Hi All, I,m hoping that someone may have some idea about incapacity benefit/E.S.A as i really dont have a clue. I have been off since april on sick as my R.A is uncontrolled. I,m on Sulph and more recently leflu but as yet no change in my R.a. I am having my second occy health appointment ON 27TH and am convinced that my boss wants me out. I am wanting to return to work but am just not well enough, the fatigue is hurrendous! also i have to drive to work which is just so painful. I am wanting to know if my work retire me on incapacity will i be able to recieve some sort of benefit? (the financial worry is making me ill) i would be very grateful for any advice. x

Hi Suzanne, sorry to hear that you are struggling too. I believe that you are right, there are no quick fixes but we just have to keep believing that things will improve. You take care.xx

ohhh Rose,

this is so unfair that all this has been heaped on you for having an illness.

in all honestly there is no way i would be able to get myself to work feeling the way i am and i know you're not feeling any better than me at the moment, also with the added pressure of not actually having an actual date to at least see the Consultant.

think you know i have an appointment with my GP Weds morning not sure how clued up he is re RA, but i am going armed with a long list of questions, i was originally going as my sleep has gone to pot and i want to know if he knows of any problems Methotrexate can cause with sleep problems.

but i am going to ask him about all the info i've read on all the other drugs i've learnt about since joining the Forum although i do understand i don't think anything will change until i am established on the 20mg.

don't get me wrong i do think my RA Department is good and have had nothing but great support from them and can get hold of the Rheumy Nurse within 24 hours, also was seen as an emergency when my inflammation shot up hence the increase to 20mg.

but between him and the Hospital i am hoping to learn a bit more along this long journey.

if i glean any information that i think useful will post as well as re the NRAS meeting.

sorry to butt in on your post Kerrie but was hoping to catch up with Rose,

Suzanne x

Hi Guys

I feel for you all and understand exactly where you are coming from. I was an HEO in Legal Aid when I started with RA at the age of 31, had over 60 staff working for me and quite a large budget to control. I loved my job and would have done anything to continue, but it wasn't to be. I went off sick believing a few weeks of rest and I would be back to normal. Various drugs were tried, most worked for a short time at least but the weeks turned into months and there was no lasting improvement. After eighteen months I was retired on ill health grounds never to return.

RA demands our attention 100% of the time and even when we are feeling okay it tends never to be too far away! Always lurking awaiting its comeback when we let our guard down. Things are very different now and employers are unable to discriminate against those with long term health problems. However I do wonder whether, had I been able to return to work, I might actually have ended up a whole lot worse health-wise. We will never know!

Kerrie, I would think you would be able to apply for some benefit but I'm totally out of whack with the current benefits system. Our new member 'Rich' may be able to help out with some info.; let's hope he pops by soon!!

I understand the financial implications, I was the main earner too, but sometimes money worries have to take a back seat as stress only adds to the RA dilemma. Take care guys and try to stay positive.

Lyn x

HI, THE SYSTEM IS NOT EASY, i went off on sick leave in nov 09 with a flare up as i was getting my work load made heavier by new employers who bought previous out,anyway my original chef/manager put loads into place for me, which when new chef came in took most out and said i could cope,management did not want to know,,when i went on sick leave i got a phone call to meet up and have A CHAT about my situation, but my husband died at the same time and i went on bereavement benefits as well as ssp, i never got my chat but when i went into see work i had choices work less hrs or go full time( i was 30hrs to get tax credits)none would be any use to me i handed them my notice on same day and left,i phoned the dwp and got alot of good advice and a benefit check over the phone,forms were sent out and i now get esa starting nov but when my BB stops in nov sadly i drop £75 a month due to new government but i dont have the energy to work any more,please try its worth the agro,have ni num ready and all work details pen and pad at hand before you call or go to www.dwp.gov.uk or direct.gov.uk i think both get you to benefits its all on there and you can benefit check online,good luck it is scary as i had never done it before but go for it what have you to lose.good luckxx
work can discriminate you but try proving it, i felt beaten but to ill to care to be honest.
i read nras books first they have really good advice thats how my first boss understood my health i gave him the one for employers.

Hi Kerrie ,

well done on a smooth transition from SSP to ESA . Remember you still need to get medical certs (fit notes) from your GP , and make sure they overlap date wise .(This will be until the JCP tell you in writing you no longer have to.
if you haven't received one already you will be sent a form called an ESA 50 ..which asks questions on what you can and cannot do.

There is a copy of the form here ESA 50 form. for you to look at (Do NOT USE THIS ONE) .. they will send you one in the next few weeks if you haven't got one already.
Best advice even if you state you CAN do something , answer in the space provided with details of problems you have and try to use all available space on the form.Do not exaggerate but do not underestimate your condition, and definitely fill in a rough draft on plain paper with friends/family present to remind you of occasions when you couldn't do something. Use these as examples in the spaces.And always remember good and bad days .

The medical will be local and you should get your fares back for that. Medical Guide
A list of descriptors is available here , and remember the Health Care Professional should take into account repeatability ESA Descriptors You need a Total of 15 points ( you can only have the topmost points from each category)

The DWP decision Maker will use your ESA 50 , your Medical and any other evidence you send from your GP and Consultant as basis for his decision on whether you are capable of work. This is different to whether you can do your present job .

Some people have also found it handy to keep a diary and this can be a very powerful tool .
It is great you have your GP onside , but any evidence from them as to what descriptors you fit would aid the decision maker in making a right decision.

Hope this helps

Rich :)

Hiya Kerrie,

DLA is different as it takes into account care and mobility needs only . ESA takes into account your ability to do ANY work.
Best option is to print off the ESA descriptors as in the link in my above post , and go through each of the descriptors with your CPN, and get them to write a letter taking these into account .They are divided into 2 sections Physical and Mental descriptors , so you might need further support from your GP/Consultant with regard to the Physical ones.
Do not send to ATOS , but to the DWP with your NI Number on any and all sheets of paper that you send into them and ideally do this before the medical so that the Decision Maker has all relevant facts and can make a correct decision.:)

Your DWP address will be at the top of correspondence from them and normally has the the name of a town with BDC after it (Benefits Delivery Centre)

Rich :)

Hi Kerrie, As I am going througha similar process and my claim is now going before Tribunal, this could be in January 2011. I would advise you if you send anything with evidence from your GP etc. If you write any statements please send them recorded delivery. I recently sent off all my evidence from doctors letter, consultants letters etc and they lost it. However speaking to several other people who are going through similar processe they seem to use this excuse a lot. As I was advised by the Tribunals service when you send it recorded delivery they have to log it has been delivered. They do not tell you this on the form. it cost £1.40.
By the way I scored 12 ponts and you have to score 15. they claim I bent down to pick up my bag which was level with my chair, not so much bending as tilting. However this move ruled me out as being able to bend,kneel and squat in the descriptors which meant I scored 0. I wish I could Bend,Kneel and squat. I have had to ask my GP to qualify that I am not able to do this.
I was also at work and battled with trying to work with RA I used everything at my fingertips to keep me in work. However my company made me redundant Sept 2009. I took them to tribunal and I won. They discriminated against me becuase they did not provide me with the right equipment as under the DDA and loaded me with work. Which caused me tremendous stress. I loved my job I want to work but have tried for 12 months now and have been shortlisted for jobs but as soon as you reveal on the APP Form I have RA I never even have a rejection letter even if I ask for feed back as to why I did not get the job they do not reply.
From reading this site I feel so for the people who have to try to manage with this disease and try to hold down a job at the cost their own health.

With the talant on this site I think we could start our own company at least we understand each other.

Just keep on going on, keep chipping away and keep positive, you are your own team leader.

Love Alison