on contribution esa for 6 weeks now. what next!

i have been off work since last xmas, with knee problems, osteo arthritis and acl to one knee. have had 2 keyhole ops to repair cartiledge damage, very little left.

i went onto esa in early sept. was told i would be on contribution based,
then got letter saying i was to fill this form in and attend a medical. i filled the form in , but as i had just had an op, and on crutches, told them that i couldn't possibly travel anywhere for a medical at the moment because off this.
i have not heard from them since. they pay me £67 a week. apart from last month when i noticed it was not in the bank. so phoned them up and they say it was because my sick note had run out on the 08/aug. (why they didn't tell me), so got another one from the doctors backdated to this time.
still to this day haven't heard from them, i thought i was going to get some support from them to help me find more suitable work for me.

The notion that ESA has been designed to get claimants back into work is a complete fallacy, especially more so in the current economic climate.

ESA was designed purely to get claimants off sickness benefits by hook or by crook!

Hi, have you had a medical yet?

ESA assessment phase lasts 13 weeks from when you first claim (ie beginning of Sept).

You need to provide 'fit notes' from your GP up until the time of your medical assessment with ATOS.

You will either; pass and be put into the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group and your money will go up. Or

you will fail and then have to decide whether or not to appeal the decision.

You will not get any help back to work until this process has occurred.

Best wishes,
Rachel

i am now beginning to realise that it is a honey trap benefit designed to get you off their books.

sorry 1st post was meant to say went on to esa 08 july not aug.
and no i have not had a medical, only that 1st letter asking me to fill it in for the medical, which i couldn't possibly have attended, this was about 4 weeks ago.

my 13 weeks is up on the 06/10/2011. 2 weeks time