the dreaded esa rollercoaster starts..

Muttleythefrog

dazza-mac wrote: »

Someone earlier mentioned filling the form in online. I don't have a computer and use the library and it costs a fortune to print stuff off and I assume the form is like war and peace. However, I have very painful thumbs and wrist so it may be better to fill it in online. I'm babbling now as panic is setting in. Thanks again for taking the time to give your advice

Not online as such... I don't think such is possible. But there is a pdf version available online to take a copy of and fill in electronically. It does need to be printed off so it can be signed, dated, posted. Let me just check the size of the document.. it may be possible to use a floppy disk to hold your copy as you travel back and forth or cleverly use online email to hold your edited versions each time. Yep.. it is about 400kb and presumably if completed won't be more than double that.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@money/documents/digitalasset/dg_195544.pdf

nad1611

anguk wrote: »

It's almost as if they expect most people to fail the "medical" and have to appeal!

That's exactly what I thought. As though going to Appeal was a forgone conclusion. I have always sent all the evidence I can. The way I see it, when you consider how many applications they must see per day, I think if I can make their decision making easier the better, it's worked for me ever since the first time in 1997 when i didn't and ended up going for Appeal.

Muttleythefrog

sangio wrote: »

How did you manage to do that? As I have said before, for both assessments, I hadn't had time to send back the ESA50's. In fact the last time ATOS telephoned to make the appointment on the very same day I received the ESA50 to fill in!!

Besides which, if I remember rightly, you were told not to send any evidence or documents to them - only the ESA50 - the last one was posted a week after the ATOS assessment!!

I can understand you ignoring that instruction but how would you manage to send evidence in if the assessment took place before your posted the ESA50 back?

That definitely shouldn't have happened. They must've made an admin error or there has been some postal issue or they are breaching procedures laid down in guidance. You're meant to get 4 weeks to return it.

They used to send the cover letter with ESA50 saying not to send anything other than the ESA50 form back to them... that has now been amended following criticism. When returning the ESA50 you should ideally use that opportunity to send copies of supporting evidence.

Muttleythefrog

sangio wrote: »

Uummm where have I heard that before - it shouldn't happen like that! Unfortunately it does - twice with me within the past 3 years.

In the first assessment I received the ESA50 a few days after the 3/12/09 with instructions to return it no later than the 19/1/10.

I had the pre-arranged assessment on the 13/1/10 - 4 days before I sent the ESA50 off!!

I see, but with what has happened to me, I was never given the option to send anything back until after the assessment.

Yeah sadly procedure often isn't followed... such as HCPs often fail to follow the guidance to read the ESA50 and other evidence prior to the face to face medical. But I have to say I've not read a case like yours before. The fact it happened twice to you is troubling. Unless I've had some brain malfunction they definitely should not be arranging medical appointments until at very least you've had the allocated time to return your ESA50 or have returned it.

anguk

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

That definitely shouldn't have happened. They must've made an admin error or there has been some postal issue or they are breaching procedures laid down in guidance. You're meant to get 4 weeks to return it.

They used to send the cover letter with ESA50 saying not to send anything other than the ESA50 form back to them... that has now been amended following criticism. When returning the ESA50 you should ideally use that opportunity to send copies of supporting evidence.

What kind of things do you use as supporting evidence to send in? I could send photos of my husbands missing leg (soon to be legs) or photos of him hooked up to a dialysis machine but somehow I don't think that's quite what they're looking for.

Muttleythefrog

anguk wrote: »

What kind of things do you use as supporting evidence to send in? I could send photos of my husbands missing leg (soon to be legs) or photos of him hooked up to a dialysis machine but somehow I don't think that's quite what they're looking for.

The more current and closer to the descriptors I would say the better... both increase relevance. Helps massively obviously if you've got helpful and willing support from at least one medical professional involved in your situation who is prepared to write about how various descriptors apply in your case. It's important to never lose focus of those descriptors though... and special circumstances criteria. I personally included previous ATOS medical report, a CPN report and a psychiatric report that detailed diagnoses. Although diagnoses aren't what the WCA looks for (except in special cases like terminal illness) I do feel they too could be helpful in persuading of problems and reducing the scope for disregarding claimed problems. I've never considered the idea of photos as someone typically thinking of ESA from a MH perspective... but I wouldn't rule out photographic evidence if it supports a claim of say mobility issues (as there are descriptors relating to mobilisation). Hopefully someone else has an opinion on the matter... especially since some have really good understanding of the physical health descriptors.

rogerblack

anguk wrote: »

What kind of things do you use as supporting evidence to send in? I could send photos of my husbands missing leg (soon to be legs) or photos of him hooked up to a dialysis machine but somehow I don't think that's quite what they're looking for.

Photos can be useful evidence, and should be sent, if they help.

This might include everything from pictures of the house, to pictures of arthritic joints, to pictures of equipment needed, bruises from falls or other injuries due to care needs.

smileytiger

For whilst i think that the whole ATOS thing can be a nightmare & OH has seen a few hapless nurses like the one i mentioned above (where she had to google his condition), we have never had a terrible time throughout all his assessments/medicals and certainly nothing as bad as some describe on here.
Maybe we were just lucky

It was time consuming filling the forms out ( OH can't always grip or write well)
Yes it was a pain having to go on a 42 mile round trip to a medical (OH doesn't drive so i had to take time off work)
It did sometimes feel like we were jumping through hoops constantly - but we were always treated with a fair amount of respect and OH felt he was listened to during the medicals. ( he passed all of them so fortunately we never had to go to the appeals process).

I just thought i'd post to let those know who are yet to go through that it's not always horrendous.

ab.da54

dazza-mac wrote: »

Any advice most welcome as I shall be getting my form within days. I asked if I should enclose any other paperwork from hospitals etc and she said there was no need as that is usually done at the appeals procedure. Is this correct?

If it helps, I sent medical evidence with my ESA form - went straight to support group, no medical.

It can't do any harm sending it in.

incorrect_2

I have been following this thread with interest as my neighbour has just had the letter to say he is about to get his phone call regarding being moved from IB to ESA now after getting loads of advice off here for him and his wife the one thing they are not sure of is if someone is to go with him to a medical (if he has to go to one) who would be the best person to go? Would this be a family member or someone else? He has rhumatoid arthritis which affects his lungs aswell as his joints so would definately need to have help.