Terrified I will lose my disability benefits :(

Artoid_Refract

I have heard bad second hand horror stories about the ESA benefit.

This morning I read this article:

[quote}Employment Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced 18 months ago to replace incapacity benefit.
But its new medical assessment has led to allegations by Citizens Advice Scotland that it targets the most vulnerable.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions believes ESA is the best way to ensure people get back to work.
A BBC Scotland investigation found that under ESA, more than two thirds of claimants are being found fit to work, almost 20% more than the government had planned.
It is now the most commonly appealed benefit, with 8,000 tribunals heard every month across the UK - and 40% of decisions are being reversed.
So far, only those claiming after 2008 have undergone the medical, but longer-term claimants are due to be transferred to ESA in October.[/quote]

Now this scares me, since I suffer from a mental illness which is the main reason why I am claiming income support. I will, as planned, be transferred to ESA in October.

Without asking how to scam the system (this is not my intention), how can I be sure to keep the benefits I believe I am entitled to? I am terrified they will consider me fit to work, when, in fact, I really am NOT able to work. My psychosis causes me to shout in public (not so much indoors) and I get so depressed sometimes I can't even get out of bed. However, sometimes to the untrained eye I can appear to be relatively okay, so naturally I'm a bit worried I'll lose my benefit at the stroke of an ill-advised decision!!

seven-day-weekend

AFAIK the transfer from IB/IS to ESA is only due to START in October. It may be a couple of years before you are transferred (or if you reach retirement age before 6/4/14 then you won't be transferred at all).

Even if they decide you are fit for work (which probably will not happen), then you have the right of appeal.

I wouldn't worry about it yet; if and when you are due for transfer then ask the CAB to help you. A lot can happen in a couple of years.

MimiJane

A "pilot" is starting this October I believe in the Manchester area. Transfers will then start nationally from next February until some time in 2014.

I've read that most people will be migrated from IB to ESA around the date that their next assessment is due for IB, although some could be migrated sooner.

Many people are frightened they'll lose their benefits, so you're certainly not alone.

Best of luck when your assessment time arrives and I hope it's some time away for you

andyandflo

Artoid_Refract wrote: »

I have heard bad second hand horror stories about the ESA benefit.

This morning I read this article:

[quote}Employment Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced 18 months ago to replace incapacity benefit.
But its new medical assessment has led to allegations by Citizens Advice Scotland that it targets the most vulnerable.
However, the Department for Work and Pensions believes ESA is the best way to ensure people get back to work.
A BBC Scotland investigation found that under ESA, more than two thirds of claimants are being found fit to work, almost 20% more than the government had planned.
It is now the most commonly appealed benefit, with 8,000 tribunals heard every month across the UK - and 40% of decisions are being reversed.
So far, only those claiming after 2008 have undergone the medical, but longer-term claimants are due to be transferred to ESA in October.

Now this scares me, since I suffer from a mental illness which is the main reason why I am claiming income support. I will, as planned, be transferred to ESA in October.

Without asking how to scam the system (this is not my intention), how can I be sure to keep the benefits I believe I am entitled to? I am terrified they will consider me fit to work, when, in fact, I really am NOT able to work. My psychosis causes me to shout in public (not so much indoors) and I get so depressed sometimes I can't even get out of bed. However, sometimes to the untrained eye I can appear to be relatively okay, so naturally I'm a bit worried I'll lose my benefit at the stroke of an ill-advised decision!![/QUOTE]

Hi, Unfortunately what will be will be!!
I do have sympathy with you as regards mental illness, and agree that from an outsiders viewpoint you may appear quite 'normal'.
I too suffer from amongst other things, a mental illness (PTSD). What I find interesting is your conception of what others might see you as. After 8 years of anti-psycotic drugs, weekly attendances for psycotherapy, having a CPN monitoring my every move and eventually ending up in a secure mental unit - I had had enough - whether I was better or not!! I ducked under the radar of the 'men in white coats' and disappeared out of the system.
One of the strange things that a human mind and body can do is adapt to whatever is around it - it is an automated response. You learn how to avoid, you learn how to not show, you learn eventually to appear to be as 'normal' as the next person.
What is going on in the inside shows very little on the outside. I know - I've been doing it for the past 5 years!
So when you are examined, for all intents and purposes, you do not show that you have any mental illness. If the examiner is any good at his or her job they should be able to spot the signs of what the body is doing, but of course that depends on the examiner being experienced enough. (I avoid seeing one of my GP's - as he specialises in Mental Health issues!)
So yes your fear is well founded, the assessor from ATOS that did my examination for ESA didn't even notice anything about my mental situation, in fact he wrote in his report to the DWP - 'He has no history of mental illness' - mind you he didn't notice that I had any physical illness either - but that is another story. I was found fit for work. So I gave up!!
I wish you all the luck in the world

topfisher

Don't give up. Go and get some advice from the CAB and appeal.

[Deleted User]

Maybe you could start keeping a Diary of when you have really bad days so you can prove you wouldn't have the ability to sustain long term employment?

deedee71

I really am NOT able to work. My psychosis causes me to shout in public (not so much indoors) and I get so depressed sometimes I can't even get out of bed.

I don't actually see that this disbars you from getting any kind of job, ever, for the rest of your days.

Surely for your own quality of life, if nothing else, taking a part time/temporary job that is within your capabilities is better than the life you have now.

How frequent are your bouts of severe depression?

mouseymousey99

Deedee71 I mean you no disrespect but have you ever had depression? It is the most crippling ilness, I have chronic pain and yet I'd take that over the depression any day. While yes being back in a work environment is good for some people you really have to be 'ready' to be there (quite how many jobs are actually out there is another question). I also hope there are enlightend employers and collegues out there.
Best wishes.

mouseymousey99

With this new government, hard times are coming.
Have to agree with you there. Quite how to cut spending I suspect we would disagree about. It seems (to me) churlish to start with the most vulnerable sections of society, still; that's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Yes I've had trauma induced depression and giving in to it by lying in bed all day doesn't actually help.
If you are able to get up and do things that's great, but its not so for everyone. I do wonder too where all the jobs are going to come from?

seven-day-weekend

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

With this new government, hard times are coming.
Have to agree with you there. Quite how to cut spending I suspect we would disagree about. It seems (to me) churlish to start with the most vulnerable sections of society, still; that's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Yes I've had trauma induced depression and giving in to it by lying in bed all day doesn't actually help.
If you are able to get up and do things that's great, but its not so for everyone. I do wonder too where all the jobs are going to come from?

Although that in itself is no reason to be on sickness/disability Benefits.

Please don't misunderstand me, I have a husband on Incapacity benefit, but if he was capable of work then he should be on Jobseekers' Allowance.

Sickness/Disabilty Benefits are for the genuinely sick/disabled. If someone is fit for work they should be on Jobseekers' Allowance and the fact that there may not be a job for them should not factor into the equation.

deedee71

mouseymousey99 wrote: »

With this new government, hard times are coming.
Have to agree with you there. Quite how to cut spending I suspect we would disagree about. It seems (to me) churlish to start with the most vulnerable sections of society, still; that's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Yes I've had trauma induced depression and giving in to it by lying in bed all day doesn't actually help.
If you are able to get up and do things that's great, but its not so for everyone. I do wonder too where all the jobs are going to come from?

I didn't say it was my opinion. It is a reality. If the OP is in a grey area of eligibility now, and the guidelines are going to be tightened, it may give false hope to say wait out the appeal. Better to plan now surely.