ESA Tests and Mental Health

G8311374

Hi,

I was medically discharged from the RAF for mental health problems (PTSD, Depression, Anxiety) and tried to rebuild my life by going back to uni and do a career course. Unfortunately I have been unable to cope with the pressure and it has caused my mental health problems to flare up. My GP has signed me off for 6 months.

I have been told I can claim ESA and have applied for it but understand that I have to be assessed for it. Looking at the mental health assessment it does not seem to correspond to me at all.

Has anyone else got experience f claiming ESA with mental health problems or can provide me with some advice.

Thanks

Muttleythefrog

Sorry to hear of your deterioration. There are people floating around here that get ESA (and DLA - something else you can look at to see if it is relevant.. you can work and still get DLA) based on mental health problems including depression/anxiety.

It sounds to me like you've looked at the descriptors relating to mental health. Just to clarify in case you are unclear. You'll have a 3 month assessment phase (although you'll be assessed at a time around the end of it in theory) during which you'll likely qualify for it by virtue of sicknotes from GP. When you get assessed (Work capability assessment - WCA) they'll look at (usually) your completion of an ESA50 form and any other evidence they have and then in most cases order a face to face medical with ATOS... the DWP will then take a decision on entitlement to the main phase of ESA.. you'll fail the WCA or you'll be classified to the WRAG or Support Gp.

The WRAG descriptors I suspect you've looked at. Scoring 15 points or more total in a WCA qualifies you for the WRAG http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/wca

The Support Gp descriptors - if any apply then you are placed in Support Gp. http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/lcwra

For anxiety/PTSD/depression the sorts of problems you might have that give rise to WRAG descriptors applying are possibly in the areas of:

Initiating and completing personal actions - perhaps lack the motivation to perform and complete tasks
Coping with change - perhaps anxiety is caused by such causing you difficulties
Getting about - perhaps problems associated with PTSD, depression or anxiety could be relevant here
Coping with social engagement - might be relevant depending on circumstances
Appropriateness of behaviour with other people - effects of PTSD may have relevance here.. maybe not.

It's worth saying that any supporting medical evidence you can get into the process of a WCA that shows the problems you have in relation to the descriptors can be very helpful. In fact, although you won't qualify for ESA main phase due to any of these diagnoses (as the benefit is essentially based on the effects of disability/illness and not the actual diagnosed conditions), it is sometimes worth highlighting your problems evidentially so that they are not dismissed... if you have diagnoses given by a medical pro... or have letters in relation to treatment or psychiatric related appointments or the like they can help... because it shows you are medically established to have problems of an approximate seriousness.

There is some noted criticism that the WCA doesn't properly assess people with MH problems or take account of the problems they face regarding employment.

Ex_Gas_Guzzler

Sorry to hear of you problems, i too was forced to break from work due to mental health issues. I had no knowledge of Esa and Dla etc having previously enjoying good health. I was advised by a friend to apply for both after spending well over 6 months with no income, as i thought it didn't apply to my condition. My applications were both succesful, i was surprised that i was awarded Highest rate care componant DLA.
My advice would be to apply, its quite long form, and unpleasant at times having to write down personal details but worth it. Be honest with your information and back it up with a letter from your doctor if possible.
My intention is to get back into work asap but in the mean time a little income is better than nothing.
Fill in the forms as soon as you can is my advice.:)
Regardsan good luck...

G8311374

hi,

thanks for your input guys one further question I have is what if my condition varies? It can be a rollercoaster where some days I can get out the front door and function almost normally but other days I cant even get out of bed. How do I best approach and explain this?

Thanks

Muttleythefrog

helenbolland wrote: »

hi,

thanks for your input guys one further question I have is what if my condition varies? It can be a rollercoaster where some days I can get out the front door and function almost normally but other days I cant even get out of bed. How do I best approach and explain this?

Thanks

All you can do is be honest I suppose. The ESA50 form which is key to your WCA does to some degree accommodate this. For the Initiating tasks section it actually gives an option of 'it varies' for example. But you have opportunity to explain on form.. and hopefully any face to face medical you have.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@money/documents/digitalasset/dg_195544.pdf
Is the Current version of ESA50.

This is the WCA handbook - for use by DWP. It may prove useful in relation to such questions.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-handbook.pdf

Atos_Healthcare_representative

Useful information about claiming ESA is contained on the DWP website

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/employment-and-support/

and more specific information about the medical assessment is on the Atos Healthcare website (Frequently asked questions) - this covers fluctuating conditions
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68

seven-day-weekend

ATOS Company Representative.

You must be a very brave person.

Good luck!

Muttleythefrog

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Useful information about ...

I wonder if it might be worth you setting up a thread 'ask the ATOS healthcare rep your questions here'...

You might get quite a few that aren't answered in the link given.

It would be helpful if you explained your role in ATOS Healthcare so that appropriate questions can be asked - i.e. are you from the public relations department, someone with technical knowledge of the WCA, a qualified HCP trained to assess disability benefit entitlements, or from the legal department etc.

cit_k

helenbolland wrote: »

Hi,

I was medically discharged from the RAF for mental health problems (PTSD, Depression, Anxiety) and tried to rebuild my life by going back to uni and do a career course. Unfortunately I have been unable to cope with the pressure and it has caused my mental health problems to flare up. My GP has signed me off for 6 months.

I have been told I can claim ESA and have applied for it but understand that I have to be assessed for it. Looking at the mental health assessment it does not seem to correspond to me at all.

Has anyone else got experience f claiming ESA with mental health problems or can provide me with some advice.

Thanks

My experience with ATOS assessments is either the assessor is highly incompetant (ie did a physical exam instead of the mental one) or will lie on the medical report, and breach gmc rules in the process. They often write things that cannot be backed up or justified, as they should under their ethical rules, and have written outright lies (ie the opposite of what i told them).

Luckily, this is on tape, I suggest you record your assessment, try to get them to do it by asking,if they refuse, record it covertly (do not tell them you are doing it, keep it secret or your benefits will stop - ATOS do NOT like medicals recorded as you can plainly see by their recording rules which are stricter than the police forces).

I suggest you expect an appeal as a normal part of the claim process, and request a copy of the medical report once you have had the assessment.

Report problems to the GMC, DWP and ATOS (GMC for doctors, NMWC for nurses).

You may be lucky and get through the assessment ok, and pass into one of the two groups, in which case, great, you did better than you expected.

You are paid whilst waiting for appeal, so dont worry if you have to appeal. Appeals tend to actually look at the evidence properly, something I find ATOS is unable or unwilling to do in my cases.

Be honest with the asssessor, expect them to 'act' like a professional and be very friendly. But do not trust them, and do not let them cut you short, or move onto the next question until you have fully explained.

Make sure they are wearing a name badge, and ask for their name and GMC or NMWC details so you can complain if need be.

ASK to see a copy of the medical report in full before it is sent to the decision maker, they will refuse.

Dont worry, just treat the assessment as part of the claim, just like the appeal is part of the claim for way to many people.

Brassedoff

cit_k wrote: »

1. Report problems to the GMC, DWP and ATOS (GMC for doctors, NMWC for nurses).

2. Make sure they are wearing a name badge, and ask for their name and GMC or NMWC details so you can complain if need be.

3. ASK to see a copy of the medical report in full before it is sent to the decision maker, they will refuse.

1. On this one I suppose you need full details in number 2?

2. On number 2, do they have to give it, can you force them to give it? What if the don't give it?

3. If you ask and they refuse as you suggest they do, what can you do? I have two relatives. One a solicitor, the other a nurse. Is there any reason why I cannot take them compared to my wife who is my carer? If I can take one of them, what weight will their witness statement hold?

I can fully understand the aggressive stance taken towards the ATOS rep, do you expect them to come on in the face of such hostility? (I have no knowledge of the company's gagging or censoring efforts or aggressive tactics.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

“Hello,

Thank you for your comments.

I represent Atos customer relations team and can provide information to members of this community relating to assessments we conduct in respect of Employment and Support Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Disability Living Allowance. I am not a qualified Health Care Professional and am therefore unable to comment on particular medical conditions.

Due to legislative, legal and privacy reasons, we are unable to answer or respond to every comment within this community, but do advise that if you need further information you contact our customer relations team via email [Email address removed by MSE Forum Team]. [/email]

A copy of your assessment report is readily available from your local DWP office after your assessment. [Link removed by MSE Forum Team]

In relation to those who are permitted to attend your assessment, our Customer Charter explains we are happy for you to be accompanied by a relative, carer or friend: [Link removed by MSE Forum Team]
Kind regards,
Atos Customer Relations