I can't prove I'm having blackouts?

[eastofeden]

I have a heart condition that causes my heartrate to raise and sometimes I pass out from it.

The DWP wanted me to prove I have blackouts as they don't believe me and I'm trying to appeal (need to be moved from the WRAG to the support group).

So I had a tilt table test and although the doctor diagnosed me with tachycardia, I didn't faint during the test. He said my heartrate was very high that he was surprised I didn't faint uring the test.

They then gave me a 7 day holter and I didn't faint then either. Then magically I managed to faint two days after they removed the holter monitor! So now I can't prove I have blackouts, the Dr doesn't want to run any more tests, and I don't know what to do as my claim is based on that premise. What should I do? It seems to disappear everytime I go for a test!

[Mercime]

Can your GP support you if you have a recognised conditioin? How often do you faint?

[eastofeden]

I said in my form 2-3 times a week. Now it's less than that but it still happens on roughly a weekly basis. Which is classes as a disability. My GP has a long history but he's never actually witnessed me faint either so idk what to do.

[NoPoet]

Ask friends and family members to write a brief statement confirming it. The more supporting statements, the better!

"(Your name) has asked me to confirm in writing that she does experience blackouts. I have personally witnessed (your name) blacking out on a number of occasions. I know she has been to numerous doctors and specialists about the blackouts as she is very frightened of them and they happen often. She has told me that her doctors are also concerned about them and are treating them very seriously.

Her blackouts are very frightening to those who witness them as we never know if she will wake up again. We have all had to learn how to help her and protect her when she has blacked out and we have all had to learn how to cope with the fear and distress these blackouts cause to everyone who witnesses them, not just (your name). If she blacks out when using the stairs, or in a potentially dangerous situation of any kind, she risks serious or fatal injury without any capability of protecting herself.

This is a very upsetting and difficult thing to live with and it affects her deeply. She must always consider it and cannot afford to forget it due to its serious and unpredictable nature. It makes her very scared, constantly anxious and afraid for her life. She struggles to enjoy her life at all and clearly cannot have what a reasonable person would call an acceptable quality of life.

This health condition affects her every single day because it cannot be predicted and occurs quite often. She suffers from very bad anxiety, worse than anyone else's that I've ever seen."

Also quote the EQUALITY ACT 2010, as your condition has a significant impact on your quality of life and makes it difficult and dangerous to do everyday things, so it is meets the criteria for being a disability.

You need to tailor the supporting statements, and your citing of the Equality Act, to help you score points. Here are the tips anyone claiming ESA or PIP should consider:

1. ESA is about ticking boxes to score points. Points mean prizes. It is most certainly not there to help anyone understand your suffering, or the unfairness of the system, or even your worthiness for the benefits. It's about how you make your application tick their boxes. If you are the most debilitated person in the world and your application doesn't tick their boxes, you get nothing.

2. The DWP absolutely DOES NOT want to pay you any ESA. They DO NOT want you to be able to claim it. The DWP does not exist to help or support us any more. Why do you think the ESA form is 55 pages long, when the majority of people applying for it are disadvantaged, disabled and often not capable of filling it in? They will put every obstacle in your way and will use everything you tell them against you. DO NOT FORGET THIS.

3. Get an advocate now. Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau. If you are classed as having a learning disability other advocate agencies exist. Do not attempt to appeal without an advocate unless you cannot get an advocate within the time frame.

4. If in doubt, REFER TO POINT 2.