Too much information - help me please?

Please help me. I have severe arthritis in my lower spine, depression, panic attacks, migraines, asthma,and some other problems. I have tried sooo hard to take in all this information. I have looked at the guides and i honestly cannot process it. I'm confused as some of them say i have to get hardly any points to not be found to go into the group where i am tried to get back to work and somesay i need lots of points. I would honestly not be able to deal with group situations like that. I don't know what to do. I've been putting off completing my form for the ESA time after time and now my deadliine is a fortnight awayy and I'm terrified. I don't know what to do. I'm sure you r information is very helpful. I just can't take it all in and know what to do with it. I'm at my wits end. Can anybody PLEASE help clarify it in simple and basic terms. I jjust keep crying all the time and don't know what to put on the form.

OK, you mention an ESA form - an ESA50?

Take it a chunk at a time. Answer each question honestly with as much relevant information as possible. Don't just say "yes" if the answer is "occasionally for a few minutes with a lot of help".

Now let's look at the groups thing. There are two groups - the work related activity group and the support group. Neither requires you to apply for jobs, but in the WRAG you can be required to engage in work related activities such as learning to put together a good CV or meeting with someone to discuss your plans for getting back to work. You don't have to get a specific number of points to get into the support group, there are separate criteria for it.

If you can't cope with the guides, can you get someone (a friend?) to go through them and help you?

Thanks for that! Sorry for the delay in replying. I got a migraine and only just about returning to reality! The form I have is an ESA50 03/11. I've not got anyone that could go through the guides with me I'm afraid. In the words of my GP, I'm a virtual recluse now. I'm not totally stupid (I know you didn't say I was) and I understand some of it. It's just a panic attack thing when I look at how much information there is and it makes me think that there must be a lot to be wary of if it needs that much. I used to be a PA and very "with it", but I can't hold my concentration to even read a book now, when i used to have about six on the go at once. I think that's why I'm finding it so frustrating. I'm sure I have nothing to worry about, but then my panic takes over. When I did the online form that you have, it had a question at the end that asked if I thought NOT getting found fit for work would seriously affect me and that wasn't on the form that I received. With regards to everything else, I live alone, so i HAVE to cope with the pain to do things or I would never eat, or go out to the shops or do anything! I have to make sure i am dosed up with painkillers before i can plan to do anything major like shopping or cooking though. And I feel that to say I CAN'T do something that I HAVE to do no matter how painful is lying. And I don't want to do that. I just don't know what to do!

Hi Helen
I know just how awful and difficult all this is. Dig deep for that extra bit of strength, tell it how it is for you on the form get as much help and advice as you can.Pace yourself with the form. Bit at a time.
Bless you
hugs
Carole

Hi
firstly try not to get yourself into such a panic over all of this, its important to read the guides that are on here as they are a wealth of information.
When completing the form take your time in answering the questions and try if possible to give as much additional information as possible about your condition.
It is extremely important to return the ESA50 as soon as possible as delays can lead to benefits being stopped and nasty letters from Atos.

Good luck

Chris