Alcoholic and ESA

Hi,I have my ESA assessment coming up. I have been in the support group since 2013 and this is the first assessment since then. I am an alcoholic and suffer from anxiety, depression etc etc and also a fear of anything strange or different in my day to day living. I have been into residential detoxification and regular SMART recovery meetings, and have been alcohol free for a short time. My recovery means so much to me as I lost my family through alcohol and gradually their trust seems to be coming back. I also attempted suicide and admitted to hospital through the Mental Health Crisis Team.

I have to work very hard to maintain my sobriety and cannot put myself in situations where it will cause negative feelings or stress where I shall pick a drink up. That would be fatal as I have alcoholic liver decease and my pancreas is 'dead'. Also Type 1 diabetic and have to inject insulin 5 times a day. It really is very early days of not drinking.

I have told the DWP all this in the ESA50 which I had to return by 7th October 2017, which then I was drinking 1.5 litres Vodka daily. I have a copy of this form. Now my assessment coming up. What are my chances of claiming ESA again. My health is at risk and I am terrified of picking up another drink. I cannot put myself at risk and loose all the hard work I have done by outside pressures. I am 60 next birthday, worked since I was 16 and took illness related (alcohol) early retirement. I haven't got transport to travel and live in a rural country town where a bus runs twice a week to main town 26 miles away. (This is where I have my assessment on Mon). I am really really worried and would like any re-assurance or advice you can give me please.

Would you be able to cancel your medical (provided you haven't already cancelled one) and provide evidence from your mental health team or medical consultant (for the liver condition) that a medical and even more so being found fit for work-related activity would pose a risk to your health in terms of alcohol consumption and liver cirrhosis?

Thank you Gorden and Ellie for your replies. I have my 'Capability for Work'/Assessment with a health care professional on Mon 30th July - 9am.

I cannot cancel this now at the last minute. I have a letter from my Alcohol Support Worker and also from the SMART recovery group facilitator. I asked my GP for a support letter, but the GP that looked after me has retired, and the other Drs don't know me as well as he did, so I think they will await the DWP to contact them. I have found that the dr's don't really get involved too much with alcohol problems. It was only after my suicide attempt the retired Dr was involved. I self-referred to an alcohol dependency unit and got my support through them and not the GP.

My appt from DWP only came through Tuesday this week and I have emailed/rang my consultant, spoke to his secretary, but as yet (Friday eve), I haven't heard anything. I am going on my own on the bus on Monday as I have no one I could ask to come with me. I shall be away till 7.30 am til 3.30 pm, so it is going to be a long day.

Would the assessor or decision maker accept my consultants report after my assessment?

Since I sent my ESA50 back to DWP in October 17, I hadn't heard anything, and hopefully presumed they had 'forgotten me'. So now July 18, they give me just over a week to get evidence and prepare. I know I should have done this preparation before now.

How long usually is the decision made after the assessment? Fingers crossed that I am strong.

Hi Gorden - I went for my f2f assessment on 30.7.18 and today I had a letter from DWP dated 15.8.18. It reads: "We have looked at you claim again, following a recent change. From Aug 14th your ESA support will be £110.75 per week. You have been placed in the Support Group". Further on the last page a breakdown of how the ESA award was worked out, but it states that the rates apply from Aug 14th to 26th Nov 2018.

Can you clarify what this means regarding the dates please? I did try to call DWP for clarification, but after 53 mins holding on to speak with someone, I gave up.

I am delighted with the result of my application, but not sure what the above actually means.

Also can I ask for a copy of my f2f report now?

Thanks Gorden