Panicking about ESA medical

[Bumbumtaloo]

I was previously awarded the support group of ESA without a medical. In December 2017 after my review was submitted I was advised I needed to be seen as I hadn’t been seen. On advice from GP they agreed to a home visit, this has been scheduled for next Tuesday.

I suffer with; Chronic abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, severe depression with suicidal ideologies, GAD and insomnia.

My anxiety has gone through the roof, I’m an absolute state and convinced they are going to stop my ESA. I’m mess.

I have had my PIP renewed, and awarded without another assessment, I had one when I initially made my claim. I know this has no bearing on the ESA.

My insomnia is already particularly bad, I’ve had literally 6hrs sleep since Sunday, I’m absolutely exhausted and I’m not sure how I’m going to get through the next few days.

I don’t know why I’m writing this tbh, I guess just for some support? My DH is absolutely amazing and has been trying to offer words of encouragement but unfortunately I just don’t believe him that everything will be okay.

Are you getting any counselling/therapy for your anxiety and depression atm? If so I suggest you discuss it with your counsellor/therapist and see if they can help you with strategies for managing your anxiety. If not see your GP.

The fact is that it should be fine, there is a chance that you will be put in the WRAG instead of the support group, and a very small chance that your ESA will stop, but if either of those things happen, you will have the option to challenge the decision, and I would suggest that you get help from an organisation like Citizens Advice to do so.

There is practical advice about the assessment here: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/esa-medical-assessment/
But I urge you to get some mental health support as I doubt practical advice alone is going to cut it for you

PS Which component(s) and rate(s) of PIP are you getting?

@AnotherEmma Thanks for the reply, I get the enhanced rate of PIP, DH is my carer and gets paid carers allowance also.

I finished with my psychologists back in July after I had made some improvement and was transferred back to the care of my GP. I have completed CBT and do have coping techniques. Every morning I do mindfulness. This is one of my biggest fears and has completely rocked me and I’m trying to implement the techniques I have learned but failing miserably.

One of my ‘symptoms’ is I need to talk everything to death, my poor DH has been going over this for a few hours and there is only so many times he can go through the same thing with me. Hence talking to death about it here.

I do need to be referred back to someone I think but my last referral took 18mths.

Best of luck for today. You can do this.

@AnotherEmma Thank you, I really appreciate the support.

He’s been and gone, was only here about 30mins didn’t get me to walk or anything and didn’t taken any evidence with him. He said he didn’t know why he had to see me because the evidence Id supplied was enough. I did say it was my renewal and I’d never been seem for ESA only PIP and he said that’s probably why. I’m probably going to regret saying this nut he was quite nice.

Sorry for all the typos, my hands are shot today

Ah brilliant! Fingers crossed but it does sound hopeful

@AnotherEmma Just wanted you to know, I received my decision letter this morning and am still in the support group. Thanks for before

Wonderful news, congratulations! And thank you for updating me