2nd ESA Medical in 6 months!!

geministar2008

Ok so i had my first ESA medical in Feb this year and i was put into the work related activity group. I started a few hours permitted work in April, which i am still doing. However i am far from 100% well and my illness still effects my ability to do day to day things and so on. Although i would say i have made improvement. I am still under specialists and i have also developed further health issues.

I just wonder why i had to fill in a 2nd medical assessment questionnaire so soon after my first assessment this had to be sent back by the 25th June. When i called the ESA department to enquiry about this they told me it was merely to update their records and that i would not be requried to attend another medical assessment at this time? They got that wrong then.

So what is the likely hood of me passing this 2nd medical? I am concerned as i do permitted work. I realise i wont be on this benefit forever, i do not want to be! But i did think i would be left alone for a longer period of time?

On another note just out of interest, what would happen if i didnt attend my medical assessment? Would my benefit just stop? Or would they impose some form of sanction on me?

Also if i do fail the assessment do i get any overlap of benefit? If that makes sense?

I look forward to some advice.

Many many thanks

geministar2008

also what would happen if i fail the 2nd medical and appeal the decision if i am in permitted work.

Pathways told me dont mention anything about permitted work. But surely the medical examiner will have my notes and will be aware that i am doing permitted work?

hedid2003

hi
can only advise on you attending your medical you should 100% attend or they will stop your benefits.query if you are far from 100% well and your illness affects your day to day abilities why take on permitted work?

geministar2008

by this i mean i have good and bad days, generally more bad than good. I literally work a very small amount of hours. But are regularly sick and unable to work.

NASA_2

geministar2008 wrote: »

On another note just out of interest, what would happen if i didnt attend my medical assessment? Would my benefit just stop? Or would they impose some form of sanction on me?

Also if i do fail the assessment do i get any overlap of benefit? If that makes sense?

If you dont attend the medical then your benefit will be stopped, and, if you appeal, its not a payable appeal. Much worse than any sanction IMO.

If you fail the assessment your money stops - an overlap of benefit only occurs where (usually) two benefits are claimed for the same period and one is taken into account for the other.

Not sure exactly what you were asking there though.

geministar2008 wrote: »

also what would happen if i fail the 2nd medical and appeal the decision if i am in permitted work.

Pathways told me dont mention anything about permitted work. But surely the medical examiner will have my notes and will be aware that i am doing permitted work?

If you fail the assessment and appeal then your permitted work can continue. subject to the normal rules.

Pathways shouldnt have said not to mention permitted work but the decision makers will have that information available to them.

geministar2008

so are you saying if i fail and appeal i can continue to do as i am doin so re permitted work? What will happen with my current rate of benefit, would they drop it to the lower rate? And if i was then to fail the appeal would they ask for any of the benefit paid to me to be repaid, between the time of the assessment and the appeal?

NASA_2

geministar2008 wrote: »

so are you saying if i fail and appeal i can continue to do as i am doin so re permitted work? What will happen with my current rate of benefit, would they drop it to the lower rate? And if i was then to fail the appeal would they ask for any of the benefit paid to me to be repaid, between the time of the assessment and the appeal?

You can do Permitted Work up to the 12 month point.

Your current rate of benefit would drop to the assessment phase rate. You would not be expected to repay any WRAG paid between your claim being disallowed and your appeal being accepted.

geministar2008

what happens if you feel you would now like to take on more work and decided to just not go to the assessment. I presume your benefit would just stop? Or would you face some kind of penalty?

NASA_2

geministar2008 wrote: »

what happens if you feel you would now like to take on more work and decided to just not go to the assessment. I presume your benefit would just stop? Or would you face some kind of penalty?

Your benefit would be suspended while they investigate why you didnt attend. If you are not going to attend because you are taking on work then I would advise letting them know of this.

If you dont tell them, and your claim is closed, if you need to claim again within a six month period it will cause problems.

geministar2008

i am trying not to worry too much, if possible about my upcoming 2nd medical assessment. At the end of the day they put me into the work related activity group for a reason. They then allow for permitted work. Just because i am able to a few hours does not mean i am well! i am lucky my employer is very understanding to my situation and is fine if i cannot work at short notice. Where i work i can see from my home, i do not have to undergo public transport which i just cannot do. i have to walk a couple of mins across the road. I still cannot do my own shopping. And i have since developed other health issues which are under investigation which have added to my original health issues. I now faint and black out regularly which makes me very weak. I enjoy being able to do a little work, but there is no way, just yet that i could come off this benefit and be expected to go and get a full time job. I would fall at the first hurdle and lose the job, if anyone would take me on in the first place. Anxiety and depression is such an awful illness, like so many other illnesses. You may look ok physically but inside you are in bits.

woody01

People on disability payments should be checked more frequently to ensire they are getting the right amount, or not getting to much.

If its coming from public funds, its only right that these checks are made.