Supporting Evidence Query

Hello, I'm new here but I've been claiming ESA for over 7yrs and DLA for about 5. I've tried searching the forums but am very low in energy due to the stress and energy involved in filling out ESA50 so I'm struggling to read everything.

I have supporting evidence from 2010 written by a specialist who I saw about a year after my doctor gave me a diagnosis. Obviously this is out of date and the way I manage my illness now is very different which means what's detailed on my supporting evidence is incorrect and paints a rosier picture than my reality.

Is it worth sending this in to confirm my diagnosis or would it do more damage than good?

My other concern is; the last time I filled out the ESA50, 2yrs ago, I was advised by CAB and an ME charity to fill it in only detailing how I am on bad days. This time I am using your guidelines to fully explain what I am and aren't capable of and what happens if I go over these limits. Because of this difference in approach there will be an inconsistency between the form I filled out two years ago and the form now despite the fact that the effect my illness has on my abilities has not changed. Should I be worried about this?

I rarely see my doctor and only go when absolutely necessary on good days to discuss individual ailments rather than my health as a whole so I'm planning to give her a list of bullet points so she can update my records and provide the correct information in the event she is contacted.

Many thanks for reading.

Hi BL and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I'm glad you are finding our guides helpful for your ESA reassessment.

Only you can decide whether to submit certain things as evidence. I do agree that something which paints an unrealistic picture of your current situation could be a problem. Do you have anything else that conforms your diagnosis, even if it is only in passing?

You do not actually need a diagnosis in order to claim ESA but, to be honest, it does make it easier if DWP can look at their guidelines and match them up with a particular condition.

I would not expect the assessor to have any prior knowledge of you or whether you are already in receipt of ESA, so I don't think you need to worry about any discrepancy between to the ESA50s.

Maximus do not often contact the claimant's GP but I do think you are wise to have provided your GP with current information, just in case!

You might want to bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future. This will allow you to return with further questions/comments without having to start a new topic each time. It helps us enormously when everything relating to the same claim is kept in one place - and I hope you will find it useful too

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to me and for your advice.

I'll have a look and if I can't find anything else I'll add it in with a note attached explaining the situation, I think.

Thank you for alleviating my fears a bit, I'm so anxious about the whole thing, it helps to have somewhere to discuss it.

I'll come back to this thread if I have any more questions/to let you know how it goes.

Many thanks again

Hello,

I got a letter today from the ESA office confirming my entitlement to ESA but I'm not sure if it's a new decision following the reassessment form or just confirming my current entitlement because I've recently changed address and the reassessment is still taking place...not sure what to do, any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi BL,

We get this kind of confusion quite often - DWP are not known for the clarity of their communication! I'm afraid all you can do is contact DWP and ask what is happening.

Thanks. I'll try to call but I find it very difficult to use the phone so I'll probably just wait and see what happens next. At least I know they have the right address