Claiming DLA and Esa

Muttleythefrog

sarahg1969 wrote: »

"...Because most with this personality disorder do not see anything wrong with themselves or their lives, most do not seek medical help..."

In which case, they wouldn't be seeking benefits. Would they?

Do you think that benefits should be available upon self-diagnosis, without any medical involvement at all? How would that work, in reality?

They may be getting their benefit claims handled by someone else.. completed by a carer etc or someone with legal powers to act in their interest (something they may not have the intention or capacity to administer themselves). At face value you would think someone who fails to seek medical help for problems would also not seek benefits in relation to having those problems. But there are people who have certain beliefs or illnesses that impact that simple view. (I mean I like to think I'm a very logical level headed person.. but I know the medical profession haven't the capacity to help someone like me..unfortunately they seem to agree..lol..it just took a couple years messing about... it doesn't mean I don't need to buy food and therefore get benefits.. or money from elsewhere). It's also worth noting that medical help probably isn't so essential as is day to day living expenses.. and it's probably legally tougher to force medical intervention than it is to help someone get benefits.

Benefits aren't awarded according to diagnosis (except for some special conditions I understand) as such. What we have in reality, certainly for MH related claims, is self declaration of problems and possibly medically supportive information regarding those problems. But those problems conveyed by Med Pros are themselves likely simply reported by the patient. (In the various reports I have the actual opinion of the medical professional tends to appear reluctant and limited.. even when giving opinion it is often flagged as based on my claims). That's why there is often caution regarding medical reports regarding MH problems... that they may simply be a regurgitation of what the client has claimed (i.e. a test of consistency of testiimony rather than any medical view). When I was diagnosed for 2 PDs as example... all that happened was a psychiatrist picked up the book of MH diagnosis/classifications.. the DSM version whatever...went through typical symptoms of suspected conditions and asked me if I felt they applied in my case... added up the number applying and declared a diagnosis for those that met the threshold in the book. (My current psychiatrist disagrees with his conclusions). It was that basic.... Depression, anxiety disorders, OCD were simply diagnosed via questionnaires presented by a CPN. It's arguably little better than me saying I have symptoms x,y,z in an application form. And of course this is why the door is open to abuses in the system... when I was awarded ESA I think I'd only been diagnosed with 'anxiety with depression' but the symptoms of these only formed the basis for a subset of my claimed problems. (In effect I have diagnosed the self... I even pressed hard when I felt full diagnoses weren't in place... took various flak for doing so).

I was awarded S. Gp ESA on the basis special circs applied related to being a serious risk to other people.. something apparently unrelated to anxiety or depression but determined by an ordinary qualified nurse in about half an hour of listening to me and observing. It's a very grey system in place... but largely because illness can be complex and difficult to meaningfully (artificially) classify. Quite often 'benefit bashers' (I really don't like that term at all...lol.. it's the first time I use it.. perhaps the last) on MSE raise how apparently easy they think it is to convince medical professionals of things like anxiety or panic attacks or depression... well to be honest they're right. I mean in a 10 min appointment with a GP you aren't going to rake up roots.

It's important to remember system design has to approach not what people should do but what they could do. Just the same as designing a software application... if it says press any key to continue then assume someone will try the off button.

GlasweJen

So let me get this right:

Your doctor expects citalopram to help you within a month

He asked specifically about work and education but didn't give you a "fit note" despite it being 1 sheet of paper that takes 2 minutes to fill in


And yet you claim he said "severe depression", well sever is usually reserved for the people who aren't recovering despite treatment and they'd almost certainly be signed off sick.


Looks like even with your GP being aware of what's happening you're still no closer to claiming DLA or ESA.

Parva

As per GlasweJen's post above, one does not just walk into a doctors surgery and be diagnosed with severe depression without any sort of medically recorded history behind them. Why did you not ask for or your doctor not give you a sicknote? Remember, you want to claim ESA and a sicknote would have enabled you to do so, at the very least up until the 3 months before you're summoned for a work test.

I'm unsure at what stage the Work Programme is given to the various age groups (12 months of unemployment for 25+ here in Leeds) and yours will likely be different seeing as you are obviously under 25 but nevertheless you managed to get out of the house to go and sign on that dotted line once every two weeks for a period of time yet it's such a struggle to make an appointment to see your doctor and get some help? How strange that it's taken the threat of the Work Programme to finally make you seek that medical help....

I've followed this thread with interest and resisted posting my thoughts for as long as possible as I didn't want to add to the growing stream of people that think you are just being work shy and looking for a get-out clause but alas I have finally given in.

Edit: This post is directed at the OP, not the rest of the debate surrounding the initial post.

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

For what condition is not seeking treatment a symptom?

Perhaps there's also a condition where not applying for benefits is a symptom?

Don't get any with that symptom on here! Must be an anomally, along with failed contraception! :rotfl:

bestpud

GlasweJen wrote: »

So let me get this right:

Your doctor expects citalopram to help you within a month

He asked specifically about work and education but didn't give you a "fit note" despite it being 1 sheet of paper that takes 2 minutes to fill in


And yet you claim he said "severe depression", well sever is usually reserved for the people who aren't recovering despite treatment and they'd almost certainly be signed off sick.


Looks like even with your GP being aware of what's happening you're still no closer to claiming DLA or ESA.

I thought that tbh.

I also know the GP is not concerned as he has asked her to go back in a month.

That's at odds with it being 'severe' depression in my experience. I've always been given minimal medication (3 or 7 day supply) and had to go back well before a month! They also make a note with reception and tell me to ask them to come out to my home if I need an appointment sooner and can't get one, or can't get to the surgery.

I know all GPs aren't as sympathetic but a month is a long time to leave someone they think is seriously ill.

My depression diagnosis is 'moderate recurring' and I've been hospitalised several times!!

Somethinng isn't adding up!

GlasweJen

I think it's the Internet tendency to stick "severe" in front of something.

We've got a "severe" agoraphobic who gets out to tesco on board. She also has a "severe" bad back despite being a keen gardener who posts posters of her garden which has no raised beds at all.

We've had people with "severe" heart problems who have just had an ECG and not been medicated. Kids with "severe" ADHD, "severe" is everywhere on these boards.

Does someone with "severe" depression get 28 days worth of anti depressants and told to get on with it? I'd say no, no sane GP would give a severely depressed person enough meds to top themself.

Oldernotwiser

gingergee wrote: »

Thats exactly what i thought!!!!! When i was first put on them i had to go back in 2 weeks, to see how i was doing. Must be a practise to practise thing????

I was told not to notice any improvement for 3/4 weeks which would make a second appointment after a month appropriate.

ETA. Agree with the later comments around the use of the word "severe".

Metranil_Vavin

I still think the OP is on a wind up..

colpol1

I didn't ASK for a sick note, you have to ASK and at the moment in time I couldn't of cared less about it as like I said, I was in tears and I was more concerned about getting treatment.
A month is a long time but as someone else said above, he said I wouldn't notice much difference, only a slight at the 3 week mark and he will see me then and he told me he was reffering ( excuse the spelling. ) the form over for counselling ASAP so hopefully that wont take to long.

Great that I am also being accused of now making this up and that I dont have depression and he didn't give me anti depressants, I really couldn't care less what you think anymore and I really am going to try not to reply to your ridiculous post.

bestpud

colpol1 wrote: »

I didn't ASK for a sick note, you have to ASK and at the moment in time I couldn't of cared less about it as like I said, I was in tears and I was more concerned about getting treatment.
A month is a long time but as someone else said above, he said I wouldn't notice much difference, only a slight at the 3 week mark and he will see me then and he told me he was reffering ( excuse the spelling. ) the form over for counselling ASAP so hopefully that wont take to long.

Great that I am also being accused of now making this up and that I dont have depression and he didn't give me anti depressants, I really couldn't care less what you think anymore and I really am going to try not to reply to your ridiculous post.

I don't think anyone has suggested you do not have depression.

It's more that some of us feel it's a terrible waste of a young life to write yourself off with an illness that is curable for the vast majority.

But anyway, fingers crossed you feel more positive about life soon.