What should I know about claiming ESA for mental health reasons?

EltonJohnFan

Hi all,

As instructed by my GP, I recently requested an ESA claim pack which arrived promptly in the post and it asked for more information on whatever my illnesses may be and how they affect my ability to look for work. I actually have very severe Clinical Depression which my GP and other health professionals refer to as MDD when talking to me and aside from that, I use a wheelchair and have a degenerative bone disease which makes my bones very brittle and it's impossible for me to walk. I also have poor eyesight and hearing but this doesn't affect me too much as I've gotent used to it by now and I don't see how it limits me from doing at least some form of work. I'm desperate to work, not content to just sit around doing nothing and using my disabilities as some sort of excuse. You can probably see more about this from some of my previous posts and I don't want to keep going over the same thing as I wouldn't want to bore you!

Anyways, I've filled in the form and I'm just about ready to seal it and send it away first thing tommorow morning. I've also enclosed a Sick Note from my GP which is for one month and she's stated that I'm to go back and see her just before this expires and she'll see if there's been any improvement in my condition and/or if I need another Sick Note. I've started to work with a nurse and I've also began a new course of treatment but I haven't really seen an improvement (as yet) although I'm hopeful things show at least some sign of getting better as I've been very low and depressed and had to move back in with my parents as a result. I had a bit of trouble with a previous post and for anyone that may have answered that who's now answering this, I can assure you that I have made the DWP aware of any savings I might have and hopefully that's all sorted out now, honesty is always the best policy.

I read a little booklet that came with the ESA claim pack and it gives you further information on mental health problems and that's where I've gotten confused. It says that if your problems are through mental health then you might have to fill in a questionaire and may not have to go for a medical, could you possibly tell me more about this please? I'm more than happy to have a medical done because I've nothing to hide and my disabilities are obvious enough. I've never claimed ESA before and don't particularly want to but at this moment in time it looks like I have no choice as I'm now unable to claim JSA and my claim has been closed. I'm hopeful this is only a temporary situation and that I can move back to JSA and onwards to work but i'd appreciate as much advice as you possibly can on whatever I need to know about claiming ESA for mental health problems. Thank you very much.

cit_k

When was the last time you saw your GP about your depression? It is important to keep them up to date with your problems.

You will almost certainly require a medical, and I doubt (not just from the content of your post, but from how they operate) that ATOS would agree you had a major depressive disorder that was very severe.

That would be indicative of someone with no feelings of hope, suffering hallucinations, unable to concentrate, etc etc.

Is it a while since they diagnosed that?

Not that whatever your doctor diagnoses will be of any real importance should it go to a medical..

healy

I do not think that someone with a "very severe clinical depression" would be willing or able to switch on a computer let alone write long, detailed posts and I have to agree that atos would think the same.

That said you may pass the medical due to your physical problems.

EltonJohnFan

cit_k wrote: »

When was the last time you saw your GP about your depression? It is important to keep them up to date with your problems.

You will almost certainly require a medical, and I doubt (not just from the content of your post, but from how they operate) that ATOS would agree you had a major depressive disorder that was very severe.

That would be indicative of someone with no feelings of hope, suffering hallucinations, unable to concentrate, etc etc.

Is it a while since they diagnosed that?

Not that whatever your doctor diagnoses will be of any real importance should it go to a medical..

I see them regularly for that and other reasons. I already have no problems in supplying medical certificates as my GP has stated they have no problem in providing these and it was at their insistence that I claimed ESA in the first place. I go through phases of feeling suicidal, putting myself at risk, not looking after myself properly etc and thankfully enough I'm not feeling like that at this moment in time. I've started a new course of treatment and I'm praying it works because I don't want to have another relapse. In truth, I don't particulary care what ATOS may think because I've heard so many negative things about them I as a person can't respect an organisation that gives genuinely disabled people such a raw deal. In all honesty, how can a person who's not medically qualified decide whether I am (or not) clinically depressed or indeed disabled? My intention is to try and get back onto JSA and find work as I'd much rather be in work and I'm hoping that if I can stick at this new course of treatment (and mantain my current mood) then I won't have another relapse and end up back where I was. I'm grateful for the support of my GP, nurse etc.

Thank you.

dmg24

healy wrote: »

I do not think that someone with a "very severe clinical depression" would be willing or able to switch on a computer let alone write long, detailed posts and I have to agree that atos would think the same.

That said you may pass the medical due to your physical problems.

I can ...

cit_k

dmg24 wrote: »

I can ...

I could when my depression was severe, but on the other hand, I found stringing a sentence together pretty difficult a lot of the time.

But then again, I have been using computers since I was a little child, programming even before I had my first computer etc, and worked with them all my working life, so it was more of a reflex action like breathing.

dmg24

cit_k wrote: »

I could when my depression was severe, but on the other hand, I found stringing a sentence together pretty difficult a lot of the time.

But then again, I have been using computers since I was a little child, programming even before I had my first computer etc, and worked with them all my working life, so it was more of a reflex action like breathing.

Yep, according to my psych there is something disassociate about typing that does not apply to speech.

Two4Tuesday

dmg24 wrote: »

I can ...

Totally concur. I was allowed to have my laptop while in the psychiatric hospital under 24 hour close observation. It helped for the first 2 weeks I was locked-in and the first 6 weeks without unescorted leave.

FleurDuLys

EltonJohnFan, good luck to you! You want to work, and if you are on ESA they will support you with this a great deal if you show them how willing you are

I also had no choice, I had to go on ESA last year when I developed severe medical problems (pituitary tumour, heart condition, and I was recovering from spinal surgery on top of it so I was physically knackkered). I explained to them that I had these illnesses but I was confident that my doctors would get them under control soon and I'd be able to return to work. As my spinal problem is the most physically obvious thing the ATOS doctor tried to focus on it, but I showed her that I had no problem doing the things she asked - it's the exhaustion that was causing difficulties.

I was awarded ESA with no problems and was put into the Work Related Activity Group (obviously) and this has been fab. My illnesses had made it impossible for me to continue in my previous career (I had worked for 12 years solid since university) so I was now studying towards a complete career change, and the Pathways advisor gave me a lot of advice and was going to help organise work placements for me so I could get experience. They would also have paid for the diploma course I was studying for, had I not already paid for it myself! I actually had to keep chasing *them* up to do stuff they said they'd do though, and in the end I managed to sort some placements myself without their help. As you're allowed to work up to 15 hours a week whilst in the WRAG, I was able to do one day a week on a placement when I felt well enough to attend, and by November I was well enough to come off ESA and had set myself up for my new career, with experience and qualifications and contacts in the industry who I had managed to impress.

Unfortunately I was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of December and am having to claim ESA and postpone my new career for even longer. Two weeks after I got diagnosed, I was offered two jobs which I had to turn down :-( It's very frustrating but you can bet that I won't be sitting around letting cancer beat me, I'm going to continue to study and make sure that I come out the other side ready to work again.

So, good luck to you! I think you'll be fine, it's annoying having to claim ESA but your attitude will get you through

healy

dmg24 wrote: »

I can ...

In that case there must be something higher than very severe clinical depression because those at the worst end of depression can barely do anything let alone post long, detailed posts.

EltonJohnFan

healy wrote: »

In that case there must be something higher than very severe clinical depression because those at the worst end of depression can barely do anything let alone post long, detailed posts.

Healy,

When I'm suicidal I can't write things down on paper, can't think, can't make sense of the world and just want to escape in whatever way I can. It's very hard to comprehend for someone that doesn't understand but the one thing that keeps me going is my computer because I can somehow type what I'm feeling and this seems to have a calming influence on me, stops me doing anything silly and allows me to keep a record of my feelings at that particular point in time which I can then look back on when things have calmed down again. Depression, and very severe depression in particular is a personal thing and affects everybody in different ways. I've worked for years with mental health proffesionals and they all tell me I can go through very severe bouts of depression and I'm so grateful to have their support now that I'm well again, sometimes when you have a relapse you probably don't appreciate them quite so much. I've started fires, went weeks without going out or getting washed and days without eating because you loss all will and energy to live and quite simply want to die. There's countless other things I've done but it's probably best I don't mention them as they bring back too many bad memories.

I think it's wrong that organisations such as ATOS are allowed to judge people without really knowing them or their history and I'm just "lucky" in that I'm badly enough disabled in other ways that I don't think I'd have any problems in passing their examinations but that's not what I want, no, I want to be normal and have happiness, a job, money that I've earned, a home without relying on nurses and family to look after me. I know you don't know me and I don't know you but listen and understand, even the most depressed person has feelings, thoughts, hopes and fears and will do whatever possible to make these known. Some lash out, others retreat within themselves. I seem to be able to type and that works for me, maybe I'm strange, who knows, but it's helped me a great deal and I'll continue to type for as long as I possibly can when I feel that I need to do so.

Thanks for understanding.