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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
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As we don't have a thread for ESA on the revamped forum, here's one I made earlier .... Please share your ESA stories, either new ESA claimants or current IB claimants who are likely to be migrated between 2010 and 2013. Carol
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Rank: Newbie  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Hi, Had my medical way back in october, as of yet heard nothing about my claim for ESA. Will keep you all up to speed when i hear.
Dylan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
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Good luck with your claim Dylan. Was that the first medical that you had in October, or Work-focused health-related assessment as they call it? Aren't they supposed to be letting you know within about 8 weeks? Hopefully you'll hear soon although I expect they'll have a Christmas backlog. Keep us posted! Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Hi Carol,
These people are driving me to despair. Although I still have a job to return to and still getting paid- albeit half pay, I was told by my employer to claim ESA, which I duly did. I received a letter stating I would be getting X amount, which was then followed-up by a "Limited work capability Questionnaire." I really don't see why I should attend an interview and go through this process when I will be returning to a job that I am capable of doing once my treatment is in place. Surely this is a waste of time and resources?
Does anyone have examples of how I should complete this form to reflect the complex condition that we have?
Love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Hi All, I spoke to soon had my report back today and wait for it i scored no points, zilch, nowt. Just sitting here with a what the hey kinda smile on my face. Obviously the health care proffesional cant be wrong in her assessment of my condition can she?. So what now i will appeal of course when i can get through on the telephone line that is always busy. Just be warned if anyone is going for a medical you will have to be virtually dying and even then you still will be deemed fit enough to work.
Dylan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009
Posts: 176
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Nill Points! Now we all know that these (untrained) Health Care know every thing. Perhaps you should ask which medical center she took her degree at? No, Serioulsy, don't accept this, shout by letter phone and e-mail. I do appreciate that this takes time and effort you might well be short of at the moment, but hang on in there!
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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It seems they are pushing everyone off benefit with the exception of those who have not got the get up and go that lazaras had. It seems we are worse off than the disabled by the unpredictablity and fluctuation of functions. Someone should start a campaign to get them to understand the issues we have having this condition and having this condition and working. Psychologically this disease gives us such a hammering and its difficult to have the understanding environment needed to allow us to have a good work/life balance. Our priority has to be our health not make things worse by the stress occurred by forcing everyone through this victorian/edwardian workhouse approach. I dont understand how this welfare reform was allowed to get through without first putting in an infrastructure for allowances and support for those with health conditions. If they were serious in helping or empowering us back to work then the measures would be more thought through and it wouldnt feel like a stick!. Perhaps they should employ us to understand what could be asked of some of us....  It just goes to show how difficult it is for people to have a modicum of understanding of life from our perspective. 
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Hi, Thanks for the responses the ball is in motion eventually got through to the telephone number and made my official request for a (re-trial), trouble is i have to wait for the GL24 form to come through, until it is filled in and sent back then no money coming in. Was also informed that until my appeal is heard i will be on a 20% reduced rate and if appeal is successful then all will be paid back to me. Another interesting point is that i can clain JSA whilst appeal is being made and its virtually the same amount. Not pursuing this option though.
am concerned that this is just a trial run by the DWP because the real targets are the people on IB but in the meantime there are going to be a lot of people who are disabled who are going to find themselves thrust back onto the job front through no fault of there own.
Do the NRAS have any views regarding the treatment of people with RA.
Dylan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 336
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Am I on my own in finding I can't follow the conversation when things are abrieviated to capital letters, I hardly kmow they mean. Glenys.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Dylan,
You could try ringing NRAS to see if they can advise you on this.
Have you thought about involving your MP?
Write to whoever it is , explaining your predicament and ask for their help in claiming what you are fully entitled to.
Send some NRAS booklets/leaflets with the letter so that he or she can understand just what RA is.
After all, the government introduced ESA so should help you when your claim is being blocked.
Does anyone know if the disability act can be used here? They are after all turning disabled people down for benefits they are entitled to.
They are also refusing people the right to support their claim if they are not taking GP's or consultant's letters into account.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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I intend to print off information about RA and submit it to support the information I provide in my Limited Work Capability questionnaire and how the illness affects me, such as: the link between fatigue and RA, depression & RA, pain & RA. A big one for me is that I have not been established on a treatment yet!
In the event that I can't get back to work and if I have to go to an interview, believe me I will give these people a run for their money, and will like Mandy suggests, ask where the person undertook their medical degree and will ask if they have a professorship in rheumatology!!
Sorry Glenys for using abbreviations: ESA is short for Employment Support Allowance; DWP, Department of Work and Pensions. I think a GL24 form is a form used to appeal a decision.
Love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Glenys, sorry about abbreviations my fault naturally presume people are fully up to speed.
Please do not be offended but we are missing the point here these health proffesionals are being employed by the people who cant manage the situation ( GOVERNMENT ). They get paid money by the government for every person they see and of course they have targets to meet on a monthly basis so its in there own interests to get as many people off ESA, IB ASAP. Another example of how much the system is failing is a company formally known as Work Directions they are called Ingeus now, again this company has been asked by the government to help people who have health problems get back into work again for everyone they see and it is a maximum of five times they get paid x amount by youv'e guessed it the government, trouble is they do not care and have to reach monthly targets set by their managers who have been set targets by, wait for it the government. Its a complete win win situation for the government. How do i know all this well i have just finished my fifth and last compulsory meeting with them. The lady in question had know experiance with disabled people of any description and considering it was a place where disabled people go there was no parking spaces and the door to get in and the toilet were that heavy i had to ask for help. I call on all of us to get some sort of petition and support from NRAS so that this rotten disease can be made more aware to the people that should be caring.
Dylan
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Please excuse my spelling its rather late and i am tired now, its the fibromyalgia that keeps me up along with the RA of course.
And thank you all for your support
Dylan
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 9 Location: Birmingham
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Hi All, Just got my medical report through post will read and post my feelings next few days. Appeal has gone off to DWP as well.
Dylan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
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Watching this space Dylan!  Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
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Read today that the Government have given a date for beginning the migration of incapacity benefit claimants onto employment and support allowance. From October 2010, a reassessment of all customers receiving Incapacity Benefit or Income Support on the grounds of disability for ESA. Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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You know I have read that the DWP is getting a lot of kick back from various organsiations with regards to how they are handling this migration. I know regardless of which party wins the election as the preception is that all sickness/disability claimiants are scroungers there is no real understanding of our true situation, so its hardly likely to be repealed. However, I am starting to think (and maybe I am an optomist) that they have their hands full and a lot can happen in the next 10 months. Lets hope there is a push back on this.
BTW I went on to the MS forum to see how they were dealing with this migration and they are getting a tough time too. I bet if all of us with immune system disorders got together we would have more clout. So waiting to see what Dylan turns up.
Thanks for posting the info Carol.
Mari
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 259
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I went for my medical yesterday. Done by a doctor who was very polite and appeared to be sympathetic.
I won't get any money, but am hoping they will pay my 'stamp'.
I'll keep you posted,
Jan x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/3/2010 Posts: 44 Location: Horsham, West Sussex
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Jan wrote:I went for my medical yesterday. Done by a doctor who was very polite and appeared to be sympathetic.
I won't get any money, but am hoping they will pay my 'stamp'.
I'll keep you posted,
Jan x Hi Jan I'm in the same boat. I went for mine yesterday in the hope that they'll pay my NI. The lady who did it was very cold and detached and I'm not sure if it was a complete lack of personality or whether they're briefed to be this way. I have no idea how it went and she certainly wasn't giving anything away! I look forward to hearing how you've got on! Kathryn x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 259
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Hi Kathryn,
The doc I saw was really nice, friendly and polite. A real gentleman. I was worried that it was to lull me into a false sense of security.
Just shows how suspicious we are!
I'll keep you posted.
Good luck with yours.
Jan x
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