ESA stopped what now?

novelli

i had a medical a few weeks ago and am astounded by the letter i had today from DWP.
They say my ESA has stopped because i am not entitled to it as a result of the medical.
They included a sheet of paper with the point etc, but its completly wrong and doesnt seem to have taken into account my problems at all, and it only scored 12 points??
i have M.E, spinal and leg problems, bladder problems and depression
I have ahad two lots of spinal surgery two lots of bladder sugery, to no real advanmtage. i now have to have in patient spinal injections on a regular basis as well as a hefty dose of strong pain killers just to keep out of complete agony. I spend a lot of time in bed due to the fatigue and leg pain.
yet they say i can lift with no problems, i can bend kneel and squat with no problems. i can use my hands with no problems, this is despite having not long ago had an MRI which showed that the problem i have in the bottom of my spine has now spread to the top, causing numbness in hand, hence i keep dropping things.
apparently i can finish daily jobs without taking longer than anyone else and can start and keep on with routine jobs..
none of this is the case at all!!
it says nothing about apealing at all just that its stopped, and i could maybe claim JSA>
um who is likely to employ me if i have to have an afternoon nap, some days cant get out of bed at all, get very confused with brain fog and often cant leave the house for days on end.
can i appeal?? what am i supposed to live off in the meantime, how do i pay bills etc?
i cant believe this, i had no concerns whatsoever about the medical, as the problems are well documented and i am under a consultant at the hospital and my GP is well aware of my difficulties, its very well documented. I was even advised last yr by disability advice service to perhaps appeak the decision to put me in the work related group, as they felt i should have been in the support group, so to now be told i am not entitled at all is rather a shock.
any advice much appreciated
thanks

System

You can appeal

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BeginnersGuideToBenefits/DG_10013949

If you appeal you should be on the assessment rate of ESA until they reach a decision

Ask for a report of the medical and go through it and looks for points you disagree with, if possible involve CAB or a Welfare Rights Officer (provided by the council)

Also if you have care/mobility needs have you considered applying for DLA too?

novelli

ok, well they havent mentioned any appeal at all in the letter, which is not good is it??
what do i live off in the meantime tho??

thanks

KxMx

While you are appealing you can still get ESA but at the assessment rate. Appeals can take 6-12 months to get to a Tribunal (they have LOTS of ESA ones to do now!) so start thinking what expenses you can cut back on so you can manage.

If the letter you got was 3 or 4 pages long the info about appealing should be somewhere- i'd have thought you got a standard form letter about failing and your points sheet- appeal info should be on the former.

If it's nowhere to be seen then add it to your list of complaints!

As well as the advice above, get your GP, Consultant and anyone else involved in your care to do letters of support, detailing your health problems, meds/treatment, difficulties you have because of it etc.

novelli

KxMx wrote: »

While you are appealing you can still get ESA but at the assessment rate. Appeals can take 6-12 months to get to a Tribunal (they have LOTS of ESA ones to do now!) so start thinking what expenses you can cut back on so you can manage.

If the letter you got was 3 or 4 pages long the info about appealing should be somewhere- i'd have thought you got a standard form letter about failing and your points sheet- appeal info should be on the former.

If it's nowhere to be seen then add it to your list of complaints!

As well as the advice above, get your GP, Consultant and anyone else involved in your care to do letters of support, detailing your health problems, meds/treatment, difficulties you have because of it etc.

thanks for the advice. ps what is the assessment rate?
i have double checked and theres absolutely nothing about any appeal process, i thought they had to provide it by law?/
they already have all of the info from the previous medical, these are long term things that the Spine consultant and pain clinic already told them had no cure and would get worse with time.
the energy i am going to have to use to get to the doctors and sort all this out is gonna completely wack me out. it took me two days to get over going to the medical, they just dont seem to get it.
:mad:

[Deleted User]

the assessment rate is the same as JSA about £66 per week

snoopy89

what this goverment and artos group coupled with the shear blatent bear faced lies they tell us is unbeliabe, they tell you to get back to work you know you cant your doctor knows you cant your consultant knows you cant cant but a stupid bloody box ticker knows you can, a m8 starts work again tomorrow, he went to clim the 40.00 a week return to work payment, he was told he cant claim as its been stoped, he said its not, i work for the cab, oh sorry, you can claim it at moment. then they mess him around for the 50.00 clothing payment, how do you know about that. sorry but who the hell do these damlittle hitlers thinke they are.:mad: i for one am getting sick of this dam way of liveing.