Esa assessment was very short

Crazycollielady

I went for my esa assessment on Wed 22nd with my very supportive friend ( also my flatmate)
When the first lady called my name she asked me about managing stairs as she saw I had a symbol cane ( I am registered SSI/blind due to ushers syndrome ( deaf since birth and retinitis pigmentosa diagnosed last June although was suspected Nov 2015)
I also suffer from anxiety and depression and she could clearly see I was flustered and I was feeling sick - so she said to get some water and they would get me seen on the lower floor ( I went to Glasgow for assessment)
After about 10-15 mins I get called by another lady for my assessment

She went through my conditions but said would focus on the ushers syndrome - I gave her my SSI/blind certificate and also my letter from the hospital - at this point she said she had to make a quick call? And photocopy the evidence I gave her and took note of my medication that I take

She returned and only asked me a couple of questions regarding my sight - do I get help with choosing clothes ( my friend looks out all my clothes for me or has them in piles mainly Tees sorted so they not inside out) asked me about cooking meals which I cannot do ( I used to love cooking) as I cannot see if food especially chicken is cooked properly and she asked about going to the bathroom to wash etc

She then disappeared again to photocopy the evidence as apparently someone else was using photocopier at the time then she said that was all that was needed of me and I could go

I didn't have any examinations - my friend says she seen what looked like hearing/eye test things on the desk

All in all the assessment lasted about 15 mins or so including the time she disappeared to make a quick call

I am worried because the assessment was so short - my friend does everything for me and I cannot go out unassisted because I cannot see/hear danger ( I do have some central vision but most days it feels like their is a film over my eyes and I have no night vision or peripheral vision either. My eyes don't adjust properly between light and dark)

It's been extremely difficult for me since my diagnosis, I had to sell my car, I have 2 dogs that I cannot walk, my friend walks them for me 4 times a day whilst working full time and looking after me, I'm so grateful to my friend for everything she does for me out the kindness of her heart

I just worry I'm going to be found fit for work when I am not able to
I can't hear on the phone and I get anxious in busy places because I obviously can't see/hear danger very quickly

So I should hear in 2-3 weeks what the decision will be

Muttleythefrog

Interesting. But I strongly recommend you call (or someone calls with you available to pass security questions) and ask for a copy of the ESA85 report - the medical assessment report. This report will tell you exactly how your medical as such went... and will indicate what descriptors the assessor felt applied to you and why. The DWP Decision maker in coming days or weeks will most likely consider this report their best evidence and therefore may simply agree with it all. So I strongly recommend you request that report from the DWP... they should have electronically received a copy within hours of the assessment. Come back here when you get that report or decision from DWP ... whichever is first. Unfortunately it is often very difficult to tell 'how medicals have gone' as a short one may imply they feel little is wrong with you, what is wrong with you is logical and straightforward in terms of disablements or that you trigger a (special) descriptor that means the medical can be ended early to your benefit... I would hedge a bet that one (or two) of these things will be true here.. but only the report will shed true light and you might be able to get it by end of this week. If the report is not 'good news' then there will be options for you that can be looked at when decision is made.

TELLIT01

There is absolutely no point in following Muttleythefrog's suggestions until you friend receives a decision letter from DWP. It's far more likely that the assessment was short because it was obvious to the HCP that your claim is genuine. If an HCP suspects that a claimant is faking, they would still need to complete the entire assessment because there would otherwise be no supporting evidence when an appeal was launched.
The advice and information given in #2 is inaccurate in so many ways.

Muttleythefrog

TELLIT01 wrote: »

There is absolutely no point in following Muttleythefrog's suggestions until you friend receives a decision letter from DWP. It's far more likely that the assessment was short because it was obvious to the HCP that your claim is genuine. If an HCP suspects that a claimant is faking, they would still need to complete the entire assessment because there would otherwise be no supporting evidence when an appeal was launched.
The advice and information given in #2 is inaccurate in so many ways.

You disagree with my suggestion to request the ESA85 report? Why? Surely this document at worst will provide useful information for potential future use if they pursue the claim. In best case it will be supportive of their claim and put their mind at rest potentially weeks before they get a decision which is likely to mirror the report. Either which way this document seems valuable...I see absolutely no reason to evade it.

And like I said, there are several reasons why an assessment may have been completed quickly. I'm confused as to why you disagree so vehemently with my post when I reach a conclusion not greatly dissimilar to you... I simply open the possibility that curtailment could have applied, that the disabilities were straightforward and therefore potentially easily assessed over limited categories.. and of course the worse case scenario that default no problems were sufficient to trigger descriptors (and that could have been done quickly) which I agree in this case is probably the least likely scenario I gave.

Seems to me you didn't even read their post correctly. It wasn't their friend who applied for the benefit and therefore they won't be getting any decision. Did you similarly misread my entirely helpful post (the first ever to be criticised I should add in giving advice on benefit boards here).

For my future use it would be helpful if you detail why my post was inaccurate in so many ways.

TELLIT01

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

You disagree with my suggestion to request the ESA85 report? Why?

Because the OP hasn't been turned down for ESA yet, and I strongly suspect they won't be. There is no point in requesting information until and unless it is needed.

Muttleythefrog

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Because the OP hasn't been turned down for ESA yet, and I strongly suspect they won't be. There is no point in requesting information until and unless it is needed.

I absolutely disagree. And I do so for the following reasons:
1. The ESA85 could be supportive of their claim - puts their mind at rest and is potentially useful document for reassessment etc
2. If the ESA85 is not supportive they already have in hand a document they are likely to need and have to contest if pursuing the claim.
3. If the ESA85 isn't entirely helpful it gives time to consider how it may be tackled in future including by potentially getting further professional evidence which naturally may take some time

How many times do we see claimants unclear as to why they've been awarded ESA. How many times do we see claimants unaware of the content (or even existence) of the ESA85. How many times do we see claimants running out of time to make a reconsideration request due to lacking the evidence. Requesting the ESA85 now helps in these regards. On another thread a poster has made a MR request to the DWP totally unaware of the existence of the PIP equivalent PA4 report which may well contain absolutely critical information regarding 'prognosis'. They've potentially been handicapped by lack of information... just a very recent example. I would consider it tactically shrewd always to get hold of the evidence in your case as soon as you can. Sadly in many claims clearly good tactics are lacking... often there is a sense or practical reality of trying to catch up with events.

Which of my points 1,2,3 are untrue or invalid? What reasons are there to avoid getting the ESA85 besides the cost of a call?

pioneer22

I agree, wait for the outcome I expect the call was to say "why did you even send this person in for an assessment"

Crazycollielady

Thankyou for the responses, it was my social worker who helped me with the forms - I also get PIP ( high rate care and mobility) and I have a c+1 travel card due to bring registered SSI/blind. but the strange thing was I never went for an assessment for PIP and I was awarded within 2 weeks if that of my claim being sent off

Im a worrier, and from the letter supplied with the esa assessment letter the assessment is meant to be around 45-60 mins so naturally I was worried because of how short it was - hopefully the assessment being short is a good thing.

My friend also did say that's maybe what the call was about but can't speculate on that really - also hate playing "the waiting game" but I know these things can take time

Muttleythefrog

Crazycollielady wrote: »

Thankyou for the responses, it was my social worker who helped me with the forms - I also get PIP ( high rate care and mobility) and I have a c+1 travel card due to bring registered SSI/blind. but the strange thing was I never went for an assessment for PIP and I was awarded within 2 weeks if that of my claim being sent off

Im a worrier, and from the letter supplied with the esa assessment letter the assessment is meant to be around 45-60 mins so naturally I was worried because of how short it was - hopefully the assessment being short is a good thing.

My friend also did say that's maybe what the call was about but can't speculate on that really - also hate playing "the waiting game" but I know these things can take time

Hence my advice. Given the limited information here I'd say there is a good chance the medical 'went well'.. and in getting the ESA85 by requesting it now from DWP you could well cut short speculation and gain peace of mind ahead of a decision that is difficult to predict timescale of. There is some indication here that curtailment could well have applied to your favour. I apologise for any disagreements on your thread - I have detailed why I believe my advice is tactically sound and I also consider it important from a human perspective (as evidenced in another recent thread where what sounded like a particularly bad PIP medical at least in terms of the report seemed to actually go fine and thus much worry must've been saved https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5616308). I would be surprised if in retrospect, regardless of outcome, that you would conclude otherwise.

Crazycollielady

I would have to get my friend to call, she works 4-5 days a week full time at home but has short breaks and from previous experience from phoning dwp u can be on hold for ages usually so she doesn't really have the time to call. And she doesn't finish work til 630pm and that's starting at 8am. She doesn't have a day off til Friday but she's taking me to see my mum and go visit my grandad in hospital - he has recently been diagnosed with alheizemers so I worry about him as well so I have to travel to Fife from Glasgow which is tiring ( a train and a bus journey each way and 4x 10-20 mins walking periods ) so I have alot on my mind at the moment.

Tommo1980

I would suggest think positive and try and forget about it.

Based on what you have posted here I would be very surprised if you don't get awarded support group.

Tom