transfer ib to esa

Hi there,

Sorry if this sounds a bit long winded but here goes with a couple of questions

I am still awaiting transfer from ib to esa. Its been 5yrs since my last ib renewal, and I had no medical at that time. My health has continued to deteriorate since then, so along with fibromyagia, crohns disease, ibs, severe back and neck pain, tzeitze syndrome, chronic daily rhinitus/allergies, frozen shoulder, and others, I now have been diagnosed m.e/cfs and others.

1) I know it says in your 'transfer process' info, that if the dwp are unable to make a decision based on info they have from my existing benefit, then I will be issued with an esa50. My query is whether the dwp ever contact the gp for uptodate medical info. before contacting me, or do they always just send an esa50 form and go from there.

2)Is it better to ask your gp or consultant for a supporting letter to go with the esa form, or just to make sure the everyone is uptodate with my disabilities for when the dwp ask them to fill in a medical form.

3) Its says on the forum that its best to have as much supporting information as possible, but although a lot of my conditions cause a lot of illness amd are very debilitating, they dont seem to be relevant to a lot of the questions on the esa form. All I would have is a
a letter from gp, and maybe one from my m.e. consultant. No longer see fibro' consultant as could not help me anymore. I also have a letter from my psychologist/cbt doctor stating that she does not think that it is beneficial to continue with therapy as I am too unwell. I was ill to varying degree during the sessions, and suffer an increase in chronic pain etc, and became partially paralysed at my last session Would this be of any help to send with the esa form or not?

As you can probably guess I am getting pretty stressed with the whole thing and can't think straight at all, and it hasn't even started yet. So what is the best way to get prepared for the forthcoming interrogation

Any advice is appreciated.

pjd wrote:

Hi there,

Sorry if this sounds a bit long winded but here goes with a couple of questions

I am still awaiting transfer from ib to esa. Its been 5yrs since my last ib renewal, and I had no medical at that time. My health has continued to deteriorate since then, so along with fibromyagia, crohns disease, ibs, severe back and neck pain, tzeitze syndrome, chronic daily rhinitus/allergies, frozen shoulder, and others, I now have been diagnosed m.e/cfs and others.

1) I know it says in your 'transfer process' info, that if the dwp are unable to make a decision based on info they have from my existing benefit, then I will be issued with an esa50. My query is whether the dwp ever contact the gp for uptodate medical info. before contacting me, or do they always just send an esa50 form and go from there.

2)Is it better to ask your gp or consultant for a supporting letter to go with the esa form, or just to make sure the everyone is uptodate with my disabilities for when the dwp ask them to fill in a medical form.

3) Its says on the forum that its best to have as much supporting information as possible, but although a lot of my conditions cause a lot of illness amd are very debilitating, they dont seem to be relevant to a lot of the questions on the esa form. All I would have is a
a letter from gp, and maybe one from my m.e. consultant. No longer see fibro' consultant as could not help me anymore. I also have a letter from my psychologist/cbt doctor stating that she does not think that it is beneficial to continue with therapy as I am too unwell. I was ill to varying degree during the sessions, and suffer an increase in chronic pain etc, and became partially paralysed at my last session Would this be of any help to send with the esa form or not?

As you can probably guess I am getting pretty stressed with the whole thing and can't think straight at all, and it hasn't even started yet. So what is the best way to get prepared for the forthcoming interrogation

Any advice is appreciated.

Hi pjd,

1. In nearly all cases, an ESA50 will be issued.

An ESA113 may also be issued to the G.P., but not always, see :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa113-interactive.pdf

&

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/medical-reports-completion.pdf

2. It would be beneficial to discuss your ESA WCA with your G.P./Consultant,

Do keep them upto date regarding your limitations, and any letter of support should help, and should be sent along with any other medical evidence with the ESA50.

It would help if reference could be drawn to the ESA descriptors within any letter, and how you fulfill them, see :

Qualifying for the WRAG

Qualifying for the Support Group

Please be aware that a G.P. or Consultant is under no obligation to provide their patients with reports or letters of support, and if they do, there may be a charge.

3. It is not the medical conditions that will qualify you for an award of ESA, moreover the resulting limitations, so think of all your resulting limitations, and try and tie them in with the questions on the ESA50, and the ESA descriptors.

Finally read all our Guides and FAQ's from here :

ESA Guides

&

FAQ’s

Take a look at the interactive ESA50, here, :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

You could even start filling it in using our ESA Claims Guides.

bro58

Hi again, thank you Gordon and Bro58 for replying as it helps a lot having someone to talk to.

I have tried to start filling in a copy of the esa form but find it very difficult due to continued deterioration of my memory, it is now very poor and I get very confused/ forgetful very quickly. Its hard to explain myself clearly, and often looks like I am just rambling on without making much sense. The severity of my fibro', me/cfs, crohns & Ibs, neck & back pain etc, is constant and leaves me with a permanently weakened immune system, and has left me housebound and/or bedridden. Unfortunately any 'activity' results in a further deterioration in my health and can only be done for a few seconds/minutes at a time before I worsen, so because of this all the sg descriptors would apply to me.

My gp has said she will support me, but I thought the form sent to my gp would contain more info. than would be put in a support letter. My gp is aware of my illnesses but its difficult to see her regularly and the appt' time is usually too short. Do you think it would be ok to send my gp a letter stating all my current conditions, medications, etc, and how my family help with my mobility/care needs throughout the day/night. Also I beleive that my me/cfs consultant would be supportive as she has been previously, but again I would need to send her a letter stating how I am at this specific point in time, as I am unable to leave the house at this time.

Thanks, and sorry for rambling on so much

Hi gordon,
Thanks for your reply.

I too was worried about the doctors using my words back to the dwp as I read that this can be a negative. How can I ensure that when I send my gp and consultants (seen only every 6-12 mths)a letter stating my current conditions and limitations that this will not happen.

Would it help if the letter was done by a family/friend who helps me daily with mobility/care needs, or would it make no difference.

Sorry if Im being bit of a pain, but when you state that I should look at the 17 esa descriptors so that I use terms that are relevant to the esa test when writing my letters, where abouts are they in your guides.

My last query is if I do not hear from the dwp by May when my renewal ends, should I contact them or wait for them to contact me.

Thanks you.