Incapacity/ESA -fit for work????

rumblytummy

Morning all.

I am a regular poster but I'm posting this under the guise of another because I am very embarrassed with my ill health.

Basically I've had a letter from the DWP saying I am fit for work, :mad: but my reason for not being fit for work is that as well as a lot of internal pain & physical weakness from being hospitilised for 10 months with pancreatitis 3 years ago I cannot control my bowels.
I can't get to the toilet in time at home so how the hell am I supposed to do that if I'm working - oh sorry Mrs Customer I gotta run cos I'm going to crap myself!:eek:,- I don't think that's going to go down too well!
I can hardly leave the house in case of accidents, don't want it to happen in public, :eek:
my washing machine is on all day and yet because my arms and brain are working fine they say I am fit to work.

Who is going to give me a full flexi time job one where I can turn up and do the hours I want when I want/can, let me rush the toilet without notice, can maintain my dignity if I do soil myself and provide showers/washing facilities for me to clean myself up? I asked the jobcentre and apparently nobody.
I tried mystery shopping again but nearly got caught short - it was too close for comfort.

For me its not a case of not wanting to work, I really miss working, but no matter how many incontinence pads/knickers I wear, I just don't have enough protection against accidents and can't leave the house until I've emptied my bowels which sometimes might not happen on one day but may happen 3/4 times on another.:o

I've sent a letter of appeal off but I'm sat here panicking because I don't know what to do if my appeal is turned down.

Pippin12

Significant bowel and/or bladder incontinence experienced at least weekly is one of the descriptors for the ESA Support Group. Did you hand in medical evidence regarding your bowel problems? If you did it has been ignored. I would think if you can get medical evidence regarding your bowel incontinence you have good grounds for an appeal.

thatsmyusername

Did you score any points at all during the assessment ?

My partner suffers from bowel incontinence and unfortunately this has been a problem for her since the late 1990s. There is no medical procedure to correct her illness.

She had her ATOS assessment 2 weeks ago and and after having obtained the ESA85 report we are sure she has failed the test. Yet she has claimed IB since having to leave work in 1998. She has no control whatsoever of her bowels.

I would appeal quickly pointing out all the facts and the descriptors that apply to your own case.

I wish you luck.

Dunroamin

What medical help are you receiving for your problems?

Muttleythefrog

Op... try to get supporting medical evidence in if you can.. and as above.. focus on those descriptors... especially the ones relating to incontinence issues for WRAG and Support group.

By the time you have appeal it is quite likely more than 6 months have passed since the DWP decision. As a result, if the appeal fails, you'll be able to make a fresh claim for ESA with sicknotes and potentially get assessment rate payments subject to circumstances.

I would though read the relevant information regarding applying the descriptors raised here... in the WCA manual. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-handbook.pdf pages 29,91/92

KxMx

I would also try and get an apointment with CAB/DAB for help and support with the appeal.
I know how embarrasing bowel continence issues are.
I am a 25 year old female and I was so embarrased beforehand about the thought of taking about them, but the bloke I saw at DAB when I got help filling in ESA50 was so nice and matter of fact about it all.

elliegirl

I have IBS, stressed related, nothing to do with anything I eat. If I get worked up or stressed (often seeing as though I also suffer from depression and anxiety attacks), I lose control of my bowels, often with no warning. I have not seen a hospital doctor just my GP, but the adviser from MIND said I should be entitled to DLA. Will it go against me for not having seen anyone at hospital?

Muttleythefrog

elliegirl wrote: »

I have IBS, stressed related, nothing to do with anything I eat. If I get worked up or stressed (often seeing as though I also suffer from depression and anxiety attacks), I lose control of my bowels, often with no warning. I have not seen a hospital doctor just my GP, but the adviser from MIND said I should be entitled to DLA. Will it go against me for not having seen anyone at hospital?

My view is potentially but I very much doubt fatally. The DWP have an A-Z of medical conditions http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/ and what typical medical invention would be expected for claimed severity of problems is often given. Care and mobility DLA considerations are also given.

This might be useful... bladder and urinary tract disorders sources of evidence
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/bladder-and-urinary-tract/sources-of-evidence/

earthbound_misfit

@ Muttleythefrog: Gosh. Just looked at the link for depression/anxiety. They have unrealistically high hopes of the treatment available (esp. hospital) and recovery times! (though I may be unlucky on the latter).

@OP - Support group descriptor you may qualify under:
"Absence or loss of control over extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting) despite the presence of any aids or adaptations normally used.
(a) At least once a week experiences
(i) loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or
(ii) substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device;
sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing."

Muttleythefrog

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

@ Muttleythefrog: Gosh. Just looked at the link for depression/anxiety. They have unrealistically high hopes of the treatment available (esp. hospital) and recovery times! (though I may be unlucky on the latter).

Oh yes..lol... definitely they should be updating the records for MH problems. I've finally parted company on agreed terms with psychiatrist as there's nothing available to help me... all I need from her is backup for benefit claims. As she said.. if you are about to kill yourself get in touch with the crisis team. The DWP seem to be under impression that CMHTs do considerably more than I can see available here... CPNs seem to only be available if you're in hospital or crisis. Rather comically I'll be seeing my GP regularly over a minor acid reflux problem and not the fact I'm a maniac.

elliegirl

Thanks for your replies. Looks like the way things are probably going to end up at appeal stage. Just don't know how I would cope with that. As it is I rarely leave the house due to the fear of accidents happening and my depression. The gp has never made any mention of seeing anyone else about it, she just gives some tablets to try and help. All I have had to do was a stool sample to rule out anything sinister.

As for the mental health problem, I have tried the CBT but that had no effect and I have asked to see someone from the mental health team, but 6 months later still have not heard anything. Two weeks ago GP said she was going to resend another referral.

I still have to sort out my Esa claim as on assessment rate 34 weeks later and no sign of medical form to fill in. (To be honest I am quiet relieved that they seem to have forgotten about me).

Everybody says try not to worry, but how can I not. Every day you hear about people being turned down and cuts being made.