Back on the ESA merry-go-round

Dunroamin

princessdon wrote: »

Objectively you do have to question how someone can be unfit for work yet go to Uni (with stresses and exams and targets etc).

I work in FE so do actually understand the difference, but to to many it is a hard concept to grasp, how someone can put themselves under immense pressure of Uni as opposed to a few hours none pressurised work.

It's never black and white but there will be people who will question this - I would like this think that ATOS have more knowledge to understand though

But there's no problem with someone in HE claiming DLA and student funding would replace ESA anyway.

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

Then you need to move to somewhere cheaper - £120 per week rent when on a low income isn't feasible. As you receive £70 pw DLA, why do you only receive £80 pw from student finance?

It isn't possible for me to move house, this is my family home, and the rent would be far higher so would be futile. I don't count the amount I receive in DLA as this is used to cover the additional costs & treatments due to my illness. It barely stretches to cover the extra expense as it is.

You don't seem to understand that university just won't be happening if I lose my ESA, it would be impossible, and I dread to think what the alternatives might be

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

But there's no problem with someone in HE claiming DLA and student funding would replace ESA anyway.

Student funding DOES NOT replace ESA. It replaces PART of it for PART of the year and it certainly doesn't cover HB costs!

Dunroamin

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

It isn't possible for me to move house, this is my family home, and the rent would be far higher so would be futile. I don't count the amount I receive in DLA as this is used to cover the additional costs & treatments due to my illness. It barely stretches to cover the extra expense as it is.

You don't seem to understand that university just won't be happening if I lose my ESA, it would be impossible, and I dread to think what the alternatives might be

If it's your family home, why is the rent so high - don't the other family members pay their share?

If full time HE isn't viable, why not study with the Open University?

DepressedInsomniac

princessdon wrote: »

Objectively you do have to question how someone can be unfit for work yet go to Uni (with stresses and exams and targets etc).

If an employer was happy for me to work just two days per week and would tolerate me taking time off as and when I needed to then yes, maybe I could work. Do you know of any employers that would accommodate my needs?

DepressedInsomniac

Dunroamin wrote: »

If it's your family home, why is the rent so high - don't the other family members pay their share?

If full time HE isn't viable, why not study with the Open University?

I'm not sure why you think the rent is so high, it's incredibly cheap where I live. And no, the OU isn't an option.

benefitbaby

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

It's not even a year since my last assessment but the dreaded forms have landed on the door mat again today |:(

Last time I was in a pretty bad way and the stress of it all sent me spiralling into crisis (I suffer severe mental health illness). I'm feeling more stable now thanks to new meds and planning to start a degree course next month but despite having gone to great lengths to set up a support network at university, including mentor and special travel arrangements, I'm panicking that if I'm seen capable of attending university (albeit just 2 days a week) then they might say I'm fit for work and take me off ESA

Without ESA I cannot even afford to go to university as I won't be entitled to the help I get from DSA or HB payments to cover my rent. As I told the WFI lady at my last interview I do want to return to work eventually, if I'm able, hence why I'm hoping to study for a degree in the mean time but it's not something I could cope with any time soon. I don't know what to do now

Atos send out the ESA50 forms upon referral to do so by JCP (who in turn are issuing referrals well in advance due to delays in processing WCA) this is probably why you have received it some time before your 18 months are up.

Are you able to gather some written evidence of the additional student support you will be receiving to either send with your ESA50 or take with you to the WCA? This could be helpful in showing how you are able to manage the course whilst still unwell.

The other thing to do is find out what points/descriptors you were awarded last time and see whether you would still meet them. This may be very relevant in your case because the ESA descriptors changed in March 2011 and so you may have previously been awarded ESA on the old descriptors.

DepressedInsomniac

benefitbaby wrote: »

Atos send out the ESA50 forms upon referral to do so by JCP (who in turn are issuing referrals well in advance due to delays in processing WCA) this is probably why you have received it some time before your 18 months are up.

Are you able to gather some written evidence of the additional student support you will be receiving to either send with your ESA50 or take with you to the WCA? This could be helpful in showing how you are able to manage the course whilst still unwell.

The other thing to do is find out what points/descriptors you were awarded last time and see whether you would still meet them. This may be very relevant in your case because the ESA descriptors changed in March 2011 and so you may have previously been awarded ESA on the old descriptors.

So it's likely the adviser dealing with my WFI's has asked for this to be looked at again so soon?

I was only assessed in January this year but don't know what descriptors I passed as I was basically a suicidal mess and under the crisis team. I didn't fill in much of the form and also sent it in late. I was placed in the WRAG without having to go through a medical, so this in itself is very anxiety provoking as I'm certain they'll actually want to see me this time.

I'm the type of person who has spent many years very carefully hiding my illness so as to appear as "normal" as possible and hiding away when this proves impossible, so I think I might struggle to even convince one of these assessors that I'm actually ill at all

Good point about producing evidence of all the extra help & support which has been put in place to enable me to attend university, although I wasn't sure whether I should just not even mention it on the ESA50 as I haven't actually started yet. But then I need to send in all the SFE paperwork this week to have my benefits adjusted so the ESA/DWP will be aware of it anyway. I just don't want them making a decision or judgement based on assumptions. I'm no longer under the crisis team nor any other MH team so only have my GP to support me and he is in full support of me returning to education.

Dunroamin

DepressedInsomniac wrote: »

I'm not sure why you think the rent is so high, it's incredibly cheap where I live. And no, the OU isn't an option.

The rent is very high for living with family and I don't see how you could claim HB for this anyway.

I know the OU doesn't cover all subjects but there are many other distance learning providers - what do you want to study?

PippaGirl_2

DI, 6 months is the usual re:assessment date for depression and/or anxiety. They think people get better that quickly!