To think WTF am I going to do now? (Benefit related)

[worriedaboutthefurure]

I’ve nc for this.

I left my job earlier this year as I was too ill to work. The doctor thinks I have fibromyalgia or it could even be ms but I’m still undergoing tests.

I absolutely cannot work. I’m in so much pain I could cry. I can’t sleep. I can’t control my bladder. I am anxious, depressed and my whole body hurts. I fall asleep at tea time, then sleep all night, apart from going to the toilet.

I’ve been claiming ESA. I had an assessment this week and they called me today to say I scored no points and they’re withdrawing the benefit straight away. I can appeal, but not until I get the letter.

How can they think I can work? I thought the assessment had gone well, as in I presented my symptoms and how they affected me.

I’m not sure how else I can convince them? This has made me even more anxious, that exasperating my symptoms. I’ve worked full time my whole life, I’m 51. I thought benefits were there to help people that find themselves in this horrible position.

I just don’t know what to do. Has anyone been in this situation and successfully appealed?

Thanks for listening.

CrochetBelle, sorry to hear about your conditions. So, do you not get any financial support at all?

ThePink, sounds like me assessor. She was like a mad typing woman, who just didn’t care at all.

What conditions does your husband have?

I am appalled to read this, and can only suggest you do the MR (expect to fail as they have an 80% quota) and be prepared to go to tribunal where sanity usually prevails.

I have my PIP assessment in two weeks. I am (was) on a lifetime DLA award. I have no choice in the matter, and am somewhat horrified to discover that the functional effects of my deafness and concomitant mental health issues are going to be assessed by either a nurse, paramedic, occupational therapist, or physiotherapist. Only a nurse with expertise in mental health conditions comes remotely close: it is farcical.

I do not trust the assessor to act ethically and in my interests. For that reason, I will be recording (you can do it on two separate cassette recorders for PIP) and have requested a speech to text reporter. If the latter is not present, I am entitled to make them rearrange. I will also be getting the assessors full name and GMC number. You have to take every step to protect yourself as their mission is to take money away from those who need it most due to government targets. This is now literally killing people.

do the appeal. You might find when you read the paperwork that they have written something completely different to what you said, or have written things that completely contradict each other, and just generally is a load of bullshit. So you can have said all the right things...whether that was recorded or not is another matter.

Thanks dangermouse and Godstopper. So, so sorry to hear of your experiences.

I’m in bed now as I feel very down. I just can’t see how I can get through this. Like a previous poster said, I’m well educated, articulate and generally on the ball. This has floored me. More than I thought, now the news has sunk in.

CrochetBelle, sorry to hear about your conditions. So, do you not get any financial support at all?

It's laughable I'm 'lucky' in that my children are disabled, so I claim income support and carer's allowance. DC1 is in receipt of LRM and HRC. DC2, I haven't applied for DLA as of yet for the same reasons

Lucky you, eh?! Seriously, sorry to hear about your DC. That must be very difficult.

Hopefully, I’ll feel stronger in the morning and more ready and able to deal with it all.

OP, it surprised me how much it brought me down.

I second the advice of Godstopper about recording assessments, though they make it as difficult as possible for you to have a recordings used as evidence, it's still beneficial for your own recall of events. In my experience, the written record included things that were not said, and things that were recorded inaccurately.

It's extraordinary that no one is held accountable for the errors made in these assessments And the disastrous consequences for both claimants and the system itself.

Hi Op,I have a thread on chat as I have the Eva medical for my was on Wednesday,I've had some great advice and support but as it's getting near my mental health has taken a knock,I'm dreading it,Just a message of support from me and hope you win,there seems a pretty common theme regarding the medical,keep us updated as I will to on my thread
Wish you all the best

SuperDandy, me too. I’m surprised at how much it’s bringing me down. I don’t know the system so never expected this. It’s an absolute travesty. I feel for those in a less fortunate position. I have help I can fall back on. What happens when you don’t? They should be ashamed.

ChristmasPudding, I’m not good at these things, could you provide a link to your thread? Don’t worry about Wednesday, I’m sure it will be fine.

Thanks s everyone for your words of support.

Hi Op can't link but have bumped the thread on chat for you,or do a search,hope you find it some good tips

Thanks Christmas, I’ve read it. Pretty shocked that I done everything completely wrong. So naive to not realise they were assessing everything

Ask for an MR. If that is turned down you can appeal. once appeal is accepted you can claim ESA again but in the meantime you have to claim JSA.

You wont be able to have an EPS straight off for JSA, you have to make at least one signing at the Jobcentre. And you need to make the claim by phone, transition claims cannot be done online

They've got you between a rock and a hard place. They're wanting you to claim JSA, so It can further strengthen their ridiculous argument that you're fit for work, even though monetary wise you might not have a choice.
If its possible do not fall into the JSA trap.

FX for your appeal. ((((((())))))))

Thinking about it I'm sure you can apply for the appeal rate of ESA.

how are you feeling op now a few days have passed

Hi Worried

How are you now? Feeling angry yet and ready for appeal? I have ME/CFS etc and I was so worn down by applying and being refused that I nearly gave up. I advise you join this group on Facebook and take advantage of their advice and documents to get together a Mandatory Reconsideration. I don't know the outcome yet, but I do know that I had many grounds for appeal.

UK M.E. & Chronic Illness Benefits Advice Group

Good luck

HTF can you work with CFS. Supposing you fall asleep whilst operating machinery for example.
Are they dense or detached.

They are never ever random questions .Every question is designed to get an anwser from you that you will fail .

The reason they asked about pets is because if you have a dog it has to be walked - therefore you can walk the dog - so no problems with mobility going out on your own , planning routes ,

If you have a pet say you don't have one .

If you watch TV somethimg like Cornation St which is 30 mins long your assumed that you can sit for 30 mins and concentrate therefore you can sit at a chair at a desk and work

Plus if you are able to concentrate on Coronation St and its complex plots 😂you have no problems with your mental,health as you can concentrate

Anyone who claims they have any type of mobility problems is always without fail taken to the room at the very end of the corridor

Why - because if you can walk more than 20 metres you fail on points on mobility - the distance from the entrance to the room is always more than 20 metres generally it's more than 50 metres

If you are asked If you drive anywhere the same applies you can concentrate plan routes and have no mobility problems and can sit in your car for periods of time
. So you can sit at a desk & work

If your toe nails are painted , your hair is brushed and you are wearing decent clothes and the clothes have zips and buttons on them it's asuumed that you can take care of yourself and you have no problems dressing and looking after yourself
So no mental health problems and no mobility problems

It's really absolutly nothing to do with your Illness which is why so many people fail as they think it is on about how ill they are .

Even though on the form it states it's about how your illness affects your ability to work to daily stuff

It's about how the illness affect your ability to work

If you look at it like this way it's actually quite easy to give the correct answers. Both in the form and in the medical

Hi everyone, sorry on my oh one so can’t check names. Thanks for the Facebook link, I will have a look.

I haven’t even had the written letter yet, so I can’t do anything. I am all fired up and ready to appeal though. I don’t really have any option as I can’t work, I’m not well enough. I wish I was.

I do feel that I was ‘stitched up’ which makes me angry!

ChristmasPudding, good luck for tomorrow. Take all the advice and you’ll be fine.

Good that you're challenging it. I worked in this area a while ago and success rates at appeal are very high. You should also get at least some money while your appeal is pending, when I was in this line of work it was the JSA amount. Better than a smack in the mouth.

Thanks though I may of messed it up before getting there ,have updated on my thread

I got my letter today and feel dismayed. It’s appalling. They used things I said in general conversation against me, noted that I could move objects over a distance (because I carried a bag). They said I could sit at a workstation for over an hour because I was at my appointment for 45 minutes. The list is endless.

I despair I really do ...

Oh, and I can lift one arm fully above my head. How they know this I don’t know as I wasn’t asked to do so.

This system is a travesty.

Well at least now you can start your mandatory reconsideration.
Best of luck.