Worried about impending dessicion from esa

Pixiedust1989

Hello I claimed for esa back in April and on wed I went for my face to face medical . I had also previously filled out a form about my health . The assessment was very short ( 10 mins in total ) she asked me my height , my weight , what I eat , any physical symptoms and then said she had everything she needed . I have bulimia nervosa , severe OCD and depression . I have supporting evidence from the eating disorders service , my dr and social worker . She said that she doubted that it would be a negative outcome as she is rarely overrided on these things ( does she even have a say ? ) anyway I'm now sick with worry as in order to recover my weight (currently 45 kg ) I need to eat 4000 cal per day to maintain my weight well I have 4 kids and unfortunately fall under the benifit cap . So 4000 cal technically means I'm feeding an extra person per week but I'm already feeding an extra person a week as I don't receive money for my 4th child as it was a choice between rent or child's money and I chose rent . I was working in placement as a nursing student before I had relapsed so the support group would benifit my recovery greatly as I wouldn't be able afford to eat the extra 2000 if I was in wrag so I'm abseloutly terrified can anyone give me any reassurance as to why she cut the meeting to short ? As I am worried they've based my assesnent on weight and at the moment I don't need any negativity about my weight

Alice_Holt

I think you are worrying too much as "she said that she doubted that it would be a negative outcome". A HCP would only cut the assessment so short if the outcome was going to be clearly in your favour. I would expect you to be awarded ESA on the basis of regs 29 or 35.
http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/making-exception

Re the benefits cap. I suggest you apply for PIP see:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/
with help from your local CAB / advice agency, and evidence from your GP and social worker.

If you are awarded PIP then you will be released from the benefit cap, and may also receive an increase in ESA.

Pixiedust1989

Thankyou that has reassured me after reading your attachment ... the lady was actually very nice and I was prettified to the point I was shaking 😐 She even offered me a satsuma when I mentioned my non diabetic hypoglycaemia

Alice_Holt

Please consider a PIP application,

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/the-benefit-cap/the-benefit-cap-and-housing-benefit/the-benefit-cap-and-housing-benefit-who-is-exempt/

and get help with it.


It is very possible you should get a PIP award on the basis of not being able to do many activities "reliably" due to your anxiety, severe OCD, and depression.

"Guidance issued by the DWP states that you need to be able to complete an activity ‘reliably’ in
order for it to apply. According to the guidance, ‘reliably’ means whether you can do so:
• Safely – in a fashion that is unlikely to cause harm to themselves or to another person. (See the
‘Safety and supervision’ section immediately below for more on this).
• To a necessary and acceptable standard – given the nature of the activity.
• Repeatedly – as often as is reasonably required.
• In a reasonable time period no more than twice as long as a person without a physical or mental
health condition would take to carry out the activity.
The DWP guidance also states that ‘pain, fatigue, breathlessness, nausea and motivation’ will all be
‘key factors’ in deciding whether an activity can be done reliably."

This is nicked from Benefits & Work - https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip

Best wishes.

Pixiedust1989

Thankyou this is much appreciated I have applied for pips earlier today but I'm highly doubtful I'll get it as I'm sure they will see it as " if I can look after 4 kids I can work " unfortunately my bulimia is not like anorexia which is quite a visible illness even though I am underweight I am not seen or meet the criteria for anorexia ... therefore bulimia isn't considered as severe as anorexia though I could argue that all day as both carry there own list of mortalitys and consequences just as dangerous as the other and both are as debilitating.... and unfortunately most of these illnesses are judged by weight and physicall symptoms when forgetting that this is actually a mental illness and the weight and physical are just symptoms and not the illness itself

Alice_Holt

PIP is not an out of work benefit.
There are many people in receipt of PIP who work.

When you say "I have applied for pips earlier today", is that the initial phone call to get the PIP2 form?

If so then please do contact your local CAB / advice agency for help completing the form.
See also:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-pip-claim/fill-in-form/

The B & W site has a very good PIP guide for members (c£19 pa membership).

Pixiedust1989

Initial phone call so they said to wait for a form in the post and to listen out for a phone call asking for anymore info

poppy12345

Pixiedust1989 wrote: »

Initial phone call so they said to wait for a form in the post and to listen out for a phone call asking for anymore info

I'm not sure what the phone call would be about for more info. Usually the intial call to start the claim would ask you a few questions. You're going to need evidence to support your claim to prove that those descriptors apply to you. As Alice has already said CAB are very good at helping to fill out those forms but they're often very busy so if you're planning on asking them for their help then please do ring them on Monday. Hopefully they can give you an appointment for when your forms have arrived. You can also apply for an extention of 14 days to send those forms back to them.

Alice_Holt

Pixiedust1989 wrote: »

Initial phone call so they said to wait for a form in the post and to listen out for a phone call asking for anymore info

Good.
Have a careful look at the PIP descriptors. You need 8 points for a Daily Living award.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
Notice " prompting" - you may need prompting (encouragement) because of your severe anxiety, OCD, and depression.

Does your OCD mean it takes you twice as long to do an activity because of physical or mental rituals? If so state this clearly on the form because you should be counted as not being able to do that activity. (See "reliably" in my earlier post). Possibly preparing food, dressing, washing, etc

Do you suffer from weakness / dizziness because of the eating disorder? Do you have aids such as shower rails / shower seats to keep you steady / safe? Is bathing difficult because of body dysmorphic disorder?

It is very likely that you should score points in activity 2 Taking nutrition. Possibly - d. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition. 4 points. Again remember reliably - needing help in order to do this to an acceptable standard.

Does your anxiety cause you problems with social engagement? This might apply - 9b Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people. 2 points.

Does your anxiety cause you problems with managing household finances?

I hope this will help you understand how to fit your conditions and needs into the rather prescriptive PIP points system. The form needs to explain how your conditions fits into the relevant PIP descriptors . PIP can only be awarded on the basis of these points not your conditions.
Ask your support worker and GP to write evidence letters you can include with the form (or post on later) if these can relate to the PIP descriptors, so much the better.

If you intend to get help from the CAB (I would recommend this) contact them now, as they are often very busy and you will have a deadline (1 month) to return the PIP2 form. (Note that you can request a 14 day extension period from the DWP.)

Good luck.

Edit: poppy has already covered my last para (I'm a slow typist!)

Pixiedust1989

Gonna give you some back ground as this is what I'm going to tell pip
I clean a lot and my mind tells me I'm not aloud food until my house is perfect but in my mind also my mind will never be perfect . If I do eat then I have to purge because I don't deserve that food as the house isn't clean . My mum has to come down and prompt me to eat as will go the whole day with nothing .. if I do eat I'll restrict to 5000 cal the nurse at hospital /clinic wants me on 4000 so I can maintain but in order to do that I have to realise that I come before cleaning which at the moment my mind can't wrap around that .. I don't sleep because the urge to clean is so strong , I don't go out because if I do the cleaning is paused to which I punish my self even more once arriving home .. the social worker is trying to get me a cleaner so I can focus more on eating and recovering and unfortunately this is all a result of an emotionally abusive relationship from the past ..: I've been doing this 4 years and I'm at my lowest weight I've ever been . I don't binge like usual bulimics but because I'm not yet at the bmi 17.5 that an anorexic would have I'm am classed as bulimic . There is safe foods that I'm allowed but here is foods I'm not aloud . I'm not aloud any carbs , sugar or high fat . My safe foods consist of tuna , broccoli , light mayonnaise , cabbage , and stock , light and fre yogurts and there's one that I allow myself more for preventing hypoglycaemia and that's an apple mullur rice ... all of this is purged straight after eating . Physically I suffer fatigue , dizziness , non diabetic hypoglycaemia, headaches , stomach cramps , fainting , if I bend over I instantly vomit , laryngospasm ( choking on air ) , tooth abscesses , rigidness around routine , and depression ( which holds its own physical symptoms )

Pixiedust1989

Sorry in my mind my house will also never be perfect ... not mind