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Dreaded white envelope received

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7 years 5 months ago #168919 by newcastle1949
Dreaded white envelope received was created by newcastle1949
Hi Everyone
Well after several years of being in the support group and only having one f2f yesterday I received the above, i was fortunate enough to have the 2 year deferral but looks like I now have to complete the dreaded "Capability for work questionnaire" i suffer with severe IBS, Fibromyalgia and Clinical Depression/Anxiety which have a massive effect on my quality of life and day to day living, i have plenty of evidence, consultants letter, proof that i have tried everything to ease some of my symptoms non of which have helped and have been told by my 3 different consultants they do not have a magic wand and my health will probably not improve as the illnesses are all linked, i will try my best to get this over to the people who will be assesing me but i am not relishing filling in the form, a couple of questions which i hope you don't mind and i am sure have been covered, just my head is in bits, where do i find the guide to completing this form please?, do aids go for or against you, I have a walking stick supplied by the hospital, several aids fro the kitchen also i have to employ some one to clean/iron etc for me, will this go for or against me, my IBS is very debilitating and has become much worse since my last review with several times a week i am unable to control my bowel and soil my self (sorry not the nicest of subjects) this is well documented from my consultant, Am I right in thinking this is automatic entry into the support group? thank you so much in advance for any help you can provide both from the MODS or other members of this site, you are a great support. My reassesment journey begins!!

Best Wishes
x

SWEETHEART

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7 years 5 months ago #168941 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Dreaded white envelope received
Sweetheart

The ESA Claim guides are in the Members Only area, the following is a direct link

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1

ESA will always consider the reasonable use of aids where appropriate but there is no specific mark up or down for the use of aids, which is different from PIP. So as an example, you mention you have a walking stick, your ability to walk with this will be considered unless you can show that your walking is worse with the stick or that you cannot use it due to physical issues.

ESA does not consider aids except in the context of the ESA Activities, so any aids you use for cooking will not be considered as this is not an activity the ESA looks at. In a similar vein, ESA is not interested (directly) in how your house is cleaned.

Continence problems can lead to a Support Group award, but is most certainly not automatic, you would need to show that you meet all of a very specific set of criteria, this is explained in the Claim guides.

If you have more questions then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: newcastle1949

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7 years 5 months ago #169156 by newcastle1949
Replied by newcastle1949 on topic Dreaded white envelope received
Thank you, i will start by reading your guides, i have noticed on the form it indicates a family member/friend can send a letter detailing how illness's affect me, in your opinion does this help your claim? what should they say? any help would be greatly appreciated. sorry to be a pest, thanks in advance

Best wishes

SWEETHEART

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7 years 5 months ago #169214 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Dreaded white envelope received

Sweetheart wrote: Thank you, i will start by reading your guides, i have noticed on the form it indicates a family member/friend can send a letter detailing how illness's affect me, in your opinion does this help your claim? what should they say? any help would be greatly appreciated. sorry to be a pest, thanks in advance

Best wishes


I would not expect a letter of this sort to carry much weight with the DWP Decision Maker but they do carry more weight with a Tribunal panel.

A letter has to include the name and address of the person writing it, how they know you (friend or relative), how often they see you and an explanation of the issue they see you as having, it needs to be signed and they need to attest that it is true to the best of their knowledge. The letter should be addressed to "whom it may concern" or similar.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: newcastle1949

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7 years 5 months ago #170030 by newcastle1949
Replied by newcastle1949 on topic Dreaded white envelope received
Hi Everyone, hope you are all bearing up, thank you so much for your help so far, i have spent hours reading your guides, my friend completing the form for me and she has kindly photocopied my substantial amount of medical evidence, also she has done an additional info letter as the boxes are really not large enough on some of the questions, hopefully one last thing to ask you before sending off everything!.

in the additional info do you think it is worth me stating that i have been in the support group for several years without a f2f and believe i should remain in the group because of my health?? these are probably not the words to use so any advice/help would be very much appreciated.

Best Wishes

SWEETHEART

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7 years 5 months ago #170031 by newcastle1949
Replied by newcastle1949 on topic Dreaded white envelope received
so sorry!! just remembered something else i meant to ask, my depression causes memory blanks!, i applied to my local authority for a blue badge as my mobility has deteriorated, i am currently on low rate dla, i was awarded the blue badge from the local authority with the evidence i provided, is it worth mentioning this in the additional info letter for ESA, i don't want to trigger DLA - PIP or rock the boat.

Best Wishes

SWEETHEART

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