Awarded ESA WRAG & Appealing

Hello Everyone,

I have had my medical and was informed that I would be placed in the ESA WRAG.

After taking a couple days to calm myself and encouraged by others on this site, I decided to appeal.

Today I received a letter from Glasgow/JC+ stated they had received my GL24. In the letter they state that they will look at the decision again and "if you have further evidence which supports your appeal, please send it to us"

My question is, what more might I add? They have the ESA50 and all reports sent by specialists and my GP. I will see the spine surgeon whose care I was under this Wednesday as it has been a couple years since I have seen him and thought it would be good to have an update on that particular condition.

So, I can send a copy of the spine surgeon's report and I wondered, do I send a diary of my day to day life? I also came home from the medical and documented exactly what took place that afternoon - should I make a copy of that and send it in? Atos does know of my complaint as they responded to my MP and my MP's office sent me a copy of Atos's letter. Maybe sending my documentation of it is overkill???

Finally, the letter does not say how much time I have to send in extra evidence. I imagine ASAP, but does anyone have a realistic idea about how long I do have??

Thanks so much for your continued help and support.

Kindest regards,
cmarie

cmarie510 wrote:

Hello Everyone,

I have had my medical and was informed that I would be placed in the ESA WRAG.

After taking a couple days to calm myself and encouraged by others on this site, I decided to appeal.

Today I received a letter from Glasgow/JC+ stated they had received my GL24. In the letter they state that they will look at the decision again and "if you have further evidence which supports your appeal, please send it to us"

My question is, what more might I add? They have the ESA50 and all reports sent by specialists and my GP. I will see the spine surgeon whose care I was under this Wednesday as it has been a couple years since I have seen him and thought it would be good to have an update on that particular condition.

So, I can send a copy of the spine surgeon's report and I wondered, do I send a diary of my day to day life? I also came home from the medical and documented exactly what took place that afternoon - should I make a copy of that and send it in? Atos does know of my complaint as they responded to my MP and my MP's office sent me a copy of Atos's letter. Maybe sending my documentation of it is overkill???

Finally, the letter does not say how much time I have to send in extra evidence. I imagine ASAP, but does anyone have a realistic idea about how long I do have??

Thanks so much for your continued help and support.

Kindest regards,
cmarie

In the couple of days you have thought about where you have been placed, did you after re reading (if you did) the advice set out in the downloads on this site find information that backs up what you feel ? we all feel we should be in support group but was there something in the downloads that ties in with evidance from your gps or the drs you see at hospital ... that makes a very good case and if not would any of the drs be able to supply a letter of support giving the evidance needed to get in the support ?

Hi cmarie

I think it would definitely be worth sending in any extra evidence you can get, because the point has been made (I think in the government questioning of ATOS, and/or in govt paperwork reviewing the progess of introducing ESA) that a lot of claimants are appealing because they are told that they can but they don't have any new evidence to provide. This suggests - to me at least - that appeals without new evidence may not do very well.

regards
Rainbowlight

Thanks originaldave,

You made good points. Yes, I did review the points in the ESA document. I will highlight those that apply and reiterate how they limit my life.

I asked my GP for a letter of support. She told me the DWP rarely take into consideration GP letters as they consider our GPs our advocates....I did wonder about her response.

Nevermind.

Thanks for you time.
cmarie

cmarie,

If you are appealing it would not be the DWP who are making the final decision on the appeal but the tribunal panel, and your GP's input might be very relevant in their eyes.

regards
Rainbowlight