Contributions based ESA

[DWPnumpties]

I am on contributions based ESA for a serious injury that has left me unable to walk, I am slowly improving but have months of physio ahead.
Anyway I sent a sick line a while back and just got a letter today telling me I had to send a new line to them by 31st January or they will stop my payments. They've attached a second class envelope to send it in.
Aibu to think that they haven't exactly engaged their brains here. How am I meant to get a GP appointment and send them the line (2nd class) with 2.5 working days notice On hold now for 20 minutes to tell them it's impossible.
Didn't think they would need another sick line as I am going for my assessment today which btw they won't pay for my taxi for as I don't have a Doctors letter saying I need one Which I didn't get enough notice to do either!

You could put a 1st class stamp on the envelope and then phone them to say its on its way - done this for DP many times. You might not need to see GP to get a note if he/she knows your condition

As a GP, if it's an obvious long-term issue I'll do a sick note over the phone.

I've been in receipt of ESA for over 3 years and regular as clockwork send in my sick note. I get one for 3 months at a time 4 times a year. I assumed this was the norm (am extremely unlikely to recover or improve and am classed as disabled). I would post it recorded delivery if I were you or you can bet your life they 'won't receive it'. All the best with your recovery.

I didn't realise I would have to send another fit note (though the first one was only until I had my assessment) so didn't arrange one in advance.
Can't get to shops/post office/post box. Have to rely on other people doing this for me including collecting sick note for me from the gp.
Have called the doctor and receptionist said she will request another one so hopefully gp will do it without seeing me. By the time someone collects it for me and posts it away there's still no chance it will be with them by the 31st.
Just glad I'm not using this money for anything other than tonnes of taxis to my various appointments.

Got through to dwp after 25 minutes on hold and told them I'm trying to sort it but it won't be with them by Wednesday.

@barefoofdoctor sorry to hear you're unlikely to recover
I'm clinging onto the fact that I will recover (albeit I don't think I'll go back to 'normal'), it's a long, hard road though and I'm sick of being in constant pain.
It's going to cost me £30 to get to this assessment and I'm likely to be in pain by the end of it. It's a bit daunting someone sitting in judgement of your abilities too.

My go issues them on a phone request.

If you need an appointment then make a note to request an appointment in time for.when it runs out- if you don't need another then you can cancel but if you do then you will be prepared

@starfishmummy I've requested another months line and am only entitled to contributions based esa which runs out at the end of February anyway (I'm only really hoping with working hard at physio I might see some more improvement by then).

Call your GP, ask for a further fitnote, and ask for a copy as well. Ask whoever is collecting the note to stick it in the envelope, with a 1st class stamp, and post on their way back to you.

Good luck with your assessment today, hope all goes smoothly.

You won't have time to arrange an official audio recording of the assessment, which DWP now do on request.

I just wanted to let you know I covertly recorded a PIP assessment last year, and the DWP have now accepted my transcription of that for my appeal. They didn't protest at all.

However, a) I hope you won't need to appeal, and b) if the assessor spots you recording they could halt the assessment.

Hope so dwpnumpties.

@PerkingFaintly I honestly don't see how they could find me fit to work today but I have heard some horror stories.
I'm just so glad I'm not relying on this money but it's very handy with all the extra taxis, equipment & childcare I've had to pay for. It's so expensive being out of action.

By lying. Is the long and short of it.

It's very clear from looking at the horror stories (some of which are very well-evidenced) that there are people in the DWP/ATOS/Capita who simply lie. Not misunderstand or don't make quite good-enough notes: outright lie.

If you come across one of them, then it won't matter what your actual condition is because... they lie.

(Hence my appeal - they actually lied about me using walking aids.)

BUT it isn't everyone, by any stretch of the imagination. So please don't let that put you off! But it helps to be prepared, just in case.

They used to have to give you a reasonable amount of time to do this kind of thing, so they might be breaking their own rules by not allowing you enough time.
Problem is they are no longer obliged to tell you what the rules are

You can get someon to take it the job centre for you and they will photo copy it and email to the relevant department
Just make sure you get a receipt

What.i Forgot to add is that the day you take it In to the job centre will class as recieved by them

That's good to know @Magpiemagpie will ask Mum for another favour then

I became quite an expert dealing with ESA on my partner’s behalf, I had worked within the benefit system for a number of years and even I was unprepared for the misinformation given out on the phone, incorrect assessments. Put in a complaint which should have been dealt within 15 days, it took 3 months. In the end they transcribed every telephone conversation and the complaint was upheld. I was asked what outcome I wanted - just wanted someone to take responsibility and staff to have proper training.

I was on contribution based esa it's a nightmare that letter. Phone your doctor and get a longer sick line and sign the back of it. If you can take it yourself (circumstances allowing) or someone else can do it for you. You can hand it into the job centre and it goes to them same day :)

Thank you DWPnumpties Please remember to give your version of you at your worst. Don't try to prove you are coping or they will fuck you over. You can't get a sick note dated forwards so if your note ends on 31st Jan you'd have to see the Doctor on the 31st or after (this is super when I have to hand deliver said note to our nearest council office 10 miles away). You get some grace as long as your DR. Back dates, ie. Old note ends on 31st Jan appointment is on 3rd Feb but Dr writes new note from 31st Jan. (Hope that isn't patronising!). So Don't worry about a few days temporarily 'uncovered' by a sick note-Ring the DWP and ask them to note this on your account and take the name of the person you speak to from the DWP and send EVERYTHING recorded delivery. Oh and it's the system which is shit, most of the DWP/Benefits workers I have encountered have (thus far) been professional, kind and pleasant.

PS. Make sure you get the Job Centre to take a photocopy of the sick note in case they manage to 'lose it'.

Just a tip if you are unable to walk and use crutches then go to your assement in a wheelchair with someone pushing you if that's possible

If you use crutches and walk from the entrance to the assement room
( which is always the furthest one away ) you will have failed the assement before you have even been seen .

The fact that you can walk using a aid more than the 20metere even if you have to stop every min will mean you will fail)

They know exactly how far the entrance is to the room they take you to be assessed in - it's always without fail the one at the far end of the corridor
If they ask you to get up on the bed in the room - if you can't do it then don't even try
If you try to do it they will assume you can do it all the time

If you want to play nice tell them you could do it with assistance - they won't want that as you have to be able to do it yourself

Don't wear trainers with laces and tight clothes
Don't wear make up or look tidy and presentable . Avoid nail polish on your hand and toes and make up .

Ridiculous as it may seem. but all of this points to you being able to do stuff even if it's nothing to do with your back and someone has done it for you .

If they ask tell them your mum sister whoever helped you get dressed

They will ask how you arrived and how far away from the centre you have travelled .

The reason being if it's more than a 30 min drive and you sat in a car or a bus then it's assumed that you have no problems sitting at a work desk for more than 30 mins

They will ask what tv programmes you watch because of course if you can sit and watch Big Brother or East Enders you can sit at a work desk

Every question they ask you is designed to not give you anything at all .

Oh and within 3 days of the assement ring the DWP and ask for a copy of the medical assement form
They have to give it to you and it's really important to have this straight away In case you need to appeal
Because if you do a MR you only have 30 days of which 2 weeks can be taken up asking and waiting for the medical report so ask for it straight away that way if you have to appeal you will have the full month and won't have to wait for anything

Was only in there for 10 minutes, assessor said of course they'd pay for my taxis without a doctors letter. She talked through my injuries and said it obviously wasn't appropriate to do a physical assessment and that was it.

Excellent! Fingers crossed for a good result!