Joy! An ESA50.

rogerblack

Today an ESA50 popped onto my mat.
So tempted to simply write 'no changes since last time on it, but know that's not a good idea.

What totally depresses me is that I've spent what time I am feeling good I have to spare on understanding ESA and DLA. Not doing work which might suffice to get me off benefits.

Oh well - once more unto the breech. (and yes, spelled that way)

Muttleythefrog

rogerblack wrote: »

Today an ESA50 popped onto my mat.
So tempted to simply write 'no changes since last time on it, but know that's not a good idea.

What totally depresses me is that I've spent what time I am feeling good I have to spare on understanding ESA and DLA. Not doing work which might suffice to get me off benefits.

Oh well - once more unto the breech. (and yes, spelled that way)

Not had another one yet myself..lol. But I know exactly what you're saying... virtually all my energies are being spent on ESA and DLA issues...even if at face value I'm not doing anything regarding either. If I ever had any intentions or desires to get better and return to working then these two benefits have completely wiped them out.

cit_k

ATOS I fear are responsible for pushing up the benefits bill, by hindering many peoples recovery, but the blame is not all on ATOS it must be shared by the DWP who rubber stamp the obviously ludicrous reports from atos, and fail to properly investigate the evidence.

NASA_2

That's the thing.

Its a pretty short form and you get four weeks to fill it in. What's with all the !!!!ing whining?

If you've a mental health condition you dont even need to fill it in as they will call you for the medical anyway. Less time on here whining and more on the form would be sensible.

cit_k

krisskross wrote: »

So how else do you suggest the government decide who should get the taxpayers shilling?

TBH you all sound totally pathetic. It is a form for heavens sake which you have all filled in before and no doubt have copies of what you wrote last time. I'm sure that after being members of this forum for a while you know exactly what to put.

I bet I could make a case on paper for having depression/anxiety/social phobia/agorophobia/arachnaphobia/brontophobia and anything else you care to mention. The information is all here.

I have maintained for a long time that MSE is a malingerer's paradise.

Well, deciding 'who should get the taxpayers shilling' is a interesting question.

Do you agree that it should be done, using the current system, that is known to be unfit for purpose, that even the designer of the system states it should no longer be used until it can be fixed? That the CAB has also stated is unfit for purpose.

Using a form, that is deliberately designed to be as confusing as possible, that is designed specifically to limit the evidence you can give to as little as possible?

Using a system that is likely to ignore what you wrote on the form anyway?

That wont in the majority of cases even bother contacting other medical professionals for their professional opinion regardin a persons situation and health?

I would suggest far better would be to stop using a system even the designer has begged is not used any more, and ensure professionals are contacted for their input, that forms are designed to be as easy to use as possible, designed to eek out as much relavent info as possible.

A system that reads those forms, a system that listens at assessment, a system with decision makers that examine all the evidence as per their legal duty (unlike the current system where it was revealed in 98% of cases they rubber stamped the ATOS report without deviating from its findings)

cit_k

NASA wrote: »

That's the thing.

Its a pretty short form

Yes, exactly, its designed to hinder you from presenting a proper case.

cit_k

krisskross wrote: »

I have maintained for a long time that MSE is a malingerer's paradise.

I have maintained for a long time that MSE is a benefit bashers paradise.

Miss_Voodoo

cit_k wrote: »

Yes, exactly, its designed to hinder you from presenting a proper case.

I don't entirely agree with that. There is space to explain your answers and I'm pretty sure you can continue on a separate sheet if required.

NASA_2

cit_k wrote: »

Yes, exactly, its designed to hinder you from presenting a proper case.

No it isnt. Your talking !!!!!.

I've seen ESA50's where a clearly sensible person has completed and returned the form within a week and covered everything they needed to cover. They generally go into one of the groups. Some people are clearly too stupid to receive benefits though if they cant tick a box and write a few lines about how their 'illness' effects their life.

1echidna

NASA wrote: »

No it isnt. Your talking !!!!!.

I've seen ESA50's where a clearly sensible person has completed and returned the form within a week and covered everything they needed to cover. They generally go into one of the groups. Some people are clearly too stupid to receive benefits though if they cant tick a box and write a few lines about how their 'illness' effects their life.

Actually somebody can be acutely mentally ill, think nothing is wrong with them and fill in the ESA50 accordingly. A right mess results further down the line. Got nothing to do with the intelligence or other of the claimant.

cit_k

NASA wrote: »

No it isnt. Your talking !!!!!.

I've seen ESA50's where a clearly sensible person has completed and returned the form within a week and covered everything they needed to cover. They generally go into one of the groups. Some people are clearly too stupid to receive benefits though if they cant tick a box and write a few lines about how their 'illness' effects their life.

And a few lines is very unlikely to satifsy the descriptors in many cases.

I have personally submitted a form, where I had to submit over 10 extra pages of evidence, despite the form STATING I was not allowed to send any extra evidence with it.

Of course, ATOS failed to read that evidence properly [which they have admitted to in writing] but ATOS/DWP STILL sent me for a medical, based on a preboard they admitted was in breach of regulations.

There is very little in that form to eek out information that is required, it could be done far better.