Kicked off ESA. Options?

starlord84

I attended my work capability assessment just under a month ago, which went exactly like the one i had three years earlier, and my forms were filled in the same again as three earlier. Now last week i received the DWP's decision letter, which informed me i was found fit for work
(0 points out of 15) and all my benefits had stopped days before receiving that letter. The letter was written in an obnoxious tone by a heartless person whom didn't even state or sign their name at the end of the letter.

I expected something bad to happen in regards to their decision, after seeing and reading all the bleak news coverage and stories written about how our current government has been treating the sick these last few years. But i didn't expect how swift and cold the cutting off of my money would be, and the options open to me once their decision was revealed. The letter basically said, if you have not got a job, get a job. if you need advice, go the jobcentre. And what you can do now is sign on.

I foolishly assumed three things. one. I believed they would give me fair warning (a few weeks at least) before cutting off my money. Two. I thought they would put me on job seekers allowance automatically (that was stupid) And three. I believed that on appeal, my money would be reinstated until a decision had been made. But after i read up on it, the law changed a few years back, that during this initial period, you would receive no money (week, months)
Then if successful it would go to tribunal, where the most positive decision outcome, would be more likely if you attended in person.

After learning this and feeling that it seemed a too stressful and futile of an endeavour, i decided to just sign on instead, so i made a claim online on monday, and have waited the last few days for the callback which never came. So today i telephoned universal credits calline and was told that they have no record of my claim, and that i should try again online. But the thing is, when you fill in and complete the online form, it gives you no evidence that it has gone through. No reference code, no email or even a print out option. But i have just finished filling in the form again, so fingers crossed.

The reason i am posting this story on here, is for this. My rent and bills are due very soon, and i am broke. HB is included in universal credit now, so everything has been stopped. So i literally have £0 income until i either get on universal credit or gain employment.

I have spent the last few years trying to reeducate myself (courses) for when this day comes i would be ready to get back into work, because i never wanted to be on ESA or remain in the long term, but knew my condition was still there (anxiety/panic disorder) But i have applied for loads of jobs online this last week through desperation to be able to pay my bills, whether i'm ready for full time employment or not, i don't really have many options.

What can i do to pay my bills? The jobcentre is not calling me, and my job applications are not getting any responses. My landlord will not be understanding to my plight, neither will scottish power and the rest of them.

These tough times require some good advice. Can you help with that please?

pmlindyloo

starlord84 wrote: »

I attended my work capability assessment just under a month ago, which went exactly like the one i had three years earlier, and my forms were filled in the same again as three earlier. Now last week i received the DWP's decision letter, which informed me i was found fit for work
(0 points out of 15) and all my benefits had stopped days before receiving that letter. The letter was written in an obnoxious tone by a heartless person whom didn't even state or sign their name at the end of the letter.

I expected something bad to happen in regards to their decision, after seeing and reading all the bleak news coverage and stories written about how our current government has been treating the sick these last few years. But i didn't expect how swift and cold the cutting off of my money would be, and the options open to me once their decision was revealed. The letter basically said, if you have not got a job, get a job. if you need advice, go the jobcentre. And what you can do now is sign on.

I foolishly assumed three things. one. I believed they would give me fair warning (a few weeks at least) before cutting off my money. Two. I thought they would put me on job seekers allowance automatically (that was stupid) And three. I believed that on appeal, my money would be reinstated until a decision had been made. But after i read up on it, the law changed a few years back, that during this initial period, you would receive no money (week, months)
Then if successful it would go to tribunal, where the most positive decision outcome, would be more likely if you attended in person.

After learning this and feeling that it seemed a too stressful and futile of an endeavour, i decided to just sign on instead, so i made a claim online on monday, and have waited the last few days for the callback which never came. So today i telephoned universal credits calline and was told that they have no record of my claim, and that i should try again online. But the thing is, when you fill in and complete the online form, it gives you no evidence that it has gone through. No reference code, no email or even a print out option. But i have just finished filling in the form again, so fingers crossed.

The reason i am posting this story on here, is for this. My rent and bills are due very soon, and i am broke. HB is included in universal credit now, so everything has been stopped. So i literally have £0 income until i either get on universal credit or gain employment.

I have spent the last few years trying to reeducate myself (courses) for when this day comes i would be ready to get back into work, because i never wanted to be on ESA or remain in the long term, but knew my condition was still there (anxiety/panic disorder) But i have applied for loads of jobs online this last week through desperation to be able to pay my bills, whether i'm ready for full time employment or not, i don't really have many options.

What can i do to pay my bills? The jobcentre is not calling me, and my job applications are not getting any responses. My landlord will not be understanding to my plight, neither will scottish power and the rest of them.

These tough times require some good advice. Can you help with that please?

First of all you need to apply for a short term advance of your UC.
Explained here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/apply/get-advance-payment/

(Keep telephoning to check your application has gone through)

Next, notify everyone about your circumstances. That includes utilities, creditors and landlord. Most of them will be sympathetic and put everything on hold. Have you meters or pay by DD? If you pay by DD ask if you have any credit. Ask them to send you this money - electricity/gas/water.

What are your housing arrangements? Do you live with your landlord? if you have a shorthhold assured tenancy then the LL will not be able to ask for possession until you are two months in rent arrears. If they try another route (Section 21) they have to give you 2 months notice. So it is very unlikely that you will be homeless as, unless you are a lodger, only a court can evict you.

If you have DDs set up cancel them so that you do not get bank charges but notify them all about why you have cancelled them.

If you can, borrow from family/friends and pay them back when you receive your UC.

Sell anything you can - ebay/whatever.

The only thing you really need to worry about is food and travel. Everything else can wait.

Lily-Rose_3

All I can offer as advice is maybe CAB?

What an awful situation. So cruel and brutal and heartless.

Allowing people to stay on disability benefits, and then just cut them off when they need to get a certain % off!

They could at least inform people that they think they are fit for work, but will keep getting ESA for say, 3-6 months, whilst you try and find a suitable job; or maybe even help you find a suitable position that will take into account your condition.

Nasty, nasty, horrible, brutal system. I feel desperately sorry for you. And anyone else this happens to.

I hope you get it sorted soon. But I would suggest CAB in the first instance; they will be able to advise you and help you appeal.

Don't throw in the towel.

starlord84

The decision letter sent to me only seems to be concentrating and considering my initial short term observational behaviour. But i have always told the DWP either in form, doctors notes or in person that my condition is something that's affected me during long term exposure to stressful situations and environments, not short term situations such as interviews, or popping into my local grocery store etc. It is for example, being in a stressful environment day in day out, where my mental state deteriorates and i end up having a full blown panic attack and having to go to a&e because i can't breath and my hearts beating out of my chest and my extremities have gone pins and needles and numb because i'm hyperventilating (this has happened a few time unfortunately) and i seem to have a form of pdst afterwards when isn't nice, being jumpy and on edge constantly. But the the DWP has not considered this, they are merely focusing on whether i look healthy, or can walk into the building alone and make eye contact with the interviewer, who they shamefully label as a "healthcare professional" these people only ask you set questions and punch the data into the computer.

I will link images of the letter sent to me below, so that anyone who wants to help can view these details and see if i have any sort of case to appeal going forward.

starlord84

Highlight each link below and right click mouse and select "Go to" to go to the webpage (chrome)

If that doesn't work, Just add http:// along with each address listed below into your ulr tab at the top of the webpage to view the letter pages. Sorry its not a simple click and go option, but MSE will not let me post direct links due to being a newish user.

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img001_zpspjccp0pk.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img002_zps8qxvnkul.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img003_zpsbyujxg5k.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img004_zps1gorcben.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img005_zpsfaynlqqr.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img006_zpsexssing4.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img007_zpsiwmvgkw1.jpg

i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/starlord84/img008_zps2f7uways.jpg

NYM

starlord84 images...

Is this what you wanted to link to?

starlord84

Is this what you wanted to link to?[/QUOTE]
Yes. Thanks for that :beer::beer::j

NYM

starlord84 wrote: »

Yes. Thanks for that :beer::beer::j

You're welcome!

pmlindyloo

NYM wrote: »

starlord84 images...

Is this what you wanted to link to?

Are there parts missing? Doesn't seem to show the whole report?

I don't know whether this will help but from one of the images I see that that the assessor texted you and tried to telephone you twice asking if you had any further information.

This seems to suggest that the medical evidence that you sent in wasn't sufficient to 'back up' your claims.

May be wrong. What evidence did you send in? Did you send in the hospital reports for when you had your panic attacks (just one example)

You have one month from the decision to do a mandatory reconsideration. Have you still got time to go to CAB/welfare officer and ask them to look at your medical evidence and statement of reasons?

starlord84

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Are there parts missing? Doesn't seem to show the whole report?

I don't know whether this will help but from one of the images I see that that the assessor texted you and tried to telephone you twice asking if you had any further information.

This seems to suggest that the medical evidence that you sent in wasn't sufficient to 'back up' your claims.

May be wrong. What evidence did you send in? Did you send in the hospital reports for when you had your panic attacks (just one example)

You have one month from the decision to do a mandatory reconsideration. Have you still got time to go to CAB/welfare officer and ask them to look at your medical evidence and statement of reasons?

Nobody telephoned or texted me from the dwp. when i phoned about my universal credit application today, i asked whether they had my correct number, and it turns out it was very wrong. Strange considering i usually have to state the number as a security measure when phoning the dwp. And also when i was assessed a few weeks ago, i double checked my number on the interviewer's computer screen, and it was correct. I don't know why they have a completely different number on their system, but i never gave it to them.

starlord84

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Are there parts missing? Doesn't seem to show the whole report?

there should be 8 pages in that folder. they may be out of order, just flick through going by the page number located at the bottom right of the pages.