ESA should I/shouldn't I?

kerry3280

Hi all,

I've been reading through the threads and there is a huge amount of knowledgeable people on here so I thought I would ask for your advice.

Firstly, I do not have any visible incapacity. This means that physically I am perfectly able bodied, thankfully. However...I do have an 'invisible' illness.

I discovered two years ago that I had a brain aneurysm which is on my right ICA and is compressing the stalk of my pituitary gland. The aneurysm itself has been embolised and is now safe but the stalk distortion remains. This has left me with a considerable number of fairly horrid side effects the worst ones by far being the weight gain (which I cannot shift, I'm not a pig!) and the tiredness. Now before you throw your arms up in the air and poo poo 'just tiredness' it's not that simple. I've been battling this absolutely crushing fatigue for over two years. I had to suspend my degree because of it (though I've now managed to finish) and most days it's a struggle to make it through the day without falling asleep. I have no energy at all, not even for basic stuff. If it wasn't for my 8 year old, I doubt I would get out of bed. Please understand, this is not laziness, depression or anything else. This is a direct result of my pituitary gland and the effect the compression is having. I am due to go and see a specialist at St Bart's hospital soon about it all.

Now I've never thought about ESA before but I've decided to apply. Mainly because I am genuinely sick and I genuinely cannot work at the moment. And not because i dont want to. If I didn't I would never have gone back to uni at my age to get a degree to improve my prospects.

I do not understand any of the rules and how they judge you etc and was hoping for some advice before I apply.

Thank you for your time!

Torry_Quine

ESA can be difficult to get but it sounds like you may have a claim. It would be income based as you won't have sufficient NI contributions. To start a claim you will need a fit-note from your GP and after approx 13 weeks will be assessed as to eligibility and which group.

Horseunderwater

Hi Kerry
Here is a link to the ESA descriptors: http://pseudo-living.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/esa-descriptors-and-points.html - have a read through and see what ones if any may apply to you. I think you may find it very hard to get ESA for your condition as the condition has to usually be related to the descriptors, but please try and see.

rogerblack

The key is 'repeatably, reliably and safely'.

Some of the same things that apply for CFS/ME will apply here, as may similar arguments for depression.

What effect does your condition have on you?
Do you fall asleep when doing stuff - have you had accidents because of it?