support letters

hi today i am sending a copy of my ESA50 and support letters to the Desicion Maker,as my condition has not changed since i was awarded ESA 18 months ago i am still attending therapy would old letters of support from my GP and physiciatrist that i used with last ESA50 form be taken as evidence, i do have new letters of support from my physcologist to support my present ESA50

i am also due to regular therapy treatment with my physcologist every 2 weeks i have sent a letter along with my ESA50 from her from her to confirm this, on top of this i also attend a mental hospital day care unit and im still under a physchiatrist are these all to my advantage in my case
thankyou jamesy

Hi Jamesy

Decision makers have to make a decision based you your present health so evidence that's more than six months old would be out-of-date and of limited value.

However, there is still no harm in sending medical evidence that's out-of-date if you feel it's relevant or demonstrates that you health is not improving but it is vital that you provide full up-to-date medical evidence to support your claim.

I would imagine that being in the care of several health professionals will help but the decision maker will be more interested in what they have to say in the letter.

Good luck

Derek

thanks derek much appreciated

Oh this doesn't bode well for me then as when it comes to evidence I only have a letter of diagnoses from my consultant that's 5 years old.

I haven't seen him in later years as he was private and as my condition is incurable and hard to treat and so I've been pretty much left to self manage as best I can with the aid of the local pain clinic and my GP.

If I had the money I'd gone and seen my old Uro for another letter but I've barely any money left to live off let alone pay fro that, and waiting times for the NHS are still too long to have fitted me in in such short notice.

Does a letter from your GP hold any weight at all? The pain management consultant wouldn't write me a supporting letter saying that the government don't believe consultants these days.

Derek4 wrote:

Decision makers have to make a decision based you your present health so evidence that's more than six months old would be out-of-date and of limited value.

Apparently this rule does not apply to the DWP who are trying to 'get away' with using ESA/DLA medical assessment reports, which in some cases are over 12 months old to decide on current benefit entitlement, often resulting in an adverse decision.

Clearly there is one rule for the DWP and another rule for claimants!

Derek4 wrote:

Hi Jamesy

Decision makers have to make a decision based you your present health so evidence that's more than six months old would be out-of-date and of limited value.

However, there is still no harm in sending medical evidence that's out-of-date if you feel it's relevant or demonstrates that you health is not improving but it is vital that you provide full up-to-date medical evidence to support your claim.

I would imagine that being in the care of several health professionals will help but the decision maker will be more interested in what they have to say in the letter.

Good luck

Derek

I obtained a letter of support from one of my consultants dated 31/03/11, as I expected to be transferred IB to ESA, any time after that. I have not heard anything yet.

I have noted Derek's comments, and agree totally with CD's comments.

Bearing this in mind, and as most people only get to see their consultants every 6-12 months, and possible accessiblity problems in getting written support in between these consultations, within time constraints set by DWP/ATOS

If a letter of support is over 6 months old, would it be accepted by DWP/ATOS if you acquired an update letter, e.g.

Mr X is still under my care, their condition has not improved, and I stand by my comments made in my letter of xx/xx/xxxx.

Then attaching this update to the original letter.

cheers