A bit scared, could use some advice please.

ineed

Hi all, I've read a lot on here about ESA and Atos it all sounds so dramatic and harsh. I'm currently on IB but I know inevitably I will get the dreaded questionnaire through the door. My problem is this; I'm currently, due to my health problems, house bound and often do not leave my bedroom. I've heard Atos sometimes like to see you for a medical, would this be able to be held at my house? I literally cannot leave my house, it would require an ambulance, a strong seditive and a few doctors.

I receive DLA as well as IB, I just had my DLA increased and my time until my next review is needed also increased. Does this make a difference of have any baring on ESA or affect the medical I might have to have? I just wondered seeing as both are DWP. I didn't need a medical for the DLA, just filled in the forms and sent a medical report with them from my consultant.
I also have a full time carer and am on very strong medications, they make me very drowsy and incoherent at times. Would this also affect a medical? Being that it's hard to get me to make sense on the medication sometimes.

A while back I did get a call from the job centre asking me to go there for an interview, my consultant at the time phoned them and said there was no way on earth I could go. So they said not to worry forget about it. But this wasn't anything to do with ESA I don't think, my IB is still being paid. I'm just really worried that they will push me to go for an interview or fail me on the questionnaire because I can't attend the medical. If someone can explain a bit about all this I'd be really grateful I'm just so worried and confused and currently working myself into a state. Thanks for reading and any help you can offer.

Chrissiew

I'm sorry you are going through so much, I'm not an expert by any means but I'm sure someone will correct me if I say the wrong thing.

It is possible to get a medical, or work capability assessment, done at home but your GP will have to write a letter stating why this has to be done, they are very reluctant to do these so will try their best not to do home visits.

DLA has no bearing on ESA as they are 2 different depts, although as I said if I'm wrong about that someone will put you right, as far as I know though ESA don't take into consideration what rate of DLA anyone receives and will just go on what they have in front of them and what the so called medical professional puts in their report.

Not everyone has to have a WCA, I didn't, they just went on what I put on the form and reports from my GP so you may not need one, I know it's easy for anyone to say but you have got to try and stop worrying your self into such a state, you haven't had the forms in yet so you have got a couple of months or more before anything happens, try and forget about it for a while if you can and things might not be as bad as you think

HB58

Some people feel a bit more in control of the situation if they lownload the PDF copy of the ESA questionnaire (ESA50) and start filling it out now. That means that you would have heaps of time to complete it and could also start collecting relevant 'evidence' to send when the letter does finally drop onto the mat.

If you decide to do this, you will need to save the document to your own computer before you fill it in, otherwise your answers will not be saved.

As far as I can see, the only risk in doing this is wasting your time if the form should be changed before you are transferred. However, this last happened 13 months ago, so I think the chances of that happening are fairly low at the moment.

As Chrissie says, ATOS are very reluctant to carry out assessments in your home, you will need very strong backing from your doctor to achieve this

ineed

Thanks for the replies, I know i shouldn't worry but it's hard not to with all that's said isn't it. I have heard others in my position have been placed in a group without a medical. I do have very strong backing from my doctors as it would be physically impossible for me to get out of the house, although I don't see my GP, he doesn't do home visits but I'm looked after buy hospital consultants who visit my house and update my GP. The consultants also prescribe my medications but my GP deals with them if that makes sense.

Luckily my MP seems to be extremely good in these situations too. So if needs be I'd write to him.

I was a bit daunted filling in the DLA form as it is so long, Is the ESA form like that at all? Also where can I download the form please?

I really appreciate the advice guys thanks .

HB58

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@over50/documents/digitalasset/dg_195544.pdf

ineed

Thanks, having a look at it I feel somewhat better; it's not quite so daunting as the DLA form.

ineed

I guess the problem I'm having is that everyone seems to be saying Atos outright lie on forms? Is that true?

HB58

Some people have had very bad experiences with the 'medical' assessments carried out by ATOS. However, this is not the case for everyone, it is just that people are always more inclined to post when they have had a bad experience! My assessment went well, what was put on the form matched what I said (it was recorded) and I was treated with respect and kindness.

ineed

Thank you so much HB58 yes I thought it couldn't be all like that, I'm feeling better now, had a chat with carer about it. I'm a bit all over the place at the moment as I've just been given stronger medication so I think it was making me worry a bit more than usual. I guess all I can do is hope it goes ok. I'm lucky to have quite a bit of support. My current doctor is confident I'll be put in the support group.

If I do get put in the support group, can I ask to be moved to the work group if and when my treatments start to work and I feel able to get back into the real world? I'll be damned if I'm spending the rest of my life in this house . I just wondered if in the work group you attend interviews etc, do they give you a placement? Or do you find your own?

DomRavioli

Ineed - if and when you feel capable to start looking for work, then you contact your local benefit delivery centre (BDC) - the number will be on the top of all the paperwork when you get it through. They don't usually give you a placement as such, but can help with getting to and from interviews, finding jobs and applying, and help with qualifications if you need that. The guys I was with previously were so supportive, and honestly understood my health issues more than most people I've spoken to.

If you are put in the WRAG (work group), and feel you should be in the support group, you must meet one of the descriptors (not the ones with numbers next to them - if you have a quick search on here they are on here) and appeal based on that.

ineed

Ok thanks Dom , I was worried as a friend of mine was winding me up telling me that if I get put in the support group I'd pretty much be left in it and forgotten about and have no chance of getting a job etc. my fault for being so gullible and believing it then getting worked up.

I have a few qualifications, before I became really sick I was training in full time education to be an architect. I don't really mind what I do when I'm better now, anything will beat laying in bed bored out of my skull.

If they try to put me in the work group before I'm able to work I guess I'll just have to appeal and get lots of medical records together. Luckily I keep copies of everything anyway. I'm having a ECG done at home soon and a few other tests so I'll ask for those results to be sent to me to.