Anyone else worried about the ESA time limit changes?

Indie_Kid

Chorlie wrote: »

can I ask for my medical to be re-viewed or would I have to re-apply / another medical?

Thanks

If you disagree, you can appeal their decision.

sweetersong

Chorlie-The new descriptors come in effect as of March next year, unless anything changes

deb68_2

• I have ms, it has gone from relapsong remitting to secondary progressive,i have limited vision it decide to go off an leave me blinded in 1 eye,
• ,sometimes both eyes decide to go off have a bit of a rest lol,i have constant spasms,i fall frequentlly the,pain is excruicating at times but not all the time i have to go to the toilet frequently an can stay there ages till manage to do.I use a wheel chair a lot of the time,i can not be on a computer for long as my vision when working suffers,there are a lot of othere things with my health doing with th ms, i also have Ashma,am on antidepressants,i can not go out on my own
• how do the new rulings affect me?
• thank you so much for reading this

Chorlie

sh1305 wrote: »

If you disagree, you can appeal their decision.

I don't disagree with how it stands now, because under the current rule I don't think I could get into the Support Group, plus don't you have to appeal within 30 days (I think) and my award was passed in July so 6 months ago.

I was thinking more along the lines of when the new rules come it, can I done anything then?

Indie_Kid

Chorlie wrote: »

I don't disagree with how it stands now, because under the current rule I don't think I could get into the Support Group, plus don't you have to appeal within 30 days (I think) and my award was passed in July so 6 months ago.

I was thinking more along the lines of when the new rules come it, can I done anything then?

I think they can allow a late appeal if you have a good enough reason for doing so. (in my case, I sent it to the wrong BDC - oops! That was accepted)

i can not be on a computer for long as my vision when working suffers

What equipment do you use with your PC? You can buy talking software and software to change the background colour.

petrolhead.

sweetersong wrote: »

I really shouldn't get myself worked up just yet, as its a way away, and gettign stressed isn't going to help, but I am just as concerned for others in my situation as I am for me

Due to ME I stopped working in the summer, after gradually detoriating for 12 months (have had it in total for nearly 6 yrs now). I kidded myself for a few months that I could do a less stressful job, but when I realised that just going to the job centre every fortnight was making me worse, I gave in and claimed ESA.

I only had to claim it for 6 weeks at this point, as I am expecting a baby in Feb, and as I was in employment until June, I am eligble for maternity allowance until next August

At that point, if I am still as ill, I will have to claim ESA

It is near-on impossible to get into the support group, if you get any ESA awarded at all (most cases get awarded after a tribunal, but then only to the work related activity group) due to the limited descriptors

However, if I get the work related activity group, I would only get it for 12 months due to the new rules, as my husband works, so I will only be eligble for the contributions based ESA

I am really distressed at the thought that they could leave me with no income, even if I am still too ill to work, due to the silly way their descriptors are given.

Our only other option to give us a livable income is as long as I can get my DLA middle rate care through (currently awaiting a decision, but I know I should be entitled to it, so am happy to take it to tribunal if necessary), is to get my husband to give up his employment and become my carer. With that, the income related benefits we would get would pay out more than just living on my husbands salary, so much for it paying to work!

Yes I will agree that it is unfair. There are going to be people like me that can do some work albeit not on a full time basis being made to work or starve after 12 months.

I have already taken the initiative now and am looking for suitable employment before the limit expires and before I have to go to another appeal court hearing.

Whether I will make a success of it, I don't know, but you have to try otherwise income will be very limited and then have to rely soley on savings that I put away for retirement purposes. My Old Age Pension is going to be very limited when I get to that time in life as I spent so much of my working life abroad and don't have the required number of years contributions.

It's each for their own to save yourself because no one else will do it for you.

sweetersong

Petrolhead-I hope you do find something. What problems do you have, if you dont mind me asking (new to this board since a few days before xmas and I dont have the concentration level to go back to see).

There is a work from home job that I was going to do before I got worse, it is taking telephone calls from home for a home shopping company. There is a training period where you do online trainign for set hours 4 hrs a day, 5 days a week, and then to begin with you have to do a minimum of 20 hrs a week, the times to be chosen by yourself, and after a set period, your minimum can be lowered to 15 if you want. Its all legit, there is actually a thread on MSE about it, but I dont know whether its something you could/would want to do?

Unfortunately I can now neither do the time training, or guarantee I would be fit enough to do the contracted hours, so that options out for me, it was my last hope before I started claiming ESA

I really hope you find something

petrolhead.

sweetersong wrote: »

Petrolhead-I hope you do find something. What problems do you have, if you dont mind me asking (new to this board since a few days before xmas and I dont have the concentration level to go back to see).

There is a work from home job that I was going to do before I got worse, it is taking telephone calls from home for a home shopping company. There is a training period where you do online trainign for set hours 4 hrs a day, 5 days a week, and then to begin with you have to do a minimum of 20 hrs a week, the times to be chosen by yourself, and after a set period, your minimum can be lowered to 15 if you want. Its all legit, there is actually a thread on MSE about it, but I dont know whether its something you could/would want to do?

Unfortunately I can now neither do the time training, or guarantee I would be fit enough to do the contracted hours, so that options out for me, it was my last hope before I started claiming ESA

I really hope you find something

Thankyou for those comments.

I too hope that the right thing comes along for both of us in each of our different ways.
Honestly? I would hate to think that the rest of my life centres around which benefit can I have and how best can I make it that I get it.

I think myself very lucky at the moment that I may have options. If I didn't - well I just don't know what I would do.

I really do feel for people when their only form of income is that of welfare benefits. How they cope knowing that changes and new decisions can affect their lives so dramatically, financially.

wattdallas

deb68 wrote: »

• I have ms, it has gone from relapsong remitting to secondary progressive,i have limited visi es decide to go off an have eye,sometimes both eyes decide to go off have a bit of a rest lol,i have constant spasms,i fall frequentlly the,pain is excruicating at times but not all the time i have to go to the toilet frequently an can stay there ages till manage to do.I use a wheel chair a lot of the time,i can not be on a computer for long as my vision when working suffers,there are a lot of othere things with my health doing with th ms, i also have Ashma,am on antidepressants,i can not go out on my own
• how do te new rulings affect me?
• thank you so much for reading this

I should think you would be fine,lets hope so

heater

All those worried about the proposed changes to ESA need to do something NOW. It will be too late once the law is passed.

Please sign the petition against the proposals. As a new user I am not allowed to post with links but if you put "stop the proposed changes to esa" in the search engine, you should be able to find the petition.