ESA face to face assessment: What to expect?

Feyfangirl

NLW wrote: »

You and your friend seem to have very similar problems

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70211758#Comment_70211758

And another friend

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/69405743#Comment_69405743

We do.. what of it? If you are trying to imply something than just say it please. Those of us with "special needs" families tend to travel in the same circles. Though well done for going through my posts from months ago to try start something completely and utterly pointless. I asked for help and advise. You do not know me or what it is like to be me. Perhaps if these posts truly annoy you (as looking at your post history they clearly do) then maybe you should leave them be... no?

Peter333

My neighbour (who my wife and I help now and again with lifts and shopping and so on,) went for her assessment on 10th May. She has a chronic illness and has a medical record an inch and a half thick of doctors and hospital appointments, medical assessments from her specialist, X Rays, blood tests etc, and also she is on half a dozen forms of medication; some very strong.

She said the nurse she saw thanked her for coming in for the assessment, and lead her to a chair. She didn't ask her to do anything, and just asked her about half a dozen questions, and said 'I can see you're in pain.'

3 weeks later, she got her result; she is to remain in support group. (Been in it about 9 years.)

All I can say is be honest, and tell them how you are on a bad day, and if they say for example, 'can you lift a pint of milk?' don't say 'yes, but it hurts a bit,' as they will just mark it up as yes. Say' no, not without causing myself pain.'

You need to be able to do things repeatedly, and in a timely manner. If you can't do this, then SAY you can't.

I will say one thing though; if you have fairly substantial medical evidence that covers a long period of time, then you are more likely to have your claim accepted; especially if it's a physical ailment. A mental health issue is a bit tricky, because even if you do suffer anxiety, agoraphobia, PTSD, or anything else that you can't 'see,' it's very hard to prove.

I have seen a myriad of people posting messages all over the place (not just here,) where people are saying 'had my ESA stopped; HELP!' and it turns out they haven't been to see the doctor for 2 years and aren't on any medication.

So all the assessors are seeing is someone saying 'I have a bad back and I can't work,' or 'I suffer anxiety and I can't work,' but with nothing to back it up. By that token, anyone could say that and stay on benefits all their life.

If someone has a physical ailment and they have not been to the doctors for several years, and they had not been issued any medication all that time, the assessor is bound to wonder if the person is as ill as they are making out.

Just playing devil's advocate. If you've got no medical evidence, then how can they know there's anything wrong with you? Like I said, if they just took peoples word for it, half the country would be on ESA!

Good luck with your assessment. I think how it's going to go, depends on what evidence you have on your condition, and the assessor you get.

Feyfangirl

Peter333 wrote: »

My neighbour (who my wife and I help now and again with lifts and shopping and so on,) went for her assessment on 10th May. She has a chronic illness and has a medical record an inch and a half thick of doctors and hospital appointments, medical assessments from her specialist, X Rays, blood tests etc, and also she is on half a dozen forms of medication; some very strong.

She said the nurse she saw thanked her for coming in for the assessment, and lead her to a chair. She didn't ask her to do anything, and just asked her about half a dozen questions, and said 'I can see you're in pain.'

3 weeks later, she got her result; she is to remain in support group. (Been in it about 9 years.)

All I can say is be honest, and tell them how you are on a bad day, and if they say for example, 'can you lift a pint of milk?' don't say 'yes, but it hurts a bit,' as they will just mark it up as yes. Say' no, not without causing myself pain.'

You need to be able to do things repeatedly, and in a timely manner. If you can't do this, then SAY you can't.

I will say one thing though; if you have fairly substantial medical evidence that covers a long period of time, then you are more likely to have your claim accepted; especially if it's a physical ailment. A mental health issue is a bit tricky, because even if you do suffer anxiety, agoraphobia, PTSD, or anything else that you can't 'see,' it's very hard to prove.

I have seen a myriad of people posting messages all over the place (not just here,) where people are saying 'had my ESA stopped; HELP!' and it turns out they haven't been to see the doctor for 2 years and aren't on any medication.

So all the assessors are seeing is someone saying 'I have a bad back and I can't work,' or 'I suffer anxiety and I can't work,' but with nothing to back it up. By that token, anyone could say that and stay on benefits all their life.

If someone has a physical ailment and they have not been to the doctors for several years, and they had not been issued any medication all that time, the assessor is bound to wonder if the person is as ill as they are making out.

Just playing devil's advocate. If you've got no medical evidence, then how can they know there's anything wrong with you? Like I said, if they just took peoples word for it, half the country would be on ESA!

Good luck with your assessment. I think how it's going to go, depends on what evidence you have on your condition, and the assessor you get.

Thank you very much for this as this makes a lot of sense and for all the positive replies, I really appreciate it. I have more than enough medical evidence in reports from specialists and my gp/psychiatrist I am seeing at IAPT. Hoping to not be on benefits for much longer.. trying to get the point where I can go back to work this year. thanks again

Peter333

Feyfangirl wrote: »

Thank you very much for this as this makes a lot of sense and for all the positive replies, I really appreciate it. I have more than enough medical evidence in reports from specialists and my gp/psychiatrist I am seeing at IAPT. Hoping to not be on benefits for much longer.. trying to get the point where I can go back to work this year. thanks again

That's great news! The more evidence you have the better!

Only go back to work when you're sure you're ready though! Don't rush yourself. The disability benefits are there for people like you, for when you need them. Don't feel bad about being on them.

All the best.

Foxy16

Having been under a neurologist for a long term chronic movement disorder for 16yrs and a rheumatologist for 4yrs with all supporting letters, this did not help me at all and I have been found fit for work. The HCP is the one that can make an inaccurate assessment thus causing this to happen.

Alice_Holt

Foxy16 wrote: »

Having been under a neurologist for a long term chronic movement disorder for 16yrs and a rheumatologist for 4yrs with all supporting letters, this did not help me at all and I have been found fit for work. The HCP is the one that can make an inaccurate assessment thus causing this to happen.

Do appeal it.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/challenging-an-esa-decision/

Bananas123

my WCA was really bad, i found out with hindsight, complete lier (she assured me, i would be fine and put in a group to my face, then gave me 0 points, told the mandatory reconsideration person, to give me 0 points., wrote aload of lies down, just ridiculous) > she also said she "knew all the specialists" at my hospital, yet could not tell me any of their names, asked me to relay them (despite having appointment letters proving i had attended appointments with them ?)

fortunately the mandatory reconsideration assesor was also buffoon, kept on moving the goalposts about, saying that i meet the descriptors, but that the descriptors didn't apply to me > "it is accepted that will not hold bowl...") (should award points as descriptor), "however will ALWAYS be close to toilet .... (??? say what ? psychic / goalposts moving...)

however, the doctor and the judge at the tribunal were really good, and i think they understood (although maybe mistaken ?), that ATOS (then), did a job on me...

it seems you are somewhat at peril of "human error" (being nice), depending on who you see, but the WCA is basically answering questions, and then watching them mash away on a keyboard, nothing to get stressed about.

it is rather formal, but nothing at all to worry about, i am going to (based on how ridiculous the first one was), go into the next with a much more relaxed mentality, if they are liers, it is OK, because you get to see all they have written prior to a tribunal, and can explain that you honestly don't know what they are talking about...

i hope not to see that women ever again, although it is funny how things turn out... (will probably be getting her again next time).