Supporting evidence for ESA claim

jamdog

If you don't have up to date medical evidence then I would certainly include anything that you have from when you were last treated but you will need to show it's applicability to how you are now.

Have you spoken to your GP about any help that they may be able to provide.

ESA is not awarded for your conditions, from your post you may meet several of the legally defined Descriptors but you will need to show this in detail. have a look at our ESA Claim guides for the criteria against which you are being assessed.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1

Gordon

[quote="jamdog
" post=208368]Thanks a lot for the response, Gordon. I've already been working my way through the guides – they are very informative. I'm seeing my doctor Thursday week and I will ask. What kind of things might a doctor offer? Is it reasonable to ask him to say "in my opinion this patient fits descriptor X, he cannot repeat a 50 m walk in a reasonable timeframe"?[/quote]

If they are prepared to do this then it will definitely help but be aware ESA is not a walking test, it is a Mobility test! In addition to your walking it considers your ability to self-propel a manual wheelchair over the same distances, you do not need to be using a wheelchair or even to own one for it to be considered. SO even if you can show your walking is restricted, unless you can also show that you cannot self-propel the wheelchair you will still not score points.

Gordon

jamdog

Don't assume that those assessing you will understand that you cannot use a wheelchair, you must explain in detail why you can't.

As to evidence, in increasing order of preference; diagnosis letters, letters that explain your physical and/or mental problems, letters that specifically testify about your problems completing the ESA activities.

A mobility diary is a good idea, but understand what it is showing before you submit it, as it might be interpreted as showing that you can mobilise more than you can.

Gordon