska

Sorry, re-written this because the way I wrote it initially was so wrong...

There was a long thread about the 90% figure not so long back. The 90% was reached using figures in an official report but only refers to people who had been through the medical and not been assigned to the 'support' group which is the closest equivalent to IB.

andyandflo

jellytastic wrote: »

I too have had a good experience claiming ESA (C) was awarded it straight away and put into support group. I too was worried but if you are a genuine case you honestly have nothing to worry about. x

Hi, ermmm cough - splutter!!! No, I'm not being personal, but are you really suggesting that only those that are genuinely ill and incapable of working are awarded ESA without as much of a medical never mind an appeal?
Looking at the opposite side - those that aren't awarded ESA initially are potential scroungers or malingerers ?

You are one of the few that is assessed correctly, the rest of us have to fight tooth and nail to get justice!

I will not go into what is wrong with me in detail, except to say that I suffer from severe PTSD (after being shot twice in attempting to disarm one of two armed robbers on a public street - everybody else kept well out of the way!), I have a diseased pancreas that has packed up leaving behind one damn painfull cyst that needs continual surgery (and I have to live on up to 100mgs Morphine each day for the rest of my life, I can't digest food as I have no enzyme production which causes permanent sickness, I am type 1 diabetic which is difficult to control (blood/sugar swings 26 to 3), I have permanent thrombosis of both the splenic and portal veins which directly causes me to bleed into my stomach regularly.

Now if that is not enough to cope with, there is the drug regime and visits via ambulance to A&E at 4 in the morning every 2/3 months resulting in stays in hospital.
Me, well I think I am unfit for work, but no, failed the claim, failed the medical, failed the reconsideration and now going to appeal!

So please do not be smug in your own success, there are many out there worse than me that have an appeal to dread!

actionman_3

What work do they expect you to do with all that-andyandflo?If you go on JSA then its not going to cover your bills in the long term. I have a form of ptsd and along with that comes social anxiety.

The trouble is employers want confident,fit people not people who get nervous going in a shop etc. The gov can't force employers to take on those with problems. As far as employers go they are not a charity and only want the best person for the job,which is their choice

andyandflo

actionman wrote: »

What work do they expect you to do with all that-andyandflo?If you go on JSA then its not going to cover your bills in the long term. I have a form of ptsd and along with that comes social anxiety.

The trouble is employers want confident,fit people not people who get nervous going in a shop etc. The gov can't force employers to take on those with problems. As far as employers go they are not a charity and only want the best person for the job,which is their choice

Absolutely!!! who the **** would employ me. I was made unemployed in December 09 after having had two Occ. Health reports completed for my employer which said that I was unemployable, and there was very little prospect of returning to the work place. So kicked into the long grass!!!
After claiming ESA, and getting nowhere with any money (took from 22.10.09 until 8.12.09 before anything was paid.) I ended up going to the JC+ to see if there was any chance of finding a job that would suit me and my illness as suggested by the ESA people. Completed a claim form for JSA, then was told that they could not accept me as a claimant and as such my JSA claim was scrapped. With that they cancelled the ESA claim and my money. Had to complete a new ESA claim, and it was not until mid March before I received some money. So work that one out!!!