ESA50 arrived this morning but I'm getting Chemotherapy

G51shopaholic

I have been in the Support Group for 3 years so i guess I've been lucky to have been "left alone" for 3 yrs.

But a routine scan showed up Liver Mets so i started Chemotherapy (again) at the beginning of October. I have Breast Cancer with secondary breast cancer in my lungs & bones. now its popped up in my liver. The lung damage is permanent and life limiting.

Now this ESA50 form arrived yesterday and I don't know whether to fill it in.

I thought about phoning the Benefit office and explaining I'd started chemotherapy again and i guess they could sent me the form again in 3 or 4 mths time but what is the best thing to do?

I dont want to have to "bear my sole" in this form only to have to do it all over again in a few months time.

Any advise would be appreciated. :A

WhiteHorse

It's an awkward question, but have you been designated as terminal? If so, your doctor should issue a DS1500. That would at least free you from further pestering.

If not, then you should really fill it in (keep a copy, of course), detailing side effects, difficulties caused by chemotherapy and so on. That should get them off your back for the foreseeable future at least.

Cpt.Scarlet

Contact the DWP, if they excuse you from the filling in the ESA50 make sure it is confirmed in writing.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

G51shopaholic wrote: »

now its popped up in my liver. The lung damage is permanent and life limiting.


Any advise would be appreciated. :A

Sorry to hear this.

1. Have you had any contact with Macmillan? They help with this kind of thing, such as getting a DS1500.

2. In the absence of help from the above, my first reaction is to grit your teeth and complete it, rather than risk your ESA being stopped.

3. Ask about the DS1500 yourself. And if you haven't already, fill in a claim for DLA.


I hope your treatment goes well.

G51shopaholic

It is a little annoying as my DLA has been granted Indefinately so why is this not applied to ESA?

DWP were sympathetic and explained i could fill it out now or have another one sent in 6mths time when chemotherapy finishes.

i explained I was having Chemotherapy for Liver mets and this was in addition to my original cancer but they didn't seem to understand.

I've been given till 16/12 to complete and return. i spoke to my McMillan support worker who has said she see me at my weekly chemo session on tuesday so i guess I'll wait till then.

Apparently they do a review every 3 years, so why cant they just ask you to confirm condition hasnt improved and I could have sent a simple letter from my oncologist saying cancer has spread.

They dont seem to do things the easy way.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

They don't exactly recruit from top flight doctors, though - they recruit people with a couple of GCSEs and maybe A levels for the higher positions.

Oh, and don't forget that, according to the politicians, it's always given out with no questions asked, so they have to disbelieve everyone these days :cool:

With the best of intentions behind this statement, assume you are talking to a very dim person who isn't aware of what metastases are, and explain it very carefully and with the clearest language you can, taking into account they are very, very stubborn, so if it means explaining it on their form rather than trying to explain it over the phone, it has to be that way.



A rather ridiculous but fairly accurate example would be if they said you had to explain it to them wearing one blue sock, one stripey, a purple panama hat, flip flops and a spiderman costume whilst playing Waltzing Matilda on a stylophone or they wouldn't listen to you, well, that's what you would have to do to avoid the stopping of benefits (and the knock on effects on other entitlements),

But getting help from Macmillan would hopefully put off some of the stress of dealing with them.

rogerblack

Chemo is only an entry into ESA if it's IV chemo. (for any reason, not only cancer).
If it's some other form, then it will only be relevant as far as any side-effects it causes.

Cancer is only an automatic route to ESA if your doctor agrees that you have a prognosis of under 6 months.

Good luck.

G51shopaholic

rogerblack wrote: »

Chemo is only an entry into ESA if it's IV chemo. (for any reason, not only cancer).
If it's some other form, then it will only be relevant as far as any side-effects it causes.

Cancer is only an automatic route to ESA if your doctor agrees that you have a prognosis of under 6 months.

Good luck.

I've been in the ESA Support Group for 3yrs WITHOUT ANY CONTACT FROM THE BENEFIT AGENCY. I was wondering whether to write in the comments section that my condition has changed since 2008 so why do i need to fill this out?

My Breast Cancer wasn't detected till it hit my lungs and the damage was done. :mad: I was being treated for asma.

I have completed the ESA50 but i had to laugh as the ability to breath isn't listed.

I have breast Cancer, secondary cancer in the my lungs, now secondary cancer in my liver, also spread to my bones. I have a PE in my right lung but their not sure if its a lung tumor or not. :j

I'll wait and see. I'm not worried about it as my condition has got WORSE than it was 3yrs ago so lets see what the do.

Thanks for all the advice

rogerblack

G51shopaholic wrote: »

I've been in the ESA Support Group for 3yrs WITHOUT ANY CONTACT FROM THE BENEFIT AGENCY. I was wondering whether to write in the comments section that my condition has changed since 2008 so why do i need to fill this out?

My Breast Cancer wasn't detected till it hit my lungs and the damage was done. :mad: I was being treated for asma.

I have completed the ESA50 but i had to laugh as the ability to breath isn't listed.

I have breast Cancer, secondary cancer in the my lungs, now secondary cancer in my liver, also spread to my bones. I have a PE in my right lung but their not sure if its a lung tumor or not. :j

I'll wait and see. I'm not worried about it as my condition has got WORSE than it was 3yrs ago so lets see what the do.

Thanks for all the advice

Addressing the points in the above, in no particular order.
3 years is the time at which it's normal to reassess someone who has been given a 6 month prognosis due to terminal illness and is in the support group. As clearly 6 months has been exceeded, and it's reasonable to question that original decision.

ESA is only - by the rules - granted for those who are terminally ill (specified as 'death reasonably expected within 6 months', or if their health would be made worse if they are expected to find work, or undergo work-related activity.

Breathlessness - if it's constant - may be an entry to the support group, indirectly.
Descriptor 15 - 'conveying food and drink to the mouth' - if you can't 'convey food or drink to the mouth' without being breathless - the breathlessness does not have to be due to the act, as I read it, but can be existing already.

Same with 16 - 'chewing and swallowing'.
In addition, if you are receiving, or are likely in the next 6 months to receive intravenous (or other skin-penetrating) forms of chemo, you're entered into the support group.

G51shopaholic

I never said I was told my illness was terminal.

The damage to my lungs is irreversable and life limiting. Eventually my lungs will give up. That could be 3yrs; it could be 10yrs. At the end of the day I was told then that I'd NEVER be able to work again.

My current chemo treatment is because the cancer has spread to my liver.

i was granted ESA as my sick pay had run out - i get contributions based ESA therefore get NONE of the additional disability premiums (worth another £125 per week).

G51shopaholic

Descriptor 15 - 'conveying food and drink to the mouth' - if you can't 'convey food or drink to the mouth' without being breathless - the breathlessness does not have to be due to the act, as I read it, but can be existing already.

Same with 16 - 'chewing and swallowing'.
In addition, if you are receiving, or are likely in the next 6 months to receive intravenous (or other skin-penetrating) forms of chemo, you're entered into the support group.[/QUOTE]


None of the above is mentioned the the ESA50 form I got. I am very capable of feeding myself; albeit in small portions so I can breath inbetween.

I cough every few minutes due to lung problem - chest pains follow. the biggest thing I struggle with is speaking - cant breath and talk at the same time. This scared the living daylights out of the nurses in the cancer unit where i get my chemo, till they got "used" to it. but very scary to see. And dont get me started with how bad I cough if I laugh - not a pleasant sight. It is a constant struggle to control the breathing and the coughing.

but ESA granted due to sickpay ending - no medical attended - just some stupid wee lassie at the end of the phone asking me what metatastic meant (i kid u not!). That was my 1 and only contact with ATOS.:eek: