Well i hope NRAS do not object to this , but i have just got the letter that everyone dreads if they are on Incapacity Benefit...


The letter starts "THE BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE IS CHANGING" .. and basically means that my Incapacity Benefit is due to change to ESA , providing i fit the descriptors.


Some of you will have received this in the past and it is definite that some of you will receive this in the future with regard to DLA to PIP conversions and other benefits to Universal Credit.


I think my issue is that i know exactly what is happening to other people, in a similar situation so in effect i am fearful for my own situation. Sometimes ...ignorance is Bliss.

ergo ( ooo a posh word) i have decided to post a website that is RA based and explicitly describes the efforts i have to go to to prove i am ill enough to NOT be regarded as " Fit for work".

Unfortunately being capable of producing a small website (even though it has been set up over a long time period) ,may in fact defeat my argument and it may be argued that if i can do that .....then ...etc ?


I have also emailed my MP with the link , and i intend it that part of the site to be an on-line diary , hopefully explaining what was done and when .

I am also going to be filling out the ESA migration Diary and making CAB social policy aware of the blog.

Follow my exploits on my updated Diary and twitter


Please forgive any odd typo's or the site looks as it is a learning process:)

Rich :)

Hi Rich - I'm so sorry to hear you sound so glum - you're such a help to people on here, I really hope that the changeover is not too stressful for you. Your blog sounds like a good idea - do please keep sharing with us. Very best wishes - Sylvia xx

I hope all goes well.

The way disabled benefit applicants are treated is disappointing to say the least. I really understand how infections can knock us for six and how it can take weeks to get over bugs in our immune compromised state. To get threatening letters like this really doesn't help you when you are chronically and acutely ill. The thought of being reliant on disability benefits in the future really scares the hell out of me. I feel so sorry for all of you who have to go through this frightening and humiliating experience.

Dear Rich,

I won't even ask why you pulled that part of the website, but I think I have a pretty good idea.

If I am correct then it may well be a wise decision.

Good luck to you with your claim.

My completed "Questionnaire" went in the post "Registered" at 3.30p.m today.

I had a really lousy few days over filling it in.

Best wises,

Fiona

to ATOS!

Good luck with yours too Fiona ...

I have been dreading this but hey ho it has to be done :(

And i have put the blog up again and now my site is powered by wordpress :) Luckily it let me put last week as the publishing date ..still have 2 more posts to do from this week :O


New Site

If you are up to it i would definitely consider a complaint and letter to the JCP/DWP and get the MP involved .

Really hope you are feeling ok .

Rich :_)

All the best with this Rich. I find the whole ESA thing a real pain and very stress inducing, the only people who understand this are the people applying for it.

Good luck.

Bevxx

I'm just wondering Chrissie on what basis they declared you 'fit for work'? Was it as a result of the medical assessment? We are living in hard times and people who claim disability benefits seem to be very unjustly treated. It's so wrong. Sigh............

Dear Chrissie.

It really is worthwhile to Appeal their decision.

A fair few appeals result in an overturning of the Atos Decision makers decision as I

have read.

My daughter appealed her medical decision that she was fit to work and won it.

She received reduced Benefits while awaiting the case to be heard but then her claim was backdated and she was granted

a further 3 years of full Sickness Benefits before any reassessment was allowed in her case.

It was emotionally very upsetting for her to be dragged through a hearing, etc, but she won!

Best wishes,

Fiona

It is not all doom and gloom Jenny.
I actually did not have to have a medical , and was in effect signed off for 18 months , and do NOT have to deal with the work programme.
This is how it should be !

As my blog states , get medical evidence from everyone who is involved in your care , provide consultants letters ( I actually get a report from RA Nurse Consultant every visit.)
Do not think that the ESA is a trivial document , read all the notes that come with it , and be honest about how RA affects you

Have a look at an example ESA 50
http://www.nawra.org.uk/...eting%20the%20ESA50.pdf

this is from the National Assoc of Welfare rights workers site and another recommend.

Due to the effect of Legal Aid Reform , you may find that help is limited , even with regard to CAB;s , so be prepared for that.

My Bureau will help with the forms , but we no longer can help with ESA appeals as they are too time consuming.( and i hate that fact!)

Pls remember you only have 4 weeks to return the form and it is really upto you to get medical evidence.
Lot of info on that blog ..which i really should update :)

All the best

Rich