× Members

A few ESA50 questions

  • krato
  • Topic Author
12 years 5 months ago #70151 by krato
A few ESA50 questions was created by krato
Hi there,

I have been on IB for the past 3 years under mental health grounds, and I have recently received a letter to say I have to be moved on to ESA. I was really upset about this, as I'm sure everyone else has been too. Me and my mum have read the 'B&W claiming ESA for mental health' guide, and found it very helpful. I didn't believe I had any chance scoring a single 15p question, but after reading it I could possibly self score 4 x 15p mental health questions for the support group providing the HCP and DM think so too, and providing the guides interpretations of the questions are correct, (though sometimes it doesn't leave me confident in this respect =[). I have a few questions below, I'm sorry about the length of them.

1. I was promised a phone call, and the ESA50 'questionnaire'. I received the ESA50 but no phone call. Do I still need to call them? I understand its just a 'courtesy' call, but is this compulsory? I find it impossible talking on the phone so I would ask my mum to call instead if it was.

2. My mum is going to fill out the form for me, with my input, can she still write from my perspective, first person narrative e.g "I find it difficult to..." or does it have to be written as third person: "he finds it difficult to...". My last IB50 was written by a welfare officer who wrote it as first person, is this ok? It seems more affective and truthful to me. I understand my mum would have to sign the last page etc. It would take me weeks to fill the form in, as I easily get distracted, have a lack of concentration, and my OCD & AvPD slows me down having to perfect things I write and constantly checking through it hundreds of times to make sure nothing is wrong, due to fear of criticism, which Is why I rarely post on forums ( like this post! More than 4 hours in total spread over 2 days =[ ).

3. I personally think the exception due to risk to self or others should cover my circumstances. There is no way I would be able to get a job due to not being able to leave the house, I go out maybe once a month with my mum when my condition fluctuates to the better side, I have no friends because of this, I have a past of self harming and suicide attempts which the DWP are aware of, although for the past couple of years I have thankfully been quite stable due to not having many appointments or disrupts to my routine, and not having to worry about money. When I have to go to my GP or hospital appointments my condition flares up. If I was forced to get a job due to having no money/ESA, my condition would deteriorate, I 100% wouldn't be able to go to a work interview, even a work focussed interview, as I know I'd  slip back into my previous ways due to the anxiety and stress it would cause. I live with my mum but I also buy my own food, sometimes online or my mum goes shopping for me. On the odd occasion I will go to the shops with her but I find it extremely difficult doing this, if I had no money I wouldn't be able to buy food, my mum would help out but surely ESA is so you can be more financially independent, after all my mum isn't going to be around forever. All this is based on my agoraphobia, and doesn't take into account the reason of my agoraphobia which is my Avoidant Personality Disorder (similar to social phobia) or other conditions which would make it equally impossible to get a job.

To be honest, I don't have any confidence in Atos recognising this as an exception, partly due to living with my mum and not having to pay bills other than a bit of rent which I help her out with. But I wonder if anyone could shed some light on this, and where on the form I would put it? My GP has already offered to support my ESA case so I could bring this point up with him and see what he thinks.

4. I am currently in the long process of switching between psychiatrists at different hospitals as my previous psychiatrist of 12month wasn't helpful in the slightest. My appointments were always unexpectedly rescheduled at last minute, which I had a huge problem with as it changed my routine. We didn't get on well and I know he disliked me, he never listened to me and didn't know anything about me or my conditions. I don't want to put his name down on the form due to fear of what he would say if contacted. I had CBT which finished 10 month ago, which didn't help my condition but I found it to be helpful in understanding myself. The appointments had to be fortnightly instead of weekly as I couldn't cope with going out every week. I am currently waiting on a referral for psychotherapy too. Due to my referrals I am currently under no specialist other than my unhelpful psychiatrist, could this cause a problem if they have noone but my GP to contact?

Anyway, hopefully someone can help me out here. I feel awfully isolated with this claim and find it extremely distressing having to worry about it, as in the past ive had welfare rights help me, but found them increasingly unhelpful each time, and would prefer to file the claim unsupported with my mum. So any and all support here is comforting and greatly appreciated.

Again I'm sorry about the length of this post, but if you have reached this far, then thanks for reading =]

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • michaelg
12 years 5 months ago #70159 by michaelg
Replied by michaelg on topic Re: A few ESA50 questions
Hi Krato

I'm extremely sorry, but as Mods we are unable to answer specific questions. Please see here -

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/faq/forum-faq#specific

You may wish to consult a Welfare Rights Officer at an Advice Centre for help.

Regards

Michael

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • krato
  • Topic Author
12 years 5 months ago #70163 by krato
Replied by krato on topic Re: A few ESA50 questions
Hi Michael,

I wouldn't deem my questions personal. I thought I'd tell my story so the questions had some base to them. Written without attachment, and in general:

1. Does the phone call need to take place
2. First or third narrative for someone else writing for you
3. I was just wondering if anyone had experience of claiming under the being at risk exception. Not necessarily a mod.
4. Would they contact a doctor which you haven't listed but have put on previous forms, and does it usually affect your claim not having specialist 'evidence'?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • bro58
12 years 5 months ago #70164 by bro58
Replied by bro58 on topic Re:A few ESA50 questions
Hi K,

As Michael correctly states we cannot answer questions that are personal to you, however I will attempt to answer you in general terms.

1. The phone call is generally received before the ESA50, and is not an important part of the process.

The process will proceed even if you choose not to answer the call.

2. Mum can fill in your ESA50, in first person for you.

Simply state on the form that Mum has done this for you, giving reasons why.

3. It's a good idea to discuss it with your G.P., and go into detail on the ESA50 where you feel that your limitations are applicable.

4. You can choose to put down whichever Health Care Professionals that you wish.

If you choose just to put down your G.P. as a source of support, then you can.

Have you had a look at the ESA Guides in the orange members only area, they should be a great help to Mum in completing your ESA50.

Hope this helps

bro58

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • krato
  • Topic Author
12 years 5 months ago #70170 by krato
Replied by krato on topic Re:A few ESA50 questions
Thanks bro58, much appreciated!

Just a last general (hopefully) question, can I make comments in the physical questions particularity Q6 and Q7, on 'communicating', for stuttering, breathlessness, freezing etc due to anxiety? I don't fancy ticking "I can communicate with other people without difficulty" as its simply not true. Or is this 100% primarily for physical problems not caused by mental health, such as AvPD or anxiety?

As per my original post I have signed up for a year membership, and downloaded the B&W Mental Health guide for ESA, as well as a few others. We have both read through it, and gained a decent understanding of the process and have a good idea of what to write, I was just unsure of the above questions as I didn't come accross the answers in the guides.

I appreciate that you can't help with personal questions, but you have answered everything I originally questioned, which I am thankful for. I didn't want to ask questions without an explanation of why I was asking them, so to not sound like I was 'scrounging' so I didn't receive criticism. As stated my AvPD makes it difficult to cope with criticism so I try to avoid confrontation at all times.

I have in the past been involved with Welfare Rights Advisors, however I haven't found them very effective or understanding of my condition. Maybe I've just had bad luck with them. I will possibly think about seeing them once the form is complete, to see if they could advise me with anything outstanding.

thanks again for your help bro58

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 5 months ago #70173 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:A few ESA50 questions
Krato

You are correct in assuming that the you can normally only score points for the physical tests, if there is an underlying physical problem.

However that does not mean that you cannot argue, with regard to question 6, Making Yourself Understood, that the physical symptoms you experience. as a result of your anxiey, don't still qualify you to score points in this decsriptor.

With regard to question 7, Understanding Communications, I'm not sure this would be relevant, as the intent is to test your ability to understand someone communicating with you, as such, it is primarily focussed on your hearing and sight,.

Gordon

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

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: bro58GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.