Incapacity to Esa advice

Toomuchpressure

Hi all,

Im new to this forum.

I have to return my ESA 50 by October 7th 2011.

I have found out that ATOS hasn't contacted my GP or any of the Consultants involved in my healthcare. They have left it all to me even though I have complex mental health illness, and chronic pain from a spinal injury.

I have just obtained a report sent from my consultant to my GP whom deal with my back pain stating that I am in no fit state mentally to under go rehabilitaion until my mental health improves.

My question should this report be sent in with my ESA 50 and what descriptors ETC does it help with ?
I am really findng this form complicated its really making me feel unwell, my depression, anxiety, and PTSD is worse
any advice would be of great help thank you

rogerblack

Toomuchpressure wrote: »

I have found out that ATOS hasn't contacted my GP or any of the Consultants involved in my healthcare. They have left it all to me even though I have complex mental health illness, and chronic pain from a spinal injury.

They will rarely do this, it's usual for any reports if requested to be requested after the medical.

Toomuchpressure wrote: »

I have just obtained a report sent from my consultant to my GP whom deal with my back pain stating that I am in no fit state mentally to under go rehabilitaion until my mental health improves.

My question should this report be sent in with my ESA 50 and what descriptors ETC does it help with

You need to read the list of descriptors, and work out if an uninvolved third party could reasonably argue that you satisfy them.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/m-06-11.pdf - is the raw list of descriptors.

It can be worth seeing if tehre are more focused guides available for people with your mental illness.

Muttleythefrog

As per Roger's advice. If you can, get evidence from those involved in your treatment and send with ESA50. The report you've obtained sounds like it can't do any harm. The benefit is assessed according to the descriptors.. which it's worth studying carefully and seeing which ones you think should apply to you... so you can make your case in the ESA50, seek suitable medical evidence if possible and be better prepared for face to face medical if one is ordered. Sometimes it is even helpful to get medical evidence of things like diagnoses etc... because illnesses that can't be seen can be 'overlooked' in a medical.

Good luck!

Scared45

I know it can be daunting, and not particularly easy; but my advice is to fill out the ESA50 with as much detailed information as you can, plus any supporting evidence.

You never know - if you do this you may not get called for a medical.

Good luck.