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ESA50 just received - very scared

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5 years 8 months ago #214044 by Wiggles
ESA50 just received - very scared was created by Wiggles
Hi everyone,

I'm new posting here. Has anyone else gone through what I am about to? Basically, I don't think my situation will be perceived well by the DWP (see 'crux of possible issue'), but I know how I live and what I experience daily and I miss my old and active life! I cry constantly because I'm not what I was, what I had always wanted to be.

I'm on PIP and on ESA support group, I last completed an ESA form and PIP mid 2016. I have just received an ESA50 form and the cover letter says that I'm receiving it because I'm already receiving it. There's no further explanation. I guess this is their way of checking to see if your physical/mental health situation has changed. Mine hasn't.

Crux of possible issue: This time around many of the consultants (I have multiple illnesses) that were helping me are no longer because there's nothing else they can do for me. Last I'd seen some of them was well over a year ago. One of them (a physio) just stopped coming to help after her holidays early 2017. I'd had so many problems organising dates and times with their service (I live in a Borough that has a lot of funding issues and constant issues with the hospital service) they'd not return calls (this was an ongoing issue), in truth it became so problematic and stressful having a stranger in my property AND I wasn't getting better after months of trying I ended up giving up. With other consultants, they tell me the treatments I've had didn't work which happens with some patients. The medications I was taking to help me along have either been stopped/significantly reduced because they were causing stomach problems or they're addictive. I've been dropped by the talk-therapy service in my Borough because of their 'mistake', I called and wrote a letter, I've had no reply. Basically, I just have to deal with being unwell daily (I know this is the case with so many people, I wish it wasn't!) AND I'm stuck without supporting evidence from medically qualified people who have plans of action for my healthcare to give the DWP. I'm really, really scared.

Has anyone been through this? Any advice? I'm terrified.

I appreciate that this is a bit of a 'text barf' but I'm at the end of my tether, I'm so on edge with worry and my head feels like it's filled with glue (this is normal for me, but it's been made worse by the prospect of going through this all over again). It's not like I'm going to magically get better! I get that I don't have something like MS but I'm still not well. My diagnosis' still cause me tremendous issues, I can't go out alone! I was so independent before, not anymore.

I feel like the DWP just want me to die, or give up! It takes me so long to recover from these stressful and dedicated periods of effort I'm not sure I can keep doing this (I know others feel the same). When I last had a face to face assessment for PIP I broke down sobbing and shaking. They were hostile toward me, they pushed my wheelchair into a wall and door frame, then left me in front of a fire door I couldn't open. They then opened the door into my knee causing so much pain and the interviewer kept rolling her eyes at me asking me what my problem was while i was trying to catch my breath from the pain. I don't think I can go through this again.

I'm going to download the advice forms and see what I can get done. I'm just so terrified of what comes next without the supporting healthcare plans from the consultants, I'm probably going to have to fight or just give up. I'm more in the giving up camp atm.

Thanks for reading.

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5 years 8 months ago #214055 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA50 just received - very scared
D

It's not unusual for claimants to be "parked" by the NHS because there is nothing more that can be done with their conditions at this time.

The first thing I would receommend that you do is to speak to your GP about the situation to see what assistance they are prepared to provide?

You may be able to use the evidence that you have previously provided if you can show that it is still relevant to your conditions as they are now.

This is a full review of your ESA so you need to complete the ESA50 in detail, as if it is a new claim.

Do you know how you qualified for the Support Group with your current award?

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 8 months ago #214068 by Wiggles
Replied by Wiggles on topic ESA50 just received - very scared
Hello Gordon,

Thank you very much for your reply. Although totally unhelpful my heart is beating out of my chest worrying about this.

I don't recall how I qualified, no. I know that I have the notes I made, I took pictures. How should I go about finding this information? Is this something that would have been sent to me? Should/could I request it? What a mess!

Many, so many thanks.

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5 years 8 months ago #214081 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA50 just received - very scared
D

You should be able to request a copy of your last ESA assessment report from the DWP office dealing with your claim, it will be an ESA85 if you had a face to face and an ESA85A if you didn't.

Have a look at our ESA Claim guides, it may be obvious how you qualified.


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

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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