ESA Support Group & improvement in health

westworldfan1

Hi. I’m currently on income related ESA and had a work capability assessment due earlier this year. With two letters from my Clinical Psychologist (and many telephone calls) they decided to bypass that and place me in the Support Group for 2 years due to my anxiety in attending the centre and other issues.

There’s been an improvement over the last few months and the issues affecting me have reduced and I am on the road to stability.

My question is; do I inform them of that? I do run the risk of having to go through the work capability assessment again but I’d rather do that than being accused of fraud or lying to them, even though I haven’t.

Thank you in advance and apologise for only joining this forum to ask this question.

sangie595

This is only my personal opinion - so others will have better advice - but I would concentrate on keeping hold of that stability for a while longer if it has only been a few months. You have a lot to deal with and I think you should focus on that. Then, if you feel that it has been sustained for a long time and you want to try to think about getting ready for work again, you can make a decision at that time.

Bogalot

I agree with sangie595, give yourself time to see how you cope, but also discuss it with your psychologist as they know you better than anybody here.

Bananas123

"remain on esa until you are told otherwise" would be my advice, especially as you are in the support group, with mental health problems.

there is no laws you are breaking / nothing of fraud etc etc, also potentially could relapse,

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you could have a word with your psychologist ?, see what they think ? about re-approaching work.

you can do permitted work on ESA, so you could consider doing that to see if you are ready to actively seek work / how it effects you ?

ALSO (i was in wrag), you can still ask for help at the job centre / ask to do an activity, from the support group (volunteering / courses etc if interested)

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i wouldn't whimsically "get off" esa though, that is suggestive of mental illness!

(maybe you are not as well as you think you are ?)

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kind regards,

westworldfan1

Thank you sangie595 and Bogalot . That sounds sensible.

Bananas123, it was probably my own paranoia making me ask this question. That is certainly something to think about, perhaps a quick amount of progress over a short span of time has made me overestimate my capability at the moment. That’s certainly something I will bring up in my next session.

Thank you all for putting my mind at rest.

Bananas123

baby steps getting back to work isn't it.

don't forget you have had somebody specify a timeframe for when it will be considered for you to be re-assessessed.

> so there is no rush anyway.

rushing is not good for people with mental illness imo........ although good that you currently feel more capable, but again, much better to transition.

seriously though, i would look into volunteering / permitted work / whatever, prior, test the water / see how you go ? (also looks good on C.V.).

regards

ev8

It's hard to know isn't it.

I know where you are coming from. Last year I had a few weeks out of the blue where I was ALMOST symptom free, well at least well enough to do a few thins. I was then thinking about it and whether to inform them, but I thought ti was too soon and nothing had gone away (I have incurable genetic conditions, so they wouldn't), but I know what you mean.

I agree with everyone else, if I were you I would want a considerable amount of time being completely stable before I entertained the thought of telling the DWP as it is a different matter, being stable in the setting you are in compared to going to work/work related activities etc.


I wish you well, and hope that this period continues on for you and you feel yourself so much better. Your doing so well as it is.

TELLIT01

If you are only 'on the road to stability' it would suggest that you are not yet ready to start thinking seriously about work. Only when / if your support team believe your health is such that you can think about getting back to work would there be any reason to contact DWP.

The fact that somebody has been put into the Support Group for a period does not automatically mean they don't need to inform DWP if their condition improves before the end of that period.

Keedie

I would say hold out on informing them, but do as others have suggested and try and step outside of your comfort zone a little bit at a time. I know all too well about the euphoria of feeling more stable when there is an uplift in mood or confidence when suffering from a mental illness. Only to overcommit to 'normal' activities, like returning to work, socialising, trying a rigid diet plan etc and then relapsing and feeling overwhelmed and hurt by the fact that things have nosedived.

I had not worked for months following voluntary redundancy, and I was petrified at the thought of trying to work. Then my friend offered me a job at 12 hours a week spread over 3 days in a school office, which I have started this week, and I was able to stay on JSA (albeit without receiving payment from the DWP due to the wages that I will receive). This has made me realise that I can handle a longer working day than 4 hours, but I can't deal with the frequency of attending work 3 times a week as it is overwhelming.

So there is positives to simulating a working environment (through voluntary work etc), that will test whether or not you are truly ready for a return to work. Whilst keeping the safety net of your ESA Support Group. It doesn't have to be one or the other. You can take baby steps, so that you don't push your recovery too far and too fast, or be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Good luck, you should be proud of your progress. And if you have a bad day, just remember in that moment of despair, that "This Too Shall Pass"... :grouphug:

westworldfan1

Thank you all for your kind words.