Esa

Jennielouise

Hi I am currently on dla & income support for psoriatic arthritus and rhumatoid arthritus,I was sent a letter 2 weeks before to say that income support was changing and everyone is being transferred over to esa.My dad filled in the form for me and he posted it the next day,but havn't heard anything since.
How long does it usually take to hear from atos if you are required to be sent for a medical? Has anyone not had to have a medical? Has anyone got into the support group without having to appeal?I also some from anxiety and depression and i'm on tablets for this,and I am on diclofenac and co codamal tablets for pain.I have heard quite a few bad stories regarding atos,just would like to know if there is anyone who has had success without having to appeal.

Jennie

CountryGuy

It could take days, weeks or months to be sent for an assessment.

I too have RA but only claim ESA for anxiety and depression (mine mustn't be as advanced as yours)

I was placed in the support group after my assessment.

Remember we hear more of the bad stories than the successful ones as people who have failed are looking for help and support and answers.

Try not to worry too much.

Tehya

Hi,

My husband has psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and was placed in the support group without having a medical. That was two years ago though. He's currently going through re-assessment and we've just sent back his ESA50 (medical) form. Whether he'll have a medical this time is anyone's guess. He does have good support from his GP and I think that made all the difference.


PS: In May (just 4/5 weeks ago) he had to renew his DLA. Luckily just like his first claim (which was again 2 years ago) he was awarded the same rates without the need for a medical so fingers crossed he won't need one now.

Good luck.

Muttleythefrog

Jennielouise wrote: »

Hi I am currently on dla & income support for psoriatic arthritus and rhumatoid arthritus,I was sent a letter 2 weeks before to say that income support was changing and everyone is being transferred over to esa.My dad filled in the form for me and he posted it the next day,but havn't heard anything since.
How long does it usually take to hear from atos if you are required to be sent for a medical? Has anyone not had to have a medical? Has anyone got into the support group without having to appeal?I also some from anxiety and depression and i'm on tablets for this,and I am on diclofenac and co codamal tablets for pain.I have heard quite a few bad stories regarding atos,just would like to know if there is anyone who has had success without having to appeal.

Jennie

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be too many here who have experience of (or they're quiet..lol) being transferred to ESA so far. The process of transferring someone to ESA is not quite the same as applying for it as a new benefit claim and there is plenty more experience around regarding the latter.

Generally speaking most people are required to attend medical as part of their WCA... and the benefit has an assessment phase of 3 months for new claims (but presumably not for transfers.. check). The WCA has been subject to wild variation in experience... and it has operated badly... horror stories are very common. DWP management of ESA is also very poor - poor information, incorrect advice, lacking communications are common. Things hopefully are improving - the problems have been flagged up. Appeals seem to be heavily correcting of poor experiences.

My advice is read up on the benefit descriptors, hopefully someone will be along with advice regarding transfer from IS specifically which is a one off process. Try not to worry and watch your bank account for any payment alterations (as often this can indicate what the DWP should be informing you of in letter.. like decisions on entitlement..lol)

G51shopaholic

I was working but was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in early 2008. It was discovered when it hit my lungs.

Anyway after 28 weeks off sick, claimed ESA. Was wrongly advised to claim Incapasity benefit even though I knew ESA kicked in the day BEFORE my sick pay ended.

Anyway thankfully the staff at the benefit agency were really helpful and they said they could use information from Incapasity claim to assess ESA claim.

A few weeks later I was notified that I was being placed in the Support Group without the need for a medical.

Don't get me wrong, it was torture as inbetween times ATOS called to do medical interview over the phone, but as my lungs were comprimised, I found speaking very difficult. Also they could spell Metatastic and wanted to change my condition to Lung Cancer!

I got ESA backdated to 1st day of claim as I'd read the act (on line) and knew the rules!

Don't waste anytime worrying about it. Just deal with any questions they ask and let your doctor know if you need their help with paperwork!

pinklady1965

I began claiming ESA after being off sick for 28 weeks - when SSP ended. I had to attend a medical - I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME. The medical wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I got placed straight away into the support group. So it's not all bad!! Although 6 months on, I've just received another questionaire so will probably need to attend another medical I expect.
Try not to worry as it will only make things worse.
Hope this helps.

cit_k

G51shopaholic wrote: »

.

Don't get me wrong, it was torture as inbetween times ATOS called to do medical interview over the phone, but as my lungs were comprimised, I found speaking very difficult. Also they could spell Metatastic and wanted to change my condition to Lung Cancer!

ATOS did a medical over the phone?
Thats most unusual, I have never heard of this happening before.
I doubt its even legal to do it over the phone.

Muttleythefrog

cit_k wrote: »

ATOS did a medical over the phone?
Thats most unusual, I have never heard of this happening before.
I doubt its even legal to do it over the phone.

I agree... I wonder if this was just some sort of basic details confirmation type exercise... confirming conditions that automatically meet special circumstances criteria and putting them from IB to ESA format. A medical over the phone would raise all sorts of matters for concern... everything from legality to confidentiality to identity... not to mention the fact that physical observations would seem central to the very basis of assessing against descriptors. I would have thought the only alternative to a medical at assessment centre would be medical at some other arranged location like home. But I've reached that point where ATOS and unbelievable seem to be natural sleeping partners.

MoneySaverForever

I'm sorry to hear of your problems, hope everything goes OK for you. I was asked to attend a medical assesment at the 13th week of my claim but this was then cancelled as they said it wasn't necessary in my case and they put me into the Support Group. Good luck! xxx

mia01

My husband has just made the transfer from IB & IS to ESA. He is unable to work currently due to Depressive illness with somatic symptoms, anxiety disorder and so on. We sent the form back at the beginning of May, along with a couple of documents from his Psychiatrist, and we were informed after about 4 weeks that he has been placed into the WRAG without the need for a medical.

Like Country guy said, you tend to only hear of the bad stories, and my husband suffered terrible stress in those few weeks after sending the form back but we were pleasantly suprised by how we have been dealt with.

Good luck with your claim, try not to worry.

Markless

I also have severe Psoriatic Arthritis and have been claiming IS with disablement allowance for a few years and like you have received a letter saying i'm being changed over to ESA. I got the phone call telling me what's happening and i'm just waiting for the form to fill out.

Reading up on ESA and the idea of a medical almost designed to fail me is causing me constant stress and anxiety. I already have really bad Psoriasis but since the letter it's started spreading up my neck towards my face. I have to keep reminding myself that I can appeal any decision but it really can get you down sometimes.

I'd be curious to know what happens as you are a few weeks ahead of me in the process.