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Been awarded zero points after F2F

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6 years 8 months ago #194030 by Rogue75
Been awarded zero points after F2F was created by Rogue75
I was awarded WRAG in December after a F2F assessment after having been in the support group for a couple of years and on income support before that since about 1999. The nurse was very thorough and methodical and went through my case in a detailed fashion. I was initially upset about the decision but decided to see it in a positive light. I engaged with the Work Programme and the lady at the Shaw Trust has been very supportive. I had started to make small steps toward wellness with some short periods of ill health in between. My long term goal is to return to work when I am ready. My initial diagnosis was psychosis and depression. A couple of months after going on WRAG my diagnosis changed to bipolar disorder which as some you know is a complex, lifelong, severe and highly fluctuating mental illness.

I had the shock of my life when I received a second ESA less than 5 months after the last one which. I had another F2F with a different nurse. This time, she was all over the place jumping about between topics and not going into detail. I read the report and although it resembles what I actually said, everything is out of context and not representative of my typical day at all. I'm thinking "Who is this guy?" He sounds like an outgoing sociable happy person who is fastidiously tidy and has a solid routine which is nothing like me and I wish it was. It also says I manage my money well. I'm 5 grand in debt!!!. She made no mention of the short psychotic episode I told her about about which occurred a couple of months ago.

The reality is that I have trouble doing simple things like doing the washing up and bathing regularly. My flat looks like a complete tip and when I do manage to tidy up I'm never motivated enough for long enough to make a dent. I don't see anyone outside my own family and doctor's appointments for months on end. I feel very socially isolated. I haven't had a relationship since I was 21(I am now 43). My body clock cycles round the clock(non 24/free-running pattern) and sleep at weird hours all the time. Sometimes I sleep for like 12 hours and sometimes I only have 4 hours(or less in a manic episode). I sleep mostly on the sofa because I haven't managed to actually put sheets on my bed. My mood is all over the place- mostly depression when the weather is bad particularly, mood swings and mixed moods ins spring and autumn but when the weather is good I become hypomanic(I feel like a superhero) which leads to me going out more, spending money I don't have and then drinking and doing illicit drugs which then turns into a full-blown manic/psychotic episode which then causes me to behave strangely and say and believe bizarre things and/or I become very irritable and short-tempered and have drastic mood swings.

Since the interview my mood became worse as a consequence of bad weather and I haven't been sleeping very well or at socially acceptable hours. When i received the phone call from the DWP I went ballistic and was screaming down the phone in distress at the poor woman who clearly doesn't relish her job. The stress has caused my depression to go from moderate to severe, and now my mood has completely flipped round as a consequence of not sleeping at all and I'm now in a hypomanic state which is probably why I'm being so verbose.

I intend to appeal so would appreciate it if someone could advise me on what evidence I'll need for the Mandatory Reconsideration and subsequent appeal. The lady at Shaw Trust said she'd send her report and I'm due to see my Dr next week about the results of a checkup/blood test. I'm going to have to apply for JSA despite being in no fit state to do the hoop-jumping they require, so I'm sure I will need an Orwellian "fit" note as well. I suppose I'd better save this as well so i can remember if I lose grip on reality.

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6 years 8 months ago - 6 years 8 months ago #194065 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic Been awarded zero points after F2F
Hi Rogue,

I am so sorry this has happened to you :(

Our guides explain how to go about the MR, so that should be your first port of call

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and...ory-reconsiderations

I assume, from what you have said, that you have a copy of the face2face assessment report? If not, it is certainly worth doing. However, you should not wait for this to arrive if it will take you beyond the 1 month for automatic acceptance of the MR request.

You are right in saying that you will need to get a 'fit note' now. This should start from the day after your ESA finished and continue until a decision is made to reinstate your ESA.

May I suggest that you 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 or comments about your ESA without having to start a new topic each time. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it helps us enormously - and I hope you will find it useful too :)

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 6 years 8 months ago by slugsta.

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