Anyone in Support Group Of ESA due to depression?

[Yappy12]

Wondered if there was anyone else here. It's time for the assessment again and have to send the ESA50 form in by next Thursday. Always a worrying time and it's ridiculous that they assess me ever year when there's no improvement. Am worse than ever now in fact after our 22 year-old daughter died suddenly 19 months ago. Last assessment was a year ago and was okay, kept in support group.

No but I work for Citizens Advice and we help people with their ESA claims, I've done a fair few forms and MR requests, and referred people to specialists for help with appeals when needed.

Will you get help with the form or do it yourself?

Best of luck with it. And sorry for your loss

Hi. No I do it myself. The one before last had to go to MR, Mandatory Reconsideration and the first decision was overturned and kept in SG. Always have to attend a Face-To-Face too which is nerve-wracking.

I don't send a GP's letter with the form initially as she charges me £40 for one. As she says, it wouldn't be fair to her other patients if she let me off and the practice manager wouldn't be happy. So I'll wait and see if I need one for MR. Didn't last year.

Yes I imagine they must be very nerve wracking I'm sorry you have to do it every year. I suppose there is more possibility than mental health conditions can change compared to other health issues. But it is gruelling to go through it.

For medical evidence I always suggest that people get a Patient Summary Record - you can ask the GP receptionist and it's free. It's just a basic print-out but it's better than nothing.

Also if you have been referred (or self-referred) to any kind of CBT or counselling service in the last year, they might have done an assessment and that can be helpful to include.

Oh right thanks. Didn't know about that. I'll get one of those to send with the form then.
I ask for the FTF to be recorded and everyone should ask for this. They don't usually refuse. They make 2 tapes and you get one to bring home.

YY very good idea.
I've lost count of the number of people who say that the assessment report is completely inaccurate

When you're on benefits, £40 is a lot to pay for a letter but most GP's charge so I'm told. Mine is lovely and says she'd love to let me off but it wouldn't be fair and I understand that.

You should always advise them to ask for it to be recorded. You ring when you get the appointment and usually they change it to when there's the recording equipment available.

Yes it's such a shame the GPs have to charge but it's because of the way they are funded (or NOT funded, more to the point!)

Someone told me that if you request a home visit, the DWP will write to your GP asking for medical evidence (and when DWP requests it, the GP obviously doesn't charge you for it) - I have not had the opportunity to test it out though!

"You should always advise them to ask for it to be recorded. You ring when you get the appointment and usually they change it to when there's the recording equipment available."

Thank you that's such a good tip! 👍

LOL. Don't want you to think I'm trying to tell you your job. You don't actually have a legal right to have it recorded but they usually agree to do it if they have the recorder available. Was told they have about 3 in each area.

A friend of mine requested recording but they didn't have the equipment available so it wasn't recorded, sadly.

The best thing about my job is learning all the time and I love sharing tips

Could be a CAB adviser myself as I know all the rules and the ins and outs! Before my MR two years ago I asked for the Assessors report and importantly the Decision Makers report as that shows you where you've failed and what points you need to concentrate on in your MR letter,

Yes you don't fancy a benefit specialist job do you?! Within permitted work rules of course

Do you help people who are going to judicial appeal then? Have you attended any? I'd go as far as appeal if I had to.

I wonder why I’m not experiencing this the same as you? I’m in the support group also but I’m assessed every 3 years

Hi. Well they assess me every year. Wish they didn't. Get the form in November. Seems to vary. Some people are left years. Heard of a guy who hasn't heard anything for 7 years, must have lost his case files!

When people win judicial appeals the judge usually recommends that they not be assessed again for a certain time but the DWP don't have to take any notice. They do as they like it seems.

"Do you help people who are going to judicial appeal then? Have you attended any? I'd go as far as appeal if I had to."

Not me personally. We have benefit specialists who do. I'm a generalist (first adviser, now supervisor) so I have broad knowledge of lots of areas but I have a particular interest in benefits so if I was going to specialise in anything it would be that. (Prefer being a generalist though!)

Appeal rates are pretty good if you have to go that far. Hopefully you won't have to, though.

Three years ago I set the judicial appeal process in motion as I lost the MR. Then I suddenly had a letter saying I could cancel the appeal as they were returning me back in to the Support Group. No idea what happened but they threw in the towel. Maybe thought they'd lose.

Yes it happens quite a bit - they look through all the paperwork and conclude that they'll probably lose, so they change the decision before it goes to tribunal.

I post on YoureAble forums and they'd never heard of the DWP giving up before the appeal like that.