ESA Medical - here we go again!

System

I've been having problems with my esa *it got stopped along with everything else) and my mental health has taken an almighty dive. I can't sleep, i can't eat and i can't stop thinking about suicide. and this is before i have another medical.

cit_k

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I've been having problems with my esa *it got stopped along with everything else) and my mental health has taken an almighty dive. I can't sleep, i can't eat and i can't stop thinking about suicide. and this is before i have another medical.

They stopped your esa and other benefits? Before a medical? What happened, shout up if you need help appealing etc.

de1amo

if people with mental health issues are 'singled' out as high possibles of failing the test i can see a wave of mh patients costing billions due to increased admissions-most of which are life and death-apart from the stresses of these tests the actual act of working will be in many cases enough of a trigger to set the illness off again--things like manic depression and schizophrenia are drug controlled but most psychiatrists know any stressors can cause relapse--its costs many thousands a week to keep a mh patient in a hospital wwhich will dwarf the ib savings-i am amazed the mh docs havent questioned the wisdom because the sht will hit their fan!

System

cit_k wrote: »

They stopped your esa and other benefits? Before a medical? What happened, shout up if you need help appealing etc.

Basically i moved house, i wrote and told them but they deny ever getting a letter, and said i had to ring in anyway. One of my letters got returned to sender so they stopped all my benfits.

I rang up and got that sorted, then a week later i hadn't been paid so rang up and they told me they'd pay me for the last month but that i'd missed a medical in September. I knew nothing of this medical (cos they sent the letter to the wrong address). She said it would have to go to a DM and if they thought my reason for missing the medical was vaild i'd get a date for a new medical. But if this DM doesnt think its a good enough reason my esa will stop and i will have to start my claim again i'm so scared of this happening let alone the thought of another medical. The thing i dont get is they've kept paying me, even after i missed this supposed medical

melbury

Just to say I didn't get a copy of the LiMA pre-board report form ESA85a, whatever that might be. They just sent me a further copy of the ESA85 medical assessment form. Has anyone actually seen this form ESA85a? If so, what is it exactly?

de1amo

it will be interesting to see how this system works under the pressure of the trying to see about the 1.5 million on incapacity benefit and all the appeals--i have yet to hear how a person can be assessed suitable for work when a health professional like a psychiatrist has made a determined effort for many years to stop patients working and where the culpability lies when problems occur which may result in the loss of life-most mental health drugs preclude pretty most everything-and cause drossiness.
Most mh patients are forced to exist on benefits because psychiatrists see the broader picture--despite a patients over enthusiasm to get back into the swim of life

cit_k

melbury wrote: »

Just to say I didn't get a copy of the LiMA pre-board report form ESA85a, whatever that might be. They just sent me a further copy of the ESA85 medical assessment form. Has anyone actually seen this form ESA85a? If so, what is it exactly?

Its a short document clearly marked esa85a it should name the assessor who did the pre board medical report that decided you required an assessment medical.

It should aslo state why a medical was required.

Few people know about it even at the DWP it seems from when I have tried - if you write in and request it again, quote the following so they know what you are talking about.

Please find quoted the section from the ESA Handbook

During the initial stages of the claim, the claimant is considered to be in the assessment phase. The assessment phase will normally be 13 weeks during
which benefit is payable at rate determined by JCP. This will usually be the assessment rate..
During this 13 week period the claim moves through the process to the .Pre-Board Check. phase (when LCW/LCWRA has not been identified by the DM or
terminal illness has not been confirmed).
The claim is assessed by a Health Care Professional working for Atos Healthcare to determine whether the claimant fulfils any of the criteria for the .Support Group.
or fulfils criteria to be treated as having limited capability for work and/or LCWRA without undergoing the LCW/LCWRA assessment, based on the evidence held.

The evidence may be obtained from the ESA50, medical certification or further medical evidence (FME) requested by the HCP.
Details of the .Support Group. and .treat as having limited capability for work. criteria will be provided in section 2 of this document.

If the claimant is considered to fulfil any one of the criteria to be entered into the Support Group the form ESA 85A is completed with justification of this advice and
submitted for consideration by the Decision Maker. If the claimant is to be treated as .having limited capability for work in .treated as LCW. cases, then this advice
is submitted to the Decision Maker on form ESA85A in cases where LCW was not established by the DM. The Decision Maker will review this advice and make
the final decision on whether the claimant should be entered into the support group or treated as having LCW/LCWRA.
If the claimant is not considered to be in the Support Group or definitive advice cannot be given on LCWRA where LCW applies , the claimant will be called for
assessment where an approved Health Care Professional will complete the ESA LCW/LCWRA medical examination on form ESA 85

source Training & Development ESA Handbook MED-ESAHB~001 Page 13

As you can see from above each claimaint should be assessed by a pre-board check - to decide if a medical is required. Form ESA85a (note this is not the medical report produced after assessment it is the one that decided an assessment was required)

cit_k

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Basically i moved house, i wrote and told them but they deny ever getting a letter, and said i had to ring in anyway. One of my letters got returned to sender so they stopped all my benfits.

I rang up and got that sorted, then a week later i hadn't been paid so rang up and they told me they'd pay me for the last month but that i'd missed a medical in September. I knew nothing of this medical (cos they sent the letter to the wrong address). She said it would have to go to a DM and if they thought my reason for missing the medical was vaild i'd get a date for a new medical. But if this DM doesnt think its a good enough reason my esa will stop and i will have to start my claim again i'm so scared of this happening let alone the thought of another medical. The thing i dont get is they've kept paying me, even after i missed this supposed medical

Yes, I thought they normally dont pay if you miss a medical. At least you were lucky in that regard that they kept paying.

Hope they dont do the same to me we are moving too!!!!

System

cit_k wrote: »

Yes, I thought they normally dont pay if you miss a medical. At least you were lucky in that regard that they kept paying.

Hope they dont do the same to me we are moving too!!!!

Just make sure you ring them and write to them! Haven't heard anything yet so i'm hoping that no news is good news. I'm thinking if they wanted to stop my esa they'd do it as quick as possible. wish i could stop worrying about it all.

rogerblack

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Just make sure you ring them and write to them! Haven't heard anything yet so i'm hoping that no news is good news. I'm thinking if they wanted to stop my esa they'd do it as quick as possible. wish i could stop worrying about it all.

Write to them recorded, or special delivery, so you have at least some proof. I suggest writing to them as early as you can, then following it up with a phone call to make sure they've got it, then you can put another letter in the post if not.