answering dwp phone call

Clearly I haven't seen the letter and it would not be appropriate to do so on an open forum. It certainly sounds supportive from what you have said.

Mrs Hurtyback wrote:

We always recommend getting up-to-date evidence wherever possible. Ideally, this should directly reference the descriptors - after all, we don'twant to overwork the assessor's brain, do we? However, your consultant's letter sounds very supportive, especially if you can find a way to tie what has been said in with the descriptors yourself.

It is not possible to say how old is 'too old' - personally I would feel that 5 months should be OK, but other views may differ.

I would agree MHB, as a rule of thumb I think anything within 6 months is O.K., as long as you have not had any improvement through new meds or operative procedures, etc, in the mean time.

However, one should not discount medical evidence due to its age, as long as you can prove that there has been no improvement, and it's still relevant. It may also show that one's conditions are chronic, long standing and/or progressive.

bro58

Thanks for the advice.

I know you said it sounds supportive, and to me it does sound it also.

I was just worried about whether it was good enough for the dwp without the esa descriptors in it, or whether I should try and get another letter and hope that it is more descriptive than this one? Also Im not sure how to tie it into the esa.

Blimey, ill health messes with your mind more than I thought.

pjd wrote:

Thanks for the advice.

I know you said it sounds supportive, and to me it does sound it also.

I was just worried about whether it was good enough for the dwp without the esa descriptors in it, or whether I should try and get another letter and hope that it is more descriptive than this one? Also Im not sure how to tie it into the esa.

Blimey, ill health messes with your mind more than I thought.

Hi pjd,

I agree once more with MHB, in that the Consultant's letter does sound very supportive. You would be very lucky to get a Consultant or G.P. to write a report that actually tied in your limitations with the corresponding descriptors, the main reason being that I would suspect that very few of the above understand the ESA WCA.

The fact that he has actually agreed to provide one is a positive, as many G.P.'s and Consultants simply refuse.

As you know, we can't be seen to be coaching with regards to what to actually write, as a rough guide, if there is a phrase such as "severely affected by CFS and has significant difficulties"

You could write something along the lines of : "As you can see in my Consultant's letter of support, (Consultant name, Date) he/she states " severely affected by CFS and has significant difficulties", these difficulties limit my capabilties with respect to Activity (number) of the ESA50, and as laid down in the ESA descriptors at xxxx, in that, etc, etc, etc.....

I am afraid that you will have to fill in the missing bits yourself.

So you are drawing reference to statements made in the Consultant's letter with respect to your limitations.

bro58