ESA - another form already!

melbury

eskimo26 wrote: »

Aha i found the topic again. Here is the link and the relevant post.

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=31010





I think that sums it up, what you are looking to prove is based on the support group descriptors. He only has to qualify for one of the descriptors listed not score 15 points (the points based assessment is for the work based group only).

Here are the descriptors. I have sent my evidence in and have told them i qualify not for one but three descriptors, fingers crossed. But they keep it all very hush hush i've only literally seen two posts about it in all my researching!

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_esadescriptorslcwra

The summary page explains both tests and you can navigate to all the info from there.

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_esadescriptorshome

Also bear in mind its all change come march like it says on the link. Best of luck hope its not a wasted effort and keep us posted on updates or any more questions.

Many thanks for all of your help, greatly appreciated.

It looks like they are really tightening up on the descriptors, certainly with regard to communicating with others, which is one of my husband's main problems - they are now basically saying that as long as you can write to make yourself understood, then that is OK. So it looks like we have missed the boat on using that descriptor point.

One other query; when we completed the first application form it was me who actually filled it in and basically put it together. However, it sounded as if my husband had completed it himself because all the way through it said "I" and of course he signed it, as I thought this was the way it should be done. To be honest, he would not have been able to do it himself.

Should I do the same with this second form - i.e. let them think that he has completed it himself?

Many thanks.

eskimo26

melbury wrote: »

Many thanks for all of your help, greatly appreciated.

It looks like they are really tightening up on the descriptors, certainly with regard to communicating with others, which is one of my husband's main problems - they are now basically saying that as long as you can write to make yourself understood, then that is OK. So it looks like we have missed the boat on using that descriptor point.

One other query; when we completed the first application form it was me who actually filled it in and basically put it together. However, it sounded as if my husband had completed it himself because all the way through it said "I" and of course he signed it, as I thought this was the way it should be done. To be honest, he would not have been able to do it himself.

Should I do the same with this second form - i.e. let them think that he has completed it himself?

Many thanks.

There's a box on the second (?) page i think that asks if someone filled the form out for you, there details, who they are and why. You should fill that out and to be honest you should be getting the help of someone at CAB at the very least they can proof read it and they really know there stuff.

Also the changes are in march so as long as you get the form in before March i think it would be assessed under the old descriptors.

The link i gave to the descriptors seems to be incomplete so here's a pdf: http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f33.pdf

With regards to communication the descriptor seems to have remained unchanged:

11. Communication
A None of the following forms of communication can be achieved by the claimant:
i) speaking (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
ii) writing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
iii) typing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
iv) sign language to a standard equivalent to Level 3 British Sign Language;
B None of the forms of communication referred to in (A) are achieved by the claimant, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour;
C Misinterprets verbal or non-verbal communication to the extent of causing distress to himself or herself on a daily basis; or
D Effectively cannot make himself or herself understood to others because of the claimant’s disassociation from reality owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.

This is a link to the ESA handbook its the decision makers guide and they should follow it to the letter. So it essentially tells you exactly what they are looking for.

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/esahandbook.pdf

Good luck, i hope my info. is accurate.

melbury

eskimo26 wrote: »

There's a box on the second (?) page i think that asks if someone filled the form out for you, there details, who they are and why. You should fill that out and to be honest you should be getting the help of someone at CAB at the very least they can proof read it and they really know there stuff.

Also the changes are in march so as long as you get the form in before March i think it would be assessed under the old descriptors.

The link i gave to the descriptors seems to be incomplete so here's a pdf: http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f33.pdf

With regards to communication the descriptor seems to have remained unchanged:

11. Communication
A None of the following forms of communication can be achieved by the claimant:
i) speaking (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
ii) writing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
iii) typing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
iv) sign language to a standard equivalent to Level 3 British Sign Language;
B None of the forms of communication referred to in (A) are achieved by the claimant, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour;
C Misinterprets verbal or non-verbal communication to the extent of causing distress to himself or herself on a daily basis; or
D Effectively cannot make himself or herself understood to others because of the claimant’s disassociation from reality owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.

This is a link to the ESA handbook its the decision makers guide and they should follow it to the letter. So it essentially tells you exactly what they are looking for.

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/esahandbook.pdf

Good luck, i hope my info. is accurate.

Thank you so much for all of the information. Will check the form for that point and make sure they know that it is me filling it in.

The descriptors on the pdf link you provided are the old ones; the new ones are far stricter and almost preclude communication difficulty as a problem.

Will hurry to get the form in this month, together with a suitable covering letter.

cit_k

Of course, a claimaint has to sign a form even if it was filled in by someone else, would not put it past ATOS to say, well they wrote their signature down, they managed to communicate in writing, and fail on that point.