ESA Query

pmlindyloo

joseph9a wrote: »

Ok thanks, as I said i wasn't being funny just that sometimes on here rather than helping with the problem people make funny remarks (I dont mean you)

Surely though someone who is not fit to work and has history of trying to take their own life, there must be some help for them with benefits? She doesnt stick up for herself and her family arent great (partly as they dont know how bad she is) so I feel I have to fight her corner. I am trying to move on but i need to be happy knowing she is getting the support needed, as im not the type of person to think like im not with her no more so its not my problem. If I didnt leave her in a good position id always be worrying

You are focussing on the wrong thing.

Benefits do help people who are unfit for work but there are 'rules' for being eligible.

Your girl friend CAN claim ESA but only when she has a fit note from her doctor.

You need to persuade her to go to the doctors (or you go and speak to her doctor).

Then you need to proceed from there.

joseph9a

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You are focussing on the wrong thing.

Benefits do help people who are unfit for work but there are 'rules' for being eligible.

Your girl friend CAN claim ESA but only when she has a fit note from her doctor.

You need to persuade her to go to the doctors (or you go and speak to her doctor).

Then you need to proceed from there.

I agree yes, this is the first step, hopefully to her getting better, and she is only 23 so if it took her a year or 2 to get better she could start to build a career then

nannytone_2

she needs to look at the ESA descriptors.
most people are put into the work related activity group.
they are expected to attend work focused interviews ( meetings intended to enable people to make steps to be ready for work when their health improves)
she should also look at the support group descriptors to see if she meets any of them.

unfortunately, this is the system we have and people have to abide by the rules in order to receive benefit

pmlindyloo

joseph9a wrote: »

I just dont get how if you are unfit to work mentally, why you would have to goto a work based thing at the job centre. If you are worried about leaving your home, how would this be possible? unless she just goes and possibly has a panic attack. I have actually had to take her to A&E a few times because she thought she was having a heart attack although I know it was a panic attack. I'm not asking you directly but if anyone knows how this works would be great. Is ESA the benefit she should be looking at? I think she should be on long term sick while she gets help medically or professionally

ESA is definitely the benefit she should be looking at.

Not everyone who is awarded ESA has to attend interviews.

Putting it very simply each person is usually assessed by completing a form and attending a medical (not everyone has to attend a medical)

Based on what is put on the form and using letters/reports from doctors/counsellors etc a decision is made as to which group she will be put in - either the WRAG group or the Support Group.

Why don't you read up about ESA if you are interested?

To be honest it is much too complicated to explain here.

The one thing that I can tell you is that if she does not get a fit note from the doctor and start getting some treatment then she will not be awarded ESA.

Her alternatives to ESA are:

Continue claiming Carer's Allowance and Income Support
Claim Job Seekers Allowance

BigAunty

joseph9a wrote: »

I just dont get how if you are unfit to work mentally, why you would have to goto a work based thing at the job centre.

As others have said, go through the formal ESA application process. Get help from a mental health charity, Citizens Advice or similar when filling in the form.

As others have said, you are focussing on the wrong thing - your non-professional diagnosis and her self diagnosed inability to work are irrelevant to the ESA process. This needs to be formalised through the GP and DWP.

The days of Incapacity Benefit, when non-chronic conditions meant the claimant would be ruled out of any kind of employment are long gone. Now the focus is on capabilities, what a person can do so if they have the potential to do some kind of employment, with support to get them into it, then they will have work focussed interviews to help with this.

Here is a good overview of ESA and the assessment so you understand what the assessors look at when they receive the claim and evidence.

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/employment-and-support-allowance-overview