ESA assessments

BrutonStreetTailor

Hi, I cannot help the conditions afflicting me and the manner of which they are affecting me, I understand what you are saying, and that may be valid for a mental health diagnosis (for instance) however, I sent all id been given, and given the nature of my limited functionality, I have a specific and extreme, though as of yet undiagnosed condition causing me paralysis across the abdomen and total loss of strength in my torso, which has left me unable to walk, and unable to sit upright or stand unaided, its taken ten months to discover I also have 7 seperate hernia sites also, so as you can appreciate its not been a 1 page investigation into my multiple conditions.

chiarieds

I am in agreement with parts that several members have said.

I don't agree that everyone is 'entitled' to any benefit, rather everyone is entitled to make a claim for one; to me these concepts are different.

You can, due to the Equality Act, request a 'reasonable adjustment' due to the difficulties you face, as far as I know about PIP assessments; it's not mandatory to have a face to face assessment, tho our current Gov't is definitely hoping to increase these, possibly believing it may reduce the number of claimants.

I wish I could find the reputable link I found just recently which referenced that there was little difference in a positive outcome with PIP if a claimant had either a face to face assessment or a video/phone call. If I find it, I will post it, until then, as a person who purports to believe in facts, as I mention below, you may likely find me lacking.

There has been some 'info' mentioned on this thread which I've found to be AI generated; it may appear helpful in agreeing with people's perception in general, but I prefer to deal in facts. These are terribly important about many matters, but, as far as benefits go, may have a significant impact on a person's finances, so we need to get it right to the best of our ability.

Apologies, I've also digressed away from this post about ESA assessments, but, may I assure, that as far as PIP goes, you do not have to agree to the musculoskeletal (MSK) part/what has been described here as the 'functional exercises' part of an assessment.

PIP however is about your functional ability to be able to do the certain activities/descriptors that form the 'criteria' 'reliably' for the majority of the time (there are always exceptions to this, e.g. epilepsy tho depending on it's severity).

TheMinxyCat

I totally agree with you. Absolutely, no one is entitled to any benefits. You are correct in your opinion that the benefits are bringing in F-F appointments to try and prevent claims. There is information to support this on the Benefits and Work website. This is extremely concerning as we all that assessors don’t play fair and neither do the DWP. I think everyone would be happier to attend F-F, if they knew that it was a fair assessment. I’ve read about people turning up on walking aids being told that they can walk perfectly fine and refused benefits, like wise if you sit on a chair without arms, then your’e perfectly capable of sitting and standing , even though it was the only chair available. These are nasty and spiteful tactics. We are all honest, so the DWP should be too.

Chris75_

@TheMinxyCat - "We are all honest, so the DWP should be too."

How can you claim that? Human nature dictates that there will be unscrupulous people, making untrue claims.

I personally knew families who made careers out of playing the system. The 'never worked and never will' type really does exist, and it is naive to suggest otherwise. That of course doesn't mean the majority are not genuine applicants.