Never rains but it pours. ESA stopped.

Not_Me

What do i do about the job centre though, my appointment is first thing tomorrow morning.

I cannot sign on as being fit for work if i am not. I have read (old 2012) information where people just sat there and refused to sign their paperwork. But i dont want to put anything at risk.

If the ESA paperwork doesnt arrive within a couple of days i will chase them for it also.

But its the job centre thats the first hurdle, how do i handle that?

Thanks

Not_Me

Anyone have any advice before i have to goto the job centre?

Thanks

NeilCr

Best I can say at this short distance is be honest. Tell them about your health conditions and how they would effect any work you can do. Tell them you are going to be doing an MR.

You said earlier in the thread that you avoid going to your doctor now. If you did would you get fit notes?.

Not_Me

No idea about fit notes/sick notes? Never needed to ask for one for a fair few years. When the health issues first appeared they gave me 3 month sick notes.

TELLIT01

Not_Me wrote: »

Anyone have any advice before i have to goto the job centre?

Thanks

All you can do is explain the current situation to them regarding ESA, and that you haven't had the letter yet. Yours will not be the first case they have had like this.

Not_Me

I have an old letter saying work-focused interview and a a first name from someone at the job centre. I met them once when they took on the job and every interview since has been over the phone. She just asked if there was any change and left it at that. When she saw me she said i should apply for PIP.

Is it worth trying to speak to her?

Thanks.

Not_Me

Back already. Said sign this and whispers get me a sick note for as long as possible.

Said a 13 week one will take us until the new year and it wont ruin Christmas.

Give us a safety net so we will get something.

Have i been told right?

Typically there are no appointments at the doctors this week, normally i can go on the website at midnight and book one for 9am if your not fussy on which doctor.

Thanks

pmlindyloo

Not_Me wrote: »

Back already. Said sign this and whispers get me a sick note for as long as possible.

Said a 13 week one will take us until the new year and it wont ruin Christmas.

Give us a safety net so we will get something.

Have i been told right?

Typically there are no appointments at the doctors this week, normally i can go on the website at midnight and book one for 9am if your not fussy on which doctor.

Thanks

Yes, that is correct. You can have an extended period of sickness for up to 13 weeks whilst on JSA.

Not_Me

Letter arrived and i scored ZERO POINTS!

Several half answers and some plain LIES!

This was observed throughout the test.
Although i needed assistance getting up from the chair it seems i could sit for over 20 minutes between having to stand and stretch my back and legs and stood for 1 minute before sitting down again for the rest of the interview. Err the entire interview was not much longer than 20 minutes. Appointment at 20 past, waited approx 10 minutes after and call my sister to collect me from outside the building before the 2 minutes to the hour.

The decision make says i should get a wheelchair through the NHS, which would enable me to move more than 200 metres and get a job, where the employer can store the wheelchair for me due to a lack of space at home. Says i can use the toaster and microwave. A toaster was not mentioned but yes no issue on that. A microwave.. well i can put stuff in and wait for it to go cold before taking it out again because my hands shake when lifting items.

upper limbs appear fluid and pain free, these were not actually tested and no mention of me using a cup with a lid for tea etc.

10 pages of it oh my...

Got to collect sick not today and will drop it off today also, the person i spoke ad the job centre is moving departments this week. So need to be quick.

PS no mention of my bowel of bladder issues.

TELLIT01

You need to put all the information above into the letter for the Mandatory Recon along with any other supporting evidence you can obtain from you GP.
Do remember though that ESA is about what you can do, not what you can't do, so the criteria can be tough to achieve. From what you say though it would seem that there is potentially rather more than that to this case.