ESA50 - Some advice please

Hi, having been on IB I received the ESA50 questionnaire last week. The problem I have is without going into detail for the last 10 years I have lived as a virtual recluse so have no way of getting any support letters as such re my problems. I last visited my doctor about 8 years ago and although he was really sympathetic how can he help me now when he hasnt seen me? Should I go to see him and try or is it pointless? Having read on here how important support is with the form and the then possible medical I have no idea what to do as surely its just my word against theirs? And as they seem to be totally against you have I no hope?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated as I am at my wits end. I have until the start of February to return the form.

Pedropete wrote:

Hi, having been on IB I received the ESA50 questionnaire last week. The problem I have is without going into detail for the last 10 years I have lived as a virtual recluse so have no way of getting any support letters as such re my problems. I last visited my doctor about 8 years ago and although he was really sympathetic how can he help me now when he hasnt seen me? Should I go to see him and try or is it pointless? Having read on here how important support is with the form and the then possible medical I have no idea what to do as surely its just my word against theirs? And as they seem to be totally against you have I no hope?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated as I am at my wits end. I have until the start of February to return the form.

Hi PP,

As you are new to the forum, please see :

Welcome to Benefits and Work

It may indeed be helpful if you visit your G.P. to discuss the matter with him.

If you have no written medical evidence, you could ask your G.P. if he is willing to give you a letter of support.

Your G.P. is not obliged to do this, and if he does there may be a charge.

Besides that you need to go into detail in the ESA50 regarding your limitations and disabilities as a result of the medical conditions.

Don't forget it is a "Capabilities" assessment, so the limitations that you suffer are more relevant than the actual medical conditions themselves.

It may help if you look at the following links :

The Transfer Process

What will I be transferred to?

What will I be Paid?

Use Of The Interactive PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Qualifying for the WRAG

Qualifying for the Support Group

All the above links are available in our FAQ's in the Spotlight Area above the forum :

FAQ’s

All our ESA Claims Guides can be accessed from here :

ESA Guides

It may seem a lot to take in, but I would advise that you have a good read of all the above.

If you then have any general questions please come back to the forum.

bro58

Pedropete wrote:

Having read on here how important support is with the form and the then possible medical I have no idea what to do as surely its just my word against theirs?

Hi, Pedropete, as you're already receiving IB, the burden of proof is on the DWP to prove that you're no longer entitled to it.

If you can fill in the ESA50 with enough compelling detail about your problems, you may even avoid a medical altogether and be put straight into the WRAG group.

But there are certainly no guarantees and you need to pay particular attention to the descriptors and how they match your conditions.

Fot what it's worth, I sent no doctor's report or additional information with my ESA50 and went straight into the WRAG.

I think you need to explain very clearly just why you haven't seen your doctor for 8 years.

You say you're living as a "hermit", so if the problem is severe agorophobia, not having seen your doctor need not prejudice your case.

Good luck!

Oops, Gordon & bro58 beat me to it.

Thanks very much for all your help.