ESA questions

louanna

Hi everyone,

I have just started an ESA claim starting from the 22nd of February. I was wondering with the fit notes do I have to get the next one and send it in before the 22nd? or does the new note just have to be dated from the 22nd? This is all new to me and I'm so confused.

Does anyone know what the new criteria for mental illness is as I know that has changed recently. Will I have a medical at 13 weeks?

Do you get put into the support or work group only after the medical or before?

Sorry for all of the questions It's all new and it's so complexed, to me anyway lol.

Thank you.

parsnip27

you need to get your sicknote as soon as you can, your GP may not give you it before the 22nd so they give you a little time to get it in.

The medical is after 13 wks but they usually send you a questionaire to complete about you ill health and how it affects you first called ESA 50. It is done on a points system.

You may have to wait over 13 wk before your medical and it is not till then that your ESA increases. some disability websites may print a breakdown of the points.

melbi_uk

louanna wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have just started an ESA claim starting from the 22nd of February. I was wondering with the fit notes do I have to get the next one and send it in before the 22nd? or does the new note just have to be dated from the 22nd? This is all new to me and I'm so confused.

Does anyone know what the new criteria for mental illness is as I know that has changed recently. Will I have a medical at 13 weeks?

Do you get put into the support or work group only after the medical or before?

Sorry for all of the questions It's all new and it's so complexed, to me anyway lol.

Thank you.

I receive a letter telling me my sick note is about to run out, so I should imagine they send them to everyone.

I never get them in on time though as once I receive the letter it takes me a good few days to build up the stamina to leave the house and go see my GP.

I have been on ESA for 12 months now and only just been sent for the assessment which is next week.

As far as I know (due to reading different forums) it is extremely difficult to pass the assessment due to mental health, so I'm going with it in my head that I will fail. That is if I can get there without an anxiety attack!

louanna

Thank you Parsnip and Melbi both of your replies are very helpful.

Melbi I have been struggling with this (Anxiety and depression) for 3 years and only just registered with a doctor 2 weeks ago and I burst into tears in his office I'm already dreading having to go again it's horrible. I've read all of the horror stories as well but also a few positive ones. I hope everything goes okay for you when you go.

melbi_uk

louanna wrote: »

Thank you Parsnip and Melbi both of your replies are very helpful.

Melbi I have been struggling with this (Anxiety and depression) for 3 years and only just registered with a doctor 2 weeks ago and I burst into tears in his office I'm already dreading having to go again it's horrible. I've read all of the horror stories as well but also a few positive ones. I hope everything goes okay for you when you go.

Thank you:)
I had to go to my GP as I ended up off work for 1 month due to anxiety and depression. I managed to work again then for a couple of months before going off sick again. I struggled through like this for just over 2 years. OH were involved and they would never let me return to work for weeks on end. In the end I resigned on the grounds of ill health.

I'm lucky as all the GP's at our surgery are lovely and extremely understanding.

I used to have to get my prescription tablets weekly due to a few attempts at suicide, but then one day my husband came in with me and the doctor finally agreed to give me a months supply with the understanding that my husband would hide the tablets from me. He made a note of this on his computer.

As for the horror stories (being so many of them) it is like anything else in life.

When people fail the assessment they want to know things, such as how to appeal etc. How other people got on.

Those that have passed really have no need to search out further information.

My GP reckons I will score 15 straight away, but of course I'm not going to take his word for it.

My psychiatrist is very supportive too but hasn't made much of a comment on my future assessment.

louanna

It makes a big difference if you have a good understanding gp. My gp seems okay from the one appointment I went to although I'm pretty sure he was trying not to laugh when I was crying which didn't help at all.

I agree you are more likely to see the bad stories and all of the doctors can't be bad, I hope. I hope your gp is right and it's a simple process for you I'm not looking forward to mine and it's months away I'm already stressing out about it. It sounds like you have a really good network of support around you which is great.

If you ever want to chat feel free to message me.

melbi_uk

louanna wrote: »

It makes a big difference if you have a good understanding gp. My gp seems okay from the one appointment I went to although I'm pretty sure he was trying not to laugh when I was crying which didn't help at all.

I agree you are more likely to see the bad stories and all of the doctors can't be bad, I hope. I hope your gp is right and it's a simple process for you I'm not looking forward to mine and it's months away I'm already stressing out about it. It sounds like you have a really good network of support around you which is great.

If you ever want to chat feel free to message me.

It sounds like you suffer like me. Thinking someone is laughing at you when they probably aren't. All part and parcel of this dreadful illness

Have you found any food/drink triggers that make you more anxious? I can't have caffeine - it sends my anxiety levels through the roof

I'm quite sure you will be fine or better still well enough to come off ESA before your assessment is due.

I'm still working hard with little exercises to try and get my illness under control, but as you will know, it isn't an easy task.

louanna

Yes I tend to think people are talking about me or laughing at me, although it's not as bad as it was when it first started. It's the strangest thing when I know it's irrational but I can't help but think it and still allow it to affect me.

I haven't really looked into anything about food/drink and haven't tried to cut anything out to see if it improves. It's something that I'm going to try now though and see if it makes a difference. It's good you've found out caffeine has a negative affect and you can avoid it now. I drink about 4 litres of irn bru a day which is probably full of caffeine.

I really hope I will be feeling better before then. I want to get a job and make friends and not be too scared to leave the house.

I'm hoping on my next visit to the gp we can talk about therapies etc. It's not easy at all. The only thing that keeps me going is to think that it will have to improve at some point.

melbi_uk

louanna wrote: »

Yes I tend to think people are talking about me or laughing at me, although it's not as bad as it was when it first started. It's the strangest thing when I know it's irrational but I can't help but think it and still allow it to affect me.

I haven't really looked into anything about food/drink and haven't tried to cut anything out to see if it improves. It's something that I'm going to try now though and see if it makes a difference. It's good you've found out caffeine has a negative affect and you can avoid it now. I drink about 4 litres of irn bru a day which is probably full of caffeine.

I really hope I will be feeling better before then. I want to get a job and make friends and not be too scared to leave the house.

I'm hoping on my next visit to the gp we can talk about therapies etc. It's not easy at all. The only thing that keeps me going is to think that it will have to improve at some point.

Ask to be referred for cognitive behaviour therapy, I had that and it was good but sadly, after couple of months I was back to how I used to be but I have heard of so many successful stories of people receiving that therapy.

Good luck x