Letters of Support

Do letters of support make much difference when submitted along with the ESA50 form?

My GP has agreed to do a letter for me and wants to know what I want in it! Are there any guidelines on the site for supporting letters?

If you want to send in evidence to the DWP, the earlier the better, so that a decision can be made as to whether you need to attend an assessment or whether you can be awarded ESA on the basis of paper evidence. This is particularly important if you think that you should be in the support group.

Our guides to ESA don't give templates for such letters, but it would be worth your while to familiarise yourself with the descriptors for ESA, which we do give, and with our guides to getting ESA, so that you can take a view on which are relevant and what you think your GP can most usefully provide evidence of. If you don't tell him, he may omit to mention something that would be helpful to you.

It would be nice to have a chance to send in the letters of support early...but I won't even be sending in my ESA50 before the medical itself! My ESA50 was due to be sent in at the end of July but I asked for an extension to that date and was given 3 weeks. However, before the 3 weeks was up I received a date for the medical assessment for the end of August. I was told just to take the form along with me to the medical, because if I submitted it when it was due it may not make it back to the Assessment Centre in time for the examining doctor to see it anyway!

I asked why I was called for a medical without anyone seeing the form to assess whether I should have gone straight into the Support Group. I was told they had sent a Med3? form to my doctor who had put my illnesses on it and sent it back to them. This was the determination of scheduling the medical examination without seeing my ESA50.

I don't stand a chance of getting benefits anymore as the system is prejudiced against fibromyalgia. The new questionnaire is impossible to answer with my condition and I know I am going to lose my benefits.

I, actually, don't care about the money but am concerned about my N.I. contributions not being paid anymore. That is going to affect me far into the future.

Is there any point at this stage knocking myself out getting my supporting letters?

marcali wrote:

It would be nice to have a chance to send in the letters of support early...but I won't even be sending in my ESA50 before the medical itself! My ESA50 was due to be sent in at the end of July but I asked for an extension to that date and was given 3 weeks. However, before the 3 weeks was up I received a date for the medical assessment for the end of August. I was told just to take the form along with me to the medical, because if I submitted it when it was due it may not make it back to the Assessment Centre in time for the examining doctor to see it anyway!

I asked why I was called for a medical without anyone seeing the form to assess whether I should have gone straight into the Support Group. I was told they had sent a Med3? form to my doctor who had put my illnesses on it and sent it back to them. This was the determination of scheduling the medical examination without seeing my ESA50.

I don't stand a chance of getting benefits anymore as the system is prejudiced against fibromyalgia. The new questionnaire is impossible to answer with my condition and I know I am going to lose my benefits.

I, actually, don't care about the money but am concerned about my N.I. contributions not being paid anymore. That is going to affect me far into the future.

Is there any point at this stage knocking myself out getting my supporting letters?

Hi M,

I understand your thoughts re: Fibro, and gaining a fair assessment.

However, many members with Fibro, have gained such an assessment.

Please don't give up, as this is exactly the desired effect that the powers that be want.

I do understand how stressful this constant fighting can be, but try and draw strength from the success stories that we see on B&W.

best wishes

bro58

Hi Marcil
Wanted to echo what bro has just said. Dig deep for that extra bit of strength and fight. Dont give up, lots of luck to you.
Its an awful system
hug to you
Carole