ESA Medical Due-Help with Variability

Jane Harvey wrote: I have got a date for the dreaded WCA medical (2 weeks time) and have only just rejoined Benefits & Work so when I completed the questionnaire I mostly said that many of the physical activities were variable as I suffer with rheumatoid arthritis and the condition is exactly that. I stupidly did not keep a copy so cannot remember everything I wrote. After looking at the ESA guide for members, I cannot see any way of explaining why working regularly would not be possible as I don't know what I will be able to do on a day to day basis since the disease is so unpredictable. For example, today I am in bed but tomorrow I might feel ok - this is the nature of the beast. As do most sufferers of auto-immune diseases I look ok on the outside but suffer pain and stiffness with severe fatigue which is difficult to quantify, especially to ATOS, whose main aim will be to say I am fit for work. I attempted a job working 8 hrs a week in a pharmacy but had to give this up due to fatigue and pain. I have finally accepted that work will actually make the illness worse after struggling to return to employment of my own volition but now have to prove this to the ATOS assessor. Is there anyone else out there with r.a. who has had the same predicament?