ESA Descriptor points

AvivaNightmare

Hi, 

I applied for ESA as I am currently off work long term sick, I had a phone assessment, the assesor only focused on one of my conditions ( firomyalgia) and after 10 minutes said they had enough and was curtailing the assessment, but said all my conditions ( I have 14 , some of which are more impactful on my life than the Fibro ) would be in the report. 
I phoned and requested a copy of the medical assessment which merely ists my conditions, and states fibro is the most significant, and only discusses how fibro impacts on my life.

They stated they advised I met the criteria for limited work as I have a severe functional disability, prognosis was that they advised work could be considered within 18mths. the avialable evidence suggest review in the medium term, and it was unlikely a shorter prognosis would demonstarte any appreciable change to my conditon.  

I waited 8 weeks and recieved a back payment into my bank and the increse to support group amount before I recieved my decision letter. 

The letter merely states I am now in the support group and amount, no mention of points scored. 

I phoned DWP and asked for the review date and was advised it is in 18 mths time, I asked about the points scored against descriptors and was advised they do not give out this information.
I had been on DLA motability for years with an indefinate award, I am still waiting for the DLA to PIP migration and so thought the letter with the ESA descriptors showing points scored could accompany my claim form when I am eventually contacted to switch, I had not applied for the care component of DLA as obvisiously aware i could lose the motability and i am reliant on my car. 

Whilst impressed that fibromyalgia appears to be recognised as a severe enough conditon on its own standing to gain me assessment for the ESA support group I am surprised at the lack of mention of my other conditions one of which is life threatening and is a life long conditon, another I am undergoing operations for and so these impact greatly on my life and ability to function. 
However I see no point in rocking the boat as I have nothing to gain as i am in the support group, but hopefully come review time all my conditions will be looked at not just the fibromyalgia. 

Surely though I am entitled to know what points I scored and on what descriptors? 

KxMx

Sometimes if the HCP finds a descriptor that they feel you fit they will focus on that and ignore other things.
Given that the assessment was only 10 minutes that is likely here. 

I realise you want to know but do you really need to know? 

You may be best looking at the descriptors online yourself, re-reading the report and making your own educated guess as to your placement.

Or a Subject Access Request to the DWP might show up what you are seeking. Google will help futher than me

AvivaNightmare

I wanted to know so I could include the assessment with my DLA to PIP application. 

The report is only one third of the page, the only thing I can see was severe functional disability in the area of mobilising reliably and repeatedly. 

Nothing about the IBS or Osteoarthritist in my hands, shoulders, hips, knees, spine, severe asthma, there are many descriptors I feel i meet when looking at all my conditions, and it looks from the report that I met one just based on fibromyalgia. 

Alice_Holt

It's possible that the assessor thought this applied:

"Regulations provide that a claimant can be treated as having LCWRA where there is a substantial risk to the health of any person.

For ESA, regulation 35 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 and regulation 31 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 provide -

A claimant who does not have limited capability for work-related activity... [having failed to satisfy any LCWRA descriptors] is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity if - (a) the claimant suffers from some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement; and (b) by reasons of such disease or disablement, there would be a substantial risk to the mental or physical health of any person if the claimant were found not to have limited capability for work-related activity."



There are no points allocated for the support group (unlike the WRAG), you need to satisfy one of these descriptors: 

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1353-support-group-descriptors

Alice_Holt

AvivaNightmare said:

I wanted to know so I could include the assessment with my DLA to PIP application. 

The report is only one third of the page, the only thing I can see was severe functional disability in the area of mobilising reliably and repeatedly. 

Nothing about the IBS or Osteoarthritist in my hands, shoulders, hips, knees, spine, severe asthma, there are many descriptors I feel i meet when looking at all my conditions, and it looks from the report that I met one just based on fibromyalgia. 

       PIP criteria are different to ESA.  So, an ESA assessment would not necessarily be that helpful, but it would be worth including a note on your application that your are in the ESA support group.

       

KxMx

AvivaNightmare said:

I wanted to know so I could include the assessment with my DLA to PIP application. 

The report is only one third of the page, the only thing I can see was severe functional disability in the area of mobilising reliably and repeatedly. 

Nothing about the IBS or Osteoarthritist in my hands, shoulders, hips, knees, spine, severe asthma, there are many descriptors I feel i meet when looking at all my conditions, and it looks from the report that I met one just based on fibromyalgia. 

From the report content you have posted I'd say this descriptor appears most likely:

1.  Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used.
Cannot either
 (i)  mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii)  repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion

The Fibromyalgia would also mean it would be unreasonable to expect you to use a manual wheelchair. 

I have some knowledge of this as I get ESA SG for that descriptior due to my condition and "failing" a manual wheelchair "test". 

AvivaNightmare

Many thanks all 

Spoonie_Turtle

Sounds very similar to my WCA, and yes considering that the mobility descriptor is the first one it it's logical that if you fit it, there's no need to prolong the assessment.  Congratulations on getting an assessor doing their job properly, and on getting the right decision first time round!

AvivaNightmare

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sounds very similar to my WCA, and yes considering that the mobility descriptor is the first one it it's logical that if you fit it, there's no need to prolong the assessment.  Congratulations on getting an assessor doing their job properly, and on getting the right decision first time round!

I was very surprised, I was expecting to possible have to fight for it. The assessor knew all about fibromyalgia & how it impacts. I think I was lucky !  

It doesn’t say but I believe I now no longer need to send in fit notes? 

poppy12345

AvivaNightmare said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sounds very similar to my WCA, and yes considering that the mobility descriptor is the first one it it's logical that if you fit it, there's no need to prolong the assessment.  Congratulations on getting an assessor doing their job properly, and on getting the right decision first time round!

It doesn’t say but I believe I now no longer need to send in fit notes? 

That's correct.

AvivaNightmare

poppy12345 said:

AvivaNightmare said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sounds very similar to my WCA, and yes considering that the mobility descriptor is the first one it it's logical that if you fit it, there's no need to prolong the assessment.  Congratulations on getting an assessor doing their job properly, and on getting the right decision first time round!

It doesn’t say but I believe I now no longer need to send in fit notes? 

That's correct.

Thanks Poppy