ESA Reassessment Approach

Charlie_the_Unicorn.

Hi,

With my ESA reassessment coming up I'm just looking for any help given that my original some years ago was an ATOS atrocity.

My main 'problem' is that my agoraphobia is essentially gone. But the cause of this was my last job and the thought of returning to full time work now would 100% bring about a return, and I'm not going back through that hell.

But I do feel capable to start doing Permitted Hours, 16hrs pw as is allowed on ESA as I think this would be manageable. But I doubt this info would give my HCP any reason to make me anything other than fit for work.

So I'm essentially going fill out my application in the way my condition effected me those few years ago, rather than now. I've been screwed over before and it effected me long term and this happening again would make me spiral downwards. From what I've read its not as if Maximus play fair either.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

pmlindyloo

It is very difficult to comment without knowing the extent of your mental illness.

You say that the agoraphobia has gone but imply that you have other issues that prevent you from working full time.

Presumably your doctor is supporting your application for ESA?

Whatever you put on your ESA form will, to a large extent, have to be backed up by medical evidence. Therefore if you base your answers on your form to how you were a few years ago then this is unlikely to be backed up by medical evidence.

So, are you receiving any treatment/medication/therapy at the present time?

As for working, you seem to say that you could work for around 16 hrs. without seeming to be intrusive why can you work 16 hrs and not 30 hrs? Was it your last job that caused you problems or are the problems related to engaging with other people/similar?

Sorry for all the questions but if you could give us a little more information then we may be able to support you more.

Do you receive PIP or DLA?

Charlie_the_Unicorn.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

The stress at my last job gave me agoraphobia. Though I was always able to go to work, the anxiety hit away from the office. For example I could return from work fine, but then were I to go to the shops five minutes up the road it would sometimes be impossible. Or any activity away from home that wasn't work related would bring on acute attacks. Just one of the quirks of having the condition.

My tribunal decision was passed on the special circumstance that a return to work would have a detrimental effect on my mental health. I have no other conditions and were I to go back to full time work it would trigger the return of my agoraphobia

16 hours per week will probably cause some issues but I have the 'tools' to deal with that level of work. Full time would be too much of a shift and I simply would spiral backwards. Permitted hours would be, as its designed to, be a gateway back to full time.

I see a psychologist every few months, take daily medication, and do not receive PIP or DLA.

Thank you.

pmlindyloo

To be honest I think your agoraphobia and its causes are beyond the 'scope' of people who post on here.

Would your psychologist be willing to write a detailed report on the effects of your going back to work? If they were to do this then the fact that your agoraphobia has 'gone' at the moment would explain how you are able to still meet the reg 29 special circumstances.

I would also suggest that you get some help from a welfare adviser to complete the form as from what you say it is going to be difficult and you may have to rely on writing on the 'other information' page to explain why, at this time, you may not meet the descriptors but a return to work may trigger your agoraphobia and subsequently would meet the descriptors.

Sorry, I don't feel I have been much help. I do think a detailed letter from your psychologist is your best form of evidence.

densol_2

OP - I feel your pain. I had to give up my life long career in 2014 after a nervous breakdown. Full time work became impossible. I claim ESA, PIP, IIDB and receive a pension injury benefit. I "think" about pemitted work too but Im scared the stable way I feel now with support and treatment will come tumbling down if I go back into any workplace. I still have a " brain " but it just cannot cope outside in the working world

The thing is I'm really bored and having worked for 33 years since 16 - its still alien to me not to work. Im also scared if do permitted work it will trigger reviews of my benefits ( which really doesnt matter to me as they are deducted £ for £ from my injury pension ) .... But I just cant do with going through any more medicals this year

So I know exactly your dilemma and cant really offer much advice - just empathy

Charlie_the_Unicorn.

Thanks Pmlindyloo,

Its a tricky one, but knowing how they award points and pass people I'm not going to rely on them to view anything in my circumstances other than a ticket back to JSA. The way I see it is I'm there to get the right result, not give an honest self appraisal. Did that once, made no difference and the tribunal wait over god knows how many months just sent me further backwards. Once passed, I was 50% better.

Densol, you and I seem very much in the same place. I had to give up a career too. All I need is to remain on the benefit for around 18 months or so more and I'll be good for a full time return. But if I had to do so immediately, all the hard work, effort and progress would crumble.

Throughout my time on ESA I too have thought about returning to work but of course the hypothetical is easier to cope with than the reality, but I've reached a place that quite frankly I never thought possible.

As for boredom, they say everybody has a book inside them. Well I don't, but instead took all the free time to write a screenplay and though it didn't sell it did get interest from across the pond. I'm now onto my second. I do though have a very high boredom threshold which is both a blessing and a curse, but I can imagine it would be very frustrating for you. If possible, the purpose that came from your career needs to be found elsewhere.

TELLIT01

They seem to be in a Catch 22 situation. The agoraphobia has diminished because they are no longer putting themself into situations which trigger it. That is managing a condition, not being 'cured' of it and therefore fully fit for work.
I would however advise against falsifying their current situation just because they felt they were unfairly treated in the first assessment.

Detroit

You should not give false information on your form.
Supporting medical evidence may be required, and if this contradicts the information you provided, your case loses credibility.
For example, if you report an inability to leave home, but your doctor says you are progressing well and go out socially several times a week, doubt falls upon your entire claim.
Better to be honest and explain that your condition is controlled, but only by medication, health care, and by restricting your activities; and that to return to work would pose a serious risk to your health.
Explain what you can't do, why you can't do it, and what would happen if you tried, linking this with the ESA descriptors.
Do get medical evidence to support your claims, as your case will be much stronger for it.

eggyf7

To the OP i suffer from Paranoid Schizophrenia and had to leave a career as an Electrician. My DLA to PIP and ESA are up for renewal at the same time and im waiting on verdicts. I once thought about a college course to retrain as i was frightened that i wouldnt get put on the benefits but working also makes me worse. I havent worked since 2006 and tried to take steps back slowly as an Electricians Mate in 2014 but my anxiety and paranoia increased and meant i had to quit again. Im petrified for more flare ups if benefit is refused and im forced into JSA or work before im ready

tomtontom

eggyf7 wrote: »

To the OP i suffer from Paranoid Schizophrenia and had to leave a career as an Electrician. My DLA to PIP and ESA are up for renewal at the same time and im waiting on verdicts. I once thought about a college course to retrain as i was frightened that i wouldnt get put on the benefits but working also makes me worse. I havent worked since 2006 and tried to take steps back slowly as an Electricians Mate in 2014 but my anxiety and paranoia increased and meant i had to quit again. Im petrified for more flare ups if benefit is refused and im forced into JSA or work before im ready

The difference between you and the OP is that you have tried working, and your renewal is based on your existing condition, not how you were many years ago.

If OP reclaims based on non existent agoraphobia then, if his lies are discovered, a return to work will be the least of his worries.

Bananas123

you can't write it down retrospectively,

i think some people are confused (i am being honest with you / not trying to be nasty etc <) because some of the things you have said, don't really read well, sound a little bit "entitled" or correct word..

(not having a go)

BUT, you obviously are/have been mentally unwell (i don't think people are taking this into account as much as they should do).

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potentially, do you think wanting to "put down" your symptoms from a time a while ago (that you deem to be worse ("more eligable") for the benefit may have come from the stress of the process etc ? ("thinking hastily")

also, as you are seeing a specialist / medication CURRENTLY < that's ALOT of evidence already for being honest and current ?

but you can't write down things that do not cause you problems any more <

you can tell them they only do not cause you problems because you have adapted your life around illness etc < as current and genuine (you only have history to draw upon, if you have not been capable of returning, which is OK), but referencing from history, as if now, is not good.

> it would set the ball rolling for more inaccuracies potentially in your claim > which you would have to explain / provide tangible evidence (potentially "impossible") at some point throughout the claim etc.

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but again, if it's causing you this much stress, you are recieving professional help < then that's suggestive you should be eligable for ESA, without doing it ?

also no webs of inaccuricies in claim to unravel potentially ?.

i sent mine off a while ago (WRAG 2/3 y) expecting to have to goto tribunal after last time too, as part of the process, have in my head now, by default "the esa process is going to be ESA50 > tribunal.

if you get your head around that, then it may causes less stress (it did for me after experiencing it the first time)

i know can't work etc, sent to work related activity > got really ill (sometimes when you think you could be doing more, the answer really is "NO")

so in my head i have "i can't work (validated by injury/illheath in reality (whilst undertaking "training" less demanding then part time work), but i AM going to have to wait a while for them to figure this out themselves (tribunal)."

less stress, more time to hopefully be objective.

best thing to do, is to look after yourself in the mean time > try and propogate clear thinking ?

imho

regards / good luck