Esa & dla

caithness_lass

Hi first time posting so please be kind,

Have been claiming esa since june and have had an atos medical waiting for results.

I have a nasty disease called Hydrebenitis supurtiva( reacurring abecesses all over body) waist, groin.armpits under breasts legs etc, no cure for this disease, constantly on anti-biotics,pain killers.
I also have a very bad back, asthma and arthiritis.My mobility is really effected and i cannot walk very far without having to stop. I am not sure on what i should be claiming esa or dla.

Any advice would be welcome.

Muttleythefrog

First things first... I'd call the DWP (number at top of DWP ESA letters) and ask for a copy of the ATOS medical report ESA85. That report is likely to be as good as rubber stamped by the DWP but it could take some time. So my advice.. get a copy ASAP to find out what they've recommended to the DWP. The report will state the descriptors the healthcare professional felt applied to you... the descriptors determine entitlement.

DLA is obviously a separate benefit to ESA (DLA is extra money to aid in overcoming day to day disability.. pertaining to care/mobility.. ESA is a benefit to cover day to day living costs because you can't currently work)...and can be claimed in addition... it isn't means tested. Let me check the DWP A-Z of medical conditions... hmmm it seems at glance not to have your H.S. listed.. but it may be there in some guise... shame if not as this A-Z is specifically written with DLA in mind... it gives the sorts of care and mobility consideration (and other useful stuff) relevant to DLA that illnesses may raise. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/
Your other conditions will be in there I would expect. My advice is you have nothing to lose by making a claim for DLA so why not. Getting entitlement is usually quite difficult without a medical professional verifying your claimed care/mobility problems.. so it helps to have a switched on specialist or GP often. The application form is brutal... and filling it in in the 'right way' seems important... so sometimes it helps to do plenty research or consult a 3rd party who can help.. CAB/Welfare rights etc. Oh and this is an excellent guide to filling in the DLA application form and other information... it's written with two particular conditions in mind but I found it invaluable despite not suffering either of them http://www.nacc.org.uk/downloads/disability/AdultGuide.pdf

caithness_lass

Thank you so much for your help, will get onto the dwp for medical report etc and post what happens.

I looked onthe A to Z and could not find H S but i understand that their is a petition to have this disease added to the A to Z.

I will also seek advice from Cb.

If i make aclaim for dla and the esa is refused onthe atos medical outcome will this affect the dla claim?

Muttleythefrog

caithness_lass wrote: »

Thank you so much for your help, will get onto the dwp for medical report etc and post what happens.

I looked onthe A to Z and could not find H S but i understand that their is a petition to have this disease added to the A to Z.

I will also seek advice from Cb.

If i make aclaim for dla and the esa is refused onthe atos medical outcome will this affect the dla claim?

Remember DLA is awarded based on the care/mobility problems arising out of illness or disability... rather than the condition itself.. so even though something may not be listed in the A-Z it could still give rise to problems that could lead to DLA award.

One reason I would prioritise getting the ATOS report as you've now done is that it could potentially impact for better or worse a DLA claim. At face value DLA and ESA's WCA have very different criteria to reach different determinations... however there's nothing to stop you using the medical report to support a claim of various problems in a DLA claim that seem compatible. It has been known for the DWP to take a fresh look at people's existing DLA claims when they have had a WCA determination of negative nature via ATOS medical report. So the DWP certainly feel there can be some 'evidential interchange potential' (best phrase I can think of right now).

helpfulperson

With your ESA it is important you get help straight away with an appeal if you are found capable of work, or you are put into the Work related activity group and think you should be in the Support group. You only have 30 days to submit an appeal. Unless you are a very confident person, don't do it on your own because if you get to an appeal tribunal and get turned down it is too late for anyone to help you.

With DLA, go for help with the form, but do have a good look at the form and gather any information needed for it before you go.

A Citizens Advice Bureau (or similar) will help you. Yo find your local CAB go to http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm