Couple of quick questions re WCA

ceegee

As above re WCA for ESA,

1) does the healthcare professional request a letter from your gp as a matter of course? If not, why might they do this, when all information has been given on the ESA 50?

2) does the healthcare professional give the decision maker any sort of summary/recommendation based their own observations during the WCA?

I had my WCA today and these points are niggling at me, so if anyone could advise, I would be more settled. Many thanks in advance.

Ames

ceegee wrote: »

As above re WCA for ESA,

1) does the healthcare professional request a letter from your gp as a matter of course? If not, why might they do this, when all information has been given on the ESA 50?

2) does the healthcare professional give the decision maker any sort of summary/recommendation based their own observations during the WCA?

I had my WCA today and these points are niggling at me, so if anyone could advise, I would be more settled. Many thanks in advance.

This is just based on what I've read on these forums over the last few years.

1. No, they don't routinely contact medical professionals. I don't know why this is.

2. Yes, the HCP sends a report with recommendations as to points. This is the evidence given the most weight by decision makers.

ceegee

Thank you, Ames. Re Q2), for some reason I thought they were unable to pass on their "opinion", but I came across something on the internet earlier that cast doubt on my thinking, so thank you for the clarification.

Re Q1), I am fretting a bit that they may have thought I was telling porkies or embellishing things a bit, but I have been honest throughout, so I'm flummoxed as to why they wrote to my gp. I was going to ask if I could read the letter, but quickly changed my mind in case he had written something that I wouldn't like, but that's just paranoia setting in I think/hope!

poppy12345

ceegee wrote: »

Thank you, Ames. Re Q2), for some reason I thought they were unable to pass on their "opinion", but I came across something on the internet earlier that cast doubt on my thinking, so thank you for the clarification.

Re Q1), I am fretting a bit that they may have thought I was telling porkies or embellishing things a bit, but I have been honest throughout, so I'm flummoxed as to why they wrote to my gp. I was going to ask if I could read the letter, but quickly changed my mind in case he had written something that I wouldn't like, but that's just paranoia setting in I think/hope!

That's the whole point of the assessments. If they didn't pass this on then there would be no point in the assessments.

Ames

Try and think of it as a good think that they wrote to your GP. Usually they don't, which means they don't have much evidence from your side. Any evidence from people who know you and can confirm what you're saying is in your favour.

Please try not to worry - the more evidence they have the better the chances of the right decision. Most people think that by not writing to the GP it means they can turn down a claim easier. (I didn't want to say that in my last post because I assumed they hadn't contacted your GP and wished they had).