Panicking about ESA renewal

duckmom

Hi all. I'm a single mum with a few health issues. Struggling with life and all it throws, panicking about my upcoming ESA renewal. Was hoping to get some help as the forms are so overwhelming. Not sure what to expect from this but hopefully kindness and support. 

Jimm_Scope

Hi @duckmom, welcome to our community.

It really isn't easy is it, and they put so many hoops for you to jump through to get any help. There is help out there though, and we'll try to support you as much as we can too

Do you have anyone around who can sit down with you and help you fill out the forms at all? It can be helpful having someone with you to ensure you don't forget to put anything down and also just to be there for you.

If you don't have anyone who can do that you can try reaching out to your local Citizen's Advice. They have benefits advisers who can help with the forms and provide information on the rest of the process  

They also have webpages that have advice on form-filling and information about the assessment itself, the more you know about it and how to deal with it hopefully the less overwhelming it seems

Hope we can help you get through this, let us know if there's any other questions or things you're looking for information on too!

P.S I've moved this to  our ESA section and will be renaming it so people know the topic is about an ESA renewal

duckmom

Thanks Jimm. I've tried to contact my local cab. Waiting to hear back from them. I've only got a couple of weeks to get the form back so they haven't given me much time. Hopefully someone will be able to help in time. But thanks for the links I'll have a read through ☺️

Jimm_Scope

I know with PIP you can request more time to fill out the form, I am unsure if that applies to ESA as well but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to call up and ask?

duckmom

That's a plan I'll try and get the courage to do that tomorrow 😬

steve69

On my second review now and awaiting decision
Main thing is don’t panic.
Im quite good at filtering there questions so just post what you’re struggling with.

duckmom

Thanks Steve. I just feel like the whole process is set to make you fail. They lied so much In my original assesment, even quoting me as "he" at some points. It was like they just copied and pasted an evaluation and forgot to change some details. I've always said honesty is the best policy but someone told me they expect people to exaggerate so if you say you CAN manage to do somethings then they assume you can do everything. 
It's such a shame the honest people are let down and those who play the system seem to win 😞

Albus_Scope

Hi @duckmom and another welcome to the community!

I'm sorry it's all really stressful with the forms, I know them far too well.  I found it's very much a case of pot luck over your assessor being someone who really listens or one who is just ticking boxes.   BUT there's always hope and light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a very windy tunnel sometimes.  

Have you managed to give them a call to ask for extra time? 

(And are you actually a duck mom? I'm really hoping the answer is yes!) 

duckmom

Thanks for the message. Sadly I haven't yet. I have been quite unwell the past few days and confined to my bed. Maybe a bug or maybe stress 😬 
But in better news - yes I am a duck mum. Im one of those "quirky" types who managed to hatch a supermarket egg.  She came everywhere with me, often in my scarf, until I found her some friends. They now all live at my friend's smallholding and I see them often, but she'll always be my duck baby 🙈

WhatThe

Ducklings are so friendly! Earlier this month, I spent a few days at a lake surrounded by newly-hatched ducklings (September!) and was moved to tears by the sights and sounds there, cried when I got home and fully intend to return