Received a letter this morning from the DWP saying I am entitled to ESA (£57 a week). I guess this is just a confirmation from the telephone application?

To be honest, that's no bad thing in one way. At the assessment, you want them to see you at your worst.

If you appear to be able to cope with the assessment ok, they won't believe you have any problems.

Though you are right, and that's very true, I kinda don't want to have to sacrifice my own dignity like that, but if needs must

I soon have a f2f for PIP I honestly feel really sorry for the person having to do this, they will see the real me and it won't be nice,

But I will not hide anything they will see what my life is like day in day out, they are always free to cut the f2f short if they don't like what they see, it's not my fault.

That sounds a little threatening

I wouldn't worry tye assessors are used to all kinds of behaviour nice or not ...and cutting the face to face short doesn't actually help you in any way

Did you ask for a paper based review? If you have all the evidence you say then that should be possible

Nothing at all threatening, they have nothing at all to worry about,

As for cutting a f2f short that happened on my first ESA home visit where she was here for 15 mins and told me she had seen enough,

I didn't get a second f2f ESA medical as they deemed it not necessary, and I've been in the support group from the start.

You can't ask for a paper based review. It's up to them if they want to see you or not.

May I ask how you got a home visit? This is something I am hoping for myself

Hello,

The doctor had to write a letter explaining why I needed a home visit ( Agoraphobia ) amongst other things, the letter had to be sent to the DWP then they would look at it,

I was told that it might not be enough, but strange thing is I got a phone call from them saying I can have a home visit yet I know they would not have had a chance to read the letter that the doctor had sent as I know it hadn't been scanned into the system that day,

They also know that I record all phone calls and they know I will use the phone calls as evidence if I need to and they are happy with this.

Fair enough, that's understandable.

I am in a two and eight though because I have emetophobia (vomiting phobia) and since around 2013 I vomit every other day (on bad days, daily!). This actually calmed down around this time last year and I was making progress on my own but it's returned around October time, I am in quite a bad place mentally and physically. I'm stressed out about the interview.

I have no set date or anything yet but I'm praying they'll not want to see me lol but they will.

Basically, there are two ways to get a home visit. It either has to be at the request of a doctor e.g. a letter or be more than 90 minutes away from a DWP test centre based on a one way journey by public transport.

They would've looked at your form and medical history and the meds you're on, that may have been enough, a gp letter just seals the deal

Think it also depends which area you are in and how many assessors are doing home consultations. There are alot done down here on the south coast, not sure what it's like elsewhere. Of course if there are any indications of anger or aggression a home assessment is a no no

They will probably want to see you as your condition is variable
However enough evidence from the meds you may be on, any support you're having a gp letter may get you a home consult

Me killing myself over all this lol

Just to update - I heard last week that my son has been awarded Enhanced for both components of PIP - but only for five years. (Austism is so curable). He was on high rate DLA for life, since he was little so this is a massive relief, but of course, we'll have to go through this nightmare again in 5 years.

He had a paper-based review based on the PIP 2 forms and a brief letter from his GP.

As his appointee, I did it all from him and in fact never needed to tell him in the end as he had no medical (he'd have freaked out). So relieved it's over but a bit non plussed by the 5 years. I'm not going to appeal that though - too risky.

You can't get an indefinite / life award on PIP, even if your condition is life long.

I had to see my doctor today as I'm currently in the process of stopping one medication and soon beginning another. I mentioned about the ESA claim and she said it was a good idea for me at this time (I'd mentioned how I did voluntary but had to give that up because of vomiting and panic attacks).

She said to me to return soon for my second sick note and that "you really are not fit for work for a good while" (or something like that, she said how she'd consider it when I make progress with new medication and CBT).

So what I want to know is, how does this work in conflict with the DWP? Because what if the DWP say I am fit for work, and the doctor doesn't lol I'm confused. Or is it as long as I have the medical notes ticked with 'unfit for work' I don't have to?

I just keep thinking about the assessment, i.e. if they deem me fit to work

The change from DLA to PIP was conveniently used by the government as a hidden means of cost cutting, e.g. making the tests harder and ending lifetime awards so that people can be shunted on to lower paying benefits at some stage or preferably removed entirely.

One option is to compose an old fashioned written letter to the local MP asking if he/she will raise the matter of lack of PIP lifetime awards, even when there's substantive medical evidence, and their reinstatement with the new DWP Secretary of State, The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP and see how it goes because there's nothing to lose.


That question is unanswerable. What l can suggest though is making a note of any of your GP's comments that help your case. Please try not to worry about what's going to happen because you'll always have the right to appeal plus you can get help if there's an unfair ruling.

What I'd suggest doing is reporting back on this thread when you know the outcome and we can then take things from there.

Well that's good news
A review in 5 years is not because he might get better , it will be checking whether he has developed further problems. As he is enhanced in both daily living and mobility it will more likely be a paper based review again.
This is assuming that PIP remains as it is of course

You can get one called 'Ongoing', I understand, which is essentially indefinite..?

In which case, that sounds like that's the category that your son ought to be in. Would it be worth asking for an internal DWP mandatory reconsideration which is the step before a full appeal?

If you are found fit for work at the assessment, you won't get any more ESA until you appeal. Before you can appeal, you have to request a mandatory reconsideration (MR). That almost never changes anything, but you can't submit an appeal until you have a decision on the MR.

While you're waiting for the MR decision, you can claim JSA and ask for an "easement" because of poor health. You can be exempt from jobseeking for up to 13 weeks, which is usually enough to get your decision and submit an appeal.

However, if it's obvious to the assessor that your anxiety is as severe as it sounds, and providing that you make a decent job of completing your ESA50, it's unlikely that you'll be found fit for work.

I see, thanks.

Well my esa50 was posted today, I guess my doom will be unraveled soon.

It's obvious I will fail. I have just read online about a man who had no legs and FAILED the medical i.e. still fit to work due to mobilization.

This is gonna be tougher than I thought.

His situation is completely different to yours.