Worried about losing ESA

poorsoul

I Have severe social anxiety and depression recently filled in form about esa worried about losing it

Oscarej11

Hello, I understand where you’re coming from.. what makes you feel this way?

Richard_Scope

Hi @poorsoul

Good to meet you. Please don't worry while you are here, you are amongst friends and people who are experiencing very similar things. What makes you think you will lose ESA? We have lots of discussions about ESA that may help..

poppy123456

Hi,

Was is the ESA50 work capability assessment form you filled in? Or the ESA3 form?

poorsoul

work capability I think not 100 percent sure whats the differerence

poorsoul

Richard_Scope said:

Hi @poorsoul

Good to meet you. Please don't worry while you are here, you are amongst friends and people who are experiencing very similar things. What makes you think you will lose ESA? We have lots of discussions about ESA that may help..

I always fear the worst when filing in these forms if labour were in power I would be more confident in things being dealt with fairly but with the torys there is no empathy they want as many people off esa as possible.They offer bonus payments to dwp to do so.

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @poorsoul, and welcome!

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling worried. It's often the waiting time that can be hardest to deal with! Please do keep us updated. You're among friends here and we'll advise where we can.

poorsoul

Thanks pippa hopefully I wont need the face to face and get my esa but things like that rarely happen im afraid nothing I can do but wait and see.

poorsoul

Everything I said about my panic attacks severe social anxiety and depression has been ignored.In my form I said I cant travel to a face to face assessment and to my horror have been asked to travel to Glasgow on the 14th of January or face benefit cuts.I CANT GO and would rather someone gave me a lethal injection and put me out my misery totally devasted,:'(

[Deleted User]

You can ask for a home assessment but you need to get a letter of support from a medical professional for it. I got one from my GP and the assessment company then agreed and said I could have a home assessment (I've got agoraphobia among other things), they don't always agree though but it's worth trying. Have you got someone who can help you? 

There might be a charge for the letter.

poorsoul

I will go to a doctor asap to try and get a letter im happy to pay for it my mum phoned today but they are very busy and she will try again on Monday.If I dont get help from dr I still cant go.

poppy123456

It's not the present government that have done this, the rules for ESA have always been the same and were there even before the Tories.

When filling out the form did you put the reasons why you can't travel to the assessment?  Do you attend other appointments? Did you send evidence to support your claim? They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence, the onus is on you to make sure it's sent.

CockneyRebel

You will need your GP to be very specific about your not being able to attend, there is no room for doubt. So "may cause panic attack" for example will not be good enough.

Please bee mindful of the language in your post, and remove the "F" word

thanks

poorsoul

I told them everything about my panic attacks severe social anxiety and depression I also told them I cant travel it made no difference they still insist that I travel 

poppy123456

Do you attend other appointments? for example, your GP?

charlie79

You need a GP letter stating your Housebound due to agoraphobia and would need a home visit. I suffer from PTSD agoraphobia anxiety and depression. My GP wrote a letter so i didnt have to attend the assessment centre.

poppy123456

If you attend other appointments but then ask for a home assessment then this can go against you. They could turn around and tell you, as you can attend other appointments then you can attend the assessment centre for the face to face assessment. I've heard this happen many times.

charlie79

I dont leave my house and have all apts home visits. In your case I would contact CAB and ask there advise. Do you have a carer

[Deleted User]

I must have been one of the lucky ones.

charlie79

Also can you only attend familiar settings with trusted person. I have a friend who can only go to her GPS

poorsoul

I rarely leave my house only to get my money from bank cash machine 5 minute walk then straight home.I will only go to doctor to get note lucky that dr is also short walk about 4 minutes from house.I am being asked to travel on a bus or train which I never do due to my severe social anxiety around others in a confined space.