Esa

andyandflo

NASA wrote: »

The ESA50 is easy to fill in - people should stop whining about the forms and get it filled in as quickly and accurately as possible.

errr, ummmm!!! Yes I found it quite easy to fill in. I gave all of the personal info on pages 1 to 7. I then looked at my sick note and diagnosis shown and then ticked the boxes yes/no on pages 8 to 17 relevant to that diagnosis. I then moved on to pages 18 to 24 (mental illness) and wrote across each page - 'This is not relevant to the condition stated on the sick note'. Then signed the document on page 26.

Took all of 10 mins!!

Obviously I could have expanded on each section on pages 8-17, but be honest where does one start and finish? Do they really want to know how I feel when trying to move round with up to 100mgs of Morphine in my body? What if it was only 70mgs that I took that day, what if I was too tired to move around due to not having the slept the night before because of being sick and in constant pain not controlled with Morphine? I would be there for a month writing a novel with all of the - what if's and maybe's!!

So yes it is a simple form, if you just stick to the one diagnosis shown on the sicknote, do not expand it to cover the complications it has caused, all of the possible variations on a day to day basis, not forgetting how the medication also causes problems depending again on daily variables. Then also ignoring the other separate illness, not connected with the one shown on the sicknote. For that it would be my word only as there would be no medical diagnosis (sicknote) available.



Geee! And feeling ill, tired, depressed etc in filling it in.

Molly41

I dont agree its a simple form at all. You have to think very carefully about how your medical conditions impact on your ability to perform in the work environment. It took me a long while. I also stapled supporting information to each page. The medical examiner said i had given him a lot of supportive info. When I redid the ESA 50 in January I did the same and it was obviously adequate as my claim was renewed without a question.

NASA_2

andyandflo wrote: »

errr, ummmm!!! Yes I found it quite easy to fill in. I gave all of the personal info on pages 1 to 7. I then looked at my sick note and diagnosis shown and then ticked the boxes yes/no on pages 8 to 17 relevant to that diagnosis. I then moved on to pages 18 to 24 (mental illness) and wrote across each page - 'This is not relevant to the condition stated on the sick note'. Then signed the document on page 26.

Took all of 10 mins!!

Obviously I could have expanded on each section on pages 8-17, but be honest where does one start and finish? Do they really want to know how I feel when trying to move round with up to 100mgs of Morphine in my body? What if it was only 70mgs that I took that day, what if I was too tired to move around due to not having the slept the night before because of being sick and in constant pain not controlled with Morphine? I would be there for a month writing a novel with all of the - what if's and maybe's!!

So yes it is a simple form, if you just stick to the one diagnosis shown on the sicknote, do not expand it to cover the complications it has caused, all of the possible variations on a day to day basis, not forgetting how the medication also causes problems depending again on daily variables. Then also ignoring the other separate illness, not connected with the one shown on the sicknote. For that it would be my word only as there would be no medical diagnosis (sicknote) available.



Geee! And feeling ill, tired, depressed etc in filling it in.

The ESA50 is an integral part of the medical process. As much information as is possible should be put on it. People are given six weeks to fill the form in which gives ample time to take breaks in between filling each part of the form.

People see the form and get intimidated by it when there is no reason at all to be intimidated.

The Decision Makers do read the ESA50 and use it to contradict what the WCA report says. When people dont put in enough information they essentially hang themselves and their claim gets disallowed. Nothing underhand about the process at all.

Molly41 wrote: »

I dont agree its a simple form at all. You have to think very carefully about how your medical conditions impact on your ability to perform in the work environment. It took me a long while. I also stapled supporting information to each page. The medical examiner said i had given him a lot of supportive info. When I redid the ESA 50 in January I did the same and it was obviously adequate as my claim was renewed without a question.

And your post shows how important what I said above is really.

The more information the department has the better outcome that can be expected.

andyandflo

NASA wrote: »

The ESA50 is an integral part of the medical process. As much information as is possible should be put on it. People are given six weeks to fill the form in which gives ample time to take breaks in between filling each part of the form.

People see the form and get intimidated by it when there is no reason at all to be intimidated.

The Decision Makers do read the ESA50 and use it to contradict what the WCA report says. When people dont put in enough information they essentially hang themselves and their claim gets disallowed. Nothing underhand about the process at all.


And your post shows how important what I said above is really.

The more information the department has the better outcome that can be expected.

Hi, AND if we had a decent chance in the Medical Assessment the lack of info on the ESA50 would give a different picture!

6 weeks - maybe that is what is supposed to happen!!

Made claim for ESA 22/10/09, ESA was 'posted' to me on the 3/12/09. It arrived on the 23/12/09. OK yes there was a postal strike so not their fault. Medical had been already arranged for the 13/1/10.
ESA50 - according to their letter should be returned by 19/1/10 (6 days after the medical!).

Christmas/New Year came and went, and on the 5/1/10 I telephoned ATOS to ask if it would be OK to send it in after the medical. No I was told, it should be with them at least a week beforehand.
OK started completing the form after lunch on the 5/1 and it was posted at 5pm the same day for it to be with them by the week deadline.

So I had a couple of hours - NOT 6 weeks!!!!
In fact from when I actually received it to when it should have gone back was 4 weeks - NOT 6!!
As it was I had from the 23/12 to 5/1 to post it - 2 weeks!!!!

I could never work out why the ESA50 had to go back after the medical had been carried out - I thought the assessor from ATOS should have picked that up, as it was it put me at a disadvantage
Still what's happened has happened - but I am theone that has suffered.

Ok I could have done something over the holiday period but thought that over two weeks until the 19th I didn't worry too much.

Indie_Kid

It's not ATOS or DWPs fault there was a postal strike.

andyandflo

sh1305 wrote: »

It's not ATOS or DWPs fault there was a postal strike.

No AND it wasn't my fault either!!!! But I was the one that had to be predjudiced.

My way of thinking is that the medical assessment should have been put back at least a week to give me time to get the ESA50 in and within the time limit given in their letter.
Anyhow it's history and it is really of no consequence.

My main problem in this is that the completion of the form ESA50 is not put over anywhere that it is a vital and important part of the assessment process. Neither do the DWP/ATOS request or suggest that supplementary/additional evidence be attached to it. That only comes about when you are notified that you have failed the medical and then it is too late.

If I had known that beforehand, I would have had weeks to get it all together then things might have been different. As it is now, I am having to wait maybe 9 months for an appeal hearing so that I can dump the lot on the Tribunal. And not be paid what I am entitled to.

Indie_Kid

Not being funny Andy - but if I was you, I would've given them the extra information anyway.

actionman_3

I have been told by 2 people that the physical health problems were discounted but when they said they had melancholia that it was got them passed.

One of them is using his diabetes to justify being on the sick.Ive never seen him ill except when he hasnt eaten due to shortage of benefit whilst wating. I know he doesnt want to work and sign on. Then he has added depression. He failed the medical first but won the appeal. Its really strange especially as I read on work and benefits that if an amputee can lift things with his stump then he is suitable for work!

The gov want to get a million off the sick by 2015 and will do it by fair means or foul.

Indie_Kid

actionman wrote: »

I have been told by 2 people that the physical health problems were discounted but when they said they had melancholia that it was got them passed.

One of them is using his diabetes to justify being on the sick.Ive never seen him ill except when he hasnt eaten due to shortage of benefit whilst wating. I know he doesnt want to work and sign on. Then he has added depression. He failed the medical first but won the appeal. Its really strange especially as I read on work and benefits that if an amputee can lift things with his stump then he is suitable for work!

The gov want to get a million off the sick by 2015 and will do it by fair means or foul.

Are you with him 24/7? Do you have access to his medical records? You sound like someone I know - he said that no-one can be more disabled than him. I have completely different disabilities to him.

actionman_3

This post wasnt directed at anyone,just general so I dont understand the last post
I was Just saying how strange the system is. I am not with him 24/7 but when he says his aim is to do gardening on the side then its admitting he can work and isnt as incapable as he makes out. Why would I have access to his medical records- they are confidential.