ESA assessment on Thursday

[KeeKee]

Had to sign on today again truly can't stand it. The woman was mentioning sanctions etc as I hadn't been updating my universal jobsearch activity section (I wasn't told I had to) and she was saying she doesn't want to go down that route as it's a hassle, then she said "But I won't hesitate if I need to" and it felt like a threat. I feel like screaming the citizens advice bureau can't help me in regards to my appeal, the other company I've been given a number for aren't answering
I had to do my mandatory reconsideration by myself as welfare rights said they wouldn't be able to get back to me in time. I feel so alone. I honestly don't feel like I'll win the appeal. I'll only score 12 points anyway because apparently me being able to speak to my GP, therapists etc means I am able to talk to 'strangers' when it suits me. I can't cope with having to sign on, I am NOT fit for work. One of my relatives and my partner both believe I'm unfit for work, they know me more than some stranger. I'm so angry at the moment, completely fed up.

[Antonio2301]

Sorry for the late reply Kee. I've not been feeling that well.These people are so nasty towards anyone it seems with mental health. I got my report back this morning and half the things haven't been noted and a few other things he's told in the report aren't right. I had an anxiety attack in my home and said I'm gonna have go to the toilet " Yeah its your home he said " this was 15 mins into my assessment. My report says I can sit for 30 mins no problem. These people are nothing but evil looking for figures to aim for . Please do as I ask and ring fightback.
Ok , I'm in a better position than you and in the work related group but how the hell can they expect me to travel 5 miles with agoraphobia. These ppl at fightback know their stuff .please ring them

[KeeKee]

No problem Antonio I'm sorry you're not feeling too great. I don't understand how they can't simply accept you have agoraphobia, what more proof do they need?!

I'll try to contact Fightback I'm just worried about the £4.99 monthly fee
I know it's hardly anything but some weeks I am genuinely really struggling (like the week coming due to a birthday and my phone bill being due). I'm also thinking what if my payments due at a time I really need them (such as the hearing if I can get an advocate) and I can't afford to pay that month and then I'm left without anybody. I truly don't believe I will win the appeal, I will definitely still try, but I just don't feel hopeful at all. If the appeal is still based on the points criteria then I can't see how I possibly could win it. I'll only get 12 points. The only thing keeping me going is knowing I'll be able to get ESA again during the appeal process, even if just temporarily.

I've also read that from April 2017 any new ESA claims will only get £73.10 if they go into the work related activity group, what a disgrace. So those who can't work for whatever reason will get the same amount of those on JSA for however long their claim lasts.

[KeeKee]

I am able to send my appeal away today as welfare right contacted me and told me to put their name as my representative and they also said I should be able to go onto ESA again as soon as I tell the Job Centre I've sent my appeal away.

[Antonio2301]

Your appeal has to be logged with the Tribunals Service before they will reinstate your ESA Kee .They notify the dwp when this happens.

[KeeKee]

Your appeal has to be logged with the Tribunals Service before they will reinstate your ESA Kee .They notify the dwp when this happens.

Ah I see. So I'll probably still need to sign on next week :-(
Good job I didn't pop into the job centre today like she told me to, to tell them I wanted to switch to ESA. I would have been so embarrassed. Thanks for letting me know.

[KeeKee]

Signed on on Friday. Didn't see my usual advisor so was just in and out. Got my letter saying they've received my appeal request. Hoping I can go onto ESA now, going to ring DWP tomorrow. Feeling nervous about it as I've literally only wrote the same on the appeal form as I did for the reconsideration. Thinking of asking how much a doctors letter will be. Will probably need to lend the money for it. Already owe over £250 out :-(

[KeeKee]

Received my proper report today. Mentioned things such as 'does not ruminate', 'wasn't sweating', both of which I have problems with. I've even mentioned my sweating to my GP. I have issues with rumination like I'm sure a very large portion of anxiety sufferers do.

Consistently wrote that I don't like people, when it should have been that I don't like socialising with people due to my issues. Also wrote that I don't like my daughters teacher! I don't recall saying that and I do like her. Absolute joke.

I have a good complexion apparently which may be true but I wear makeup so what a silly thing to write. I also have very visible dark circles which anyone and everyone can see. I wasn't rocking back and forth too as anxious people sometimes do that apparently (would be interesting to know how many anxious people do that as I don't believe it's particularly common).

[WiredIncorrectly]

A lot of people abuse the ESA system. They lie about illness to avoid having to work, or sign on. Because of this the ESA assessments will only deem you unfit for work if you tick a number of boxes.

That's not to say you are fit for work of course. But their system is designed so that most people with mental health issues will fail. They're hoping that those who are deemed fit for work sign on, or find work.

If you appeal you mostly win the case. You're actively proving you can not work by appealing which is why many win. It's as if you have to go through the appeals process if you have a mental illness to win.

If you let them dictate to you, they will use that against you.

In my case I do not leave the house. I haven't left the house in 3 weeks. I have anxiety, agoraphobia, and Aspergers Syndrome. I'm on the autistic spectrum. On top of agoraphobia I have to deal with being around other people ... which is very hard. I'm not good at explaining myself at all.

They tried to make me go to an assessment. I explained I couldn't. I told them I don't leave the house and I'm not mentally well enough at the moment. They asked for a doctors note, which I sent to them, and they still refused to do a home visit.

They offered me a taxi. A taxi is a no go for me. This place is 15 miles each way. I can't even do a mile in a car without puking up (and incurring a cleaning bill from the taxi company). I also sent them a 10 page report from my physiologist.

I refused to attend because I couldn't.

I've now made a formal complaint, and submitted my reasons for not attending. The chances are they'll get off my back now because clearly if I can't leave the house I obviously can not work.

If I had have attended they would have viewed it as I was lying and used that against me. That's besides the point though, it's impossible for me to attend in my current state.

It's stupid that we have to jump through hoops like this to prove we're not well, even though doctors and health care professionals can back up our mental illness.

DWP are in no position to be deciding if someone can or can not work. That's for the doctors to decide. I've been on ESA for 4 years. Never had an assessment until now.

[KeeKee]

I believe only a GP and not a 'health care professional' should be allowed to decide and that GP should have to spend more than 20 minutes in a room with us.

My GP has seen me at least 20 times since I developed anxiety 4 years ago, they know me well in my opinion. The HCP doesn't know me at all.

I absolutely detest how they twist your words and how they can get away with it. In my reconsideration request I mentioned how they had stated things incorrectly and omitted certain, important things I discussed and they responded with pretty much the exact same response as with my original assessment, completely ignoring what I had disagreed with. Hopefully the tribunal will read all responses and see that they are just ignoring what I'm saying and giving their opinions based on misinterpretations.

I'm debating about paying for a doctors letter. I really want to if it will help with the case, but if it doesn't I will owe somebody the money for it and won't be able to pay it back.