FORM ESA 113 for the GP To Fill In.......

EXACTLY RIGHT!! My GP, who is very much on top of all these issues, told me that the DWP views our GPs as our advocates, and therefore give very little weight to what they say via the form.

Some time in the past, I asked her if I could make an appointment with her at the time that she filled this document in. Her reply was that the idea of the form is that it is HER impression of how my life has been impacted, so in good faith, she could not fill it in with "my thoughts/ideas". She also told me that if she did not know an answer, for example, how I got around (by hire car) she would just note that.

When I received my "bundle" for the tribunal, it included her report and indeed, she answered 3/4 of the questions - "do not know"

Hope this helps.

cmarie

Yes, the DWP asks the GP to fill in the form ESA113, however if you want to discuss with your GP what he is likely to put on the ESA113 when he gets it, it may be helpful to take one so that you know which bits to refer to when you discuss it with him.

If you have problems communicating, your GP will be able to tell that from how you communicate with him.

Hi Survivor, thankyou for your reply.

When I had an assessment last year, the DWP did not request a ESA113.

Should I have told the DM or tribunal that an ESA113 was not requested?

I can communicate with my GP adequately but not with everyone, which is why that question is worrying.

Best wishes,
Rachel

If you think that the DM doesn't have all the information/evidence that you believe that they need in order to make an accurate decision, then it can be helpful to send them anything that you believe that they should have, ditto a tribunal. A tribunal can consider evidence that a DM did not have as well as evidence that the DM did have.

If you have difficulties communicating with other people, perhaps you might have evidence from elsewhere of this?

Have you seen the guidance notes that GPs are given to help them complete the ESA113 - all one pages of them!

On receipt of a request for an ESA113:

1. Type in the details of the claimant (name, address, NINO and date of birth).

2. Complete the form as usual.

3. Print off and complete the signature and practice stamp section.

4. Send the printed pages of the ESA113 to Atos Healthcare in the return window envelope provided, so that the return address is visible.

RachelPotter wrote:

Hi Survivor, thankyou for your reply.

When I had an assessment last year, the DWP did not request a ESA113.

Should I have told the DM or tribunal that an ESA113 was not requested?

I can communicate with my GP adequately but not with everyone, which is why that question is worrying.

Best wishes,
Rachel

Hi Rachel

I think the question regarding communication concerns the physical activity focused on sensory impairment (reading and writing).

The coping with change and coping with social situation descriptors seem to be amalgamated into one question. Can't understand why as they are not obviously related.

Although GPs would be reluctant to write what their patients want on the ESA113, the best you can do is make sure you speak to your GP about the difficulties you have and hopefully your GP will note it on the computer and refer to the notes when filling in the ESA113.

Regards

Derek