ESA Question

tobykim

My husband was medically retired from his job some years ago, he was initially on IB but when he went for his medical he was told that he was fit for work although his own firm wouldn't employ him. Luckily he had a pension from his employer and as he wasn't far off retirement we managed on that.
It does not follow that because you are unfit to do the job you did that you cannot do another one.
The posters on here who have replied are not being rude, they are stating the facts as they are. If you are claiming the benefit you have to attend a medical

NASA_2

carpediemspirit wrote: »

Hi There,

I would be grateful if somebody could help. Back in 2008 my father was diagnosed with Cancer and underwent gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Around 2010. He was declared as in remission, however owing to the long term complications of Cancer and it's treatment (tiredness, impaired mental function etc), his employment gave him medical retirement on grounds of ill health.

He signed up for ESA after diagnosis and during treatment and was put in the support group. However last week some jobsworth from the ESA call centre called him and invited him to a Medical Assesment, my dad asked the caller, have you read my file ? I have been medically retired and thus do not feel I should attend an assesment and he said dont worry about it and he told my dad he would not have to attend.

Today he gets a letter from Atos inviting him to a medical assssment, the letter was so patrionising and even gave him step by step directions on how to get to the centre by walking bus and trains.

Can anyone offer advice on how to deal with this ? What happens if your employer has retired you on the grounds of ILL health and the implications on ESA ?

I look forward to any help
Carpediemspirit

I'm sure your dad is a great person but you sound like a complete !!!!.

No-one gets automatically exempted from the WCA process anymore. Your dad is no special case. He can deal with it in the normal way by either filling in the relevant forms and being put in the support group again or by being called for the WCA and passing it.

Whatever happens, stay away from the phone when he is onto the DWP or ATOS, you sound like you would be a hinerence to him rather than a help.

kazzah60

as another poster has described - my husband was medically discharged from his much loved job in the Fire service because he was unfit to do THAT job

he has since re-trained and taken a variety of courses and degrees ( all at our own cost) and now works full time in the voluntary sector

I have had cancer too- of course it's not a joke- but should I be called for any kind of assessment I would expect to attend - how on earth can we keep control of the benefits system if everyone who feels their medical HISTORY ( because your father thankfully is now clear of cancer) entited them to ongoing benefits without any kind of examination?