Home Assessment

T1991

Hi there everyone 

I have a home assessment Friday for esa and I’m Absolutely poo in my pants I am already on work-related I have been for the last 3year but my conditions have got worse do you 12 DDDD generative disc’s  in my back so I’m hoping to be in the support group is there any advice or tips to be given I would really appreciate it it’s my first time having a home assessment due to my mobility and pain 

I was just wondering if the Home assessment is like the assessment it is in the centre and do they ask for medical notes And did I ask you to do a medical exam

poppy123456

Hi,

A home assessment is the same as one in their assessment centre, the only difference is that it's in your home. There's no advantage to having a home assessment rather than one in their centre.

When you filled out the form did you send relevant evidence with it to support your claim? They rarely contact anyone for any of this. You can certainly try to give it to the HCP during the assessment but sometimes with home assessment they refuse to accept it on the day, as this has happened to me in the past.

You will be assessed on your ability to do any type of work because ESA is about the work you can do and not the work you can't do. You will need to verify what you wrote in the form as well as any additional information they ask you.

If they ask you to do anything that causes you pain and discomfort then you can refuse to do it but make sure you tell them why you're unable to do it.

They will watch you during the assessment so do be aware of that.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

T1991

Hi there poppy

And no they haven’t sent me anything out to fill in Last time I filled one in was about two years ago and was waiting for a home assessment I contacted them to ask about the form and they said you don’t need to send anything in anymore
They’re just making an appointment to do a home assessment on you witch I’m really confused about 

I’m just really scared that the score me zero Points as I have been reading all the comments and have been refused To having a degenerated discs and problems with sciatica as it’s a common cause  obviously the pain is got that bad sometimes I don’t even know of weed myself And my arm constantly being locked

pigeon55

Good morning I can only tell you of my experience. The first assessment at I had a notice from dwp that I was due an assessment and I need do nothing.  I spoke to my local cab office and was told to send them as much information as possible as usually they will assess on information they have and wont take any on the day. I sent in every pice of medical and other things that effected my disability.  I came out well. Good look with your assessment. 

T1991

Hi ther @pigeon55 thank you for your reply x 

where do I get the Evidence from the doctors ?? As I’m pending another MRI scan on my hip I’m been sent for a nerve test in my leg But I haven’t attended yet because I’m still waiting for the appointment ?? Dose that matter x 

what did u send it for you Disability I would affect you

And fingers crossed thank you very much mate

poppy123456

T1991 said:

Hi there poppy

And no they haven’t sent me anything out to fill in Last time I filled one in was about two years ago and was waiting for a home assessment I contacted them to ask about the form and they said you don’t need to send anything in anymore
They’re just making an appointment to do a home assessment on you witch I’m really confused about 

I’m just really scared that the score me zero Points as I have been reading all the comments and have been refused To having a degenerated discs and problems with sciatica as it’s a common cause  obviously the pain is got that bad sometimes I don’t even know of weed myself And my arm constantly being locked

The advice you were given that they no longer send them out id definitely not correct. They have always sent them and have done since i've claimed ESA from 2012. I've had 3 reassessments in that time, 2 face to face and 1 paper based and have received a form each time.

Your future appointments are not classed as evidence because it doesn't tell them anything about how your conditions affect them. All it tells them is that you are waiting an appointment, which isn't useful.

Sending huge amounts of medical evidence if it isn't useful really isn't helpful either. Most medical records contain things which aren't useful.

You can request your medical records from your GP and it's free to receive digital copies but with your assessment on Friday this doesn't give you much time.

I looked back at your previous thread regarding this and i see that i did advise you that if they wouldn't send you the form to print it off online, fill it in and send it to them before your assessment. Did you do this?

T1991

@poppy123456 I’ve just called the health Assessment Department and they’ve Just basically said They receive my last Questionnaire form in 2018 reviewed in 2019 and  January 2020 obviously because the length of The waiting time for the home assessment has Taken so long  to for them to come out to my property has it’s taken two years for !! 

As I told the woman on the phone that I haven’t received any questionnaire for a couple of years now she just said when the health assessment comes out to you this week just add the information that is given Due to your health and medication As I’ve said my medical conditions got worse

So now I’ve just contacted the doctor asking for my medical records and a letter supporting me from My doctor she said it wouldn’t be done for Friday and I ask if the DWP have asked for any medical records and or a letter And she said no nothing is been requested

pigeon55

I sent copies of scans from the hospital wich I got from them as my gp  didn't have them all. And got other information from my gp regarding my disability and my diagnosis of my depression and anxiety. Then put a letter together stating how my condition effects my daily living and my ability to do things. 

T1991

@pigeon55

thats brilliant I’m sure my doctor will do This for me if I need anything hopefully they don’t asked me and get out me on the support group do you have the same problem as me with back problems and depression x 

pigeon55

Nerve and disc damage arthritis to most joints 2 replacements. Depression and anxiety wich cause many problems. Most annoying though is my tinnitus wouldn't wish that on anyone. 
Hope all goes well for you. 

poppy123456

Home assessments can often take a long time especially for the work capability assessment but that length of time is ridiculous because it's that form they will use the information from.

Regarding contacting your GP, they rarely do this. Do you not have any evidence at home that you can use to support your claim? I usually keep all my evidence in a file which makes it easier to get hold of when it's needed for things like this.

T1991

Ouch that’s sound nasty it’s horrible isn’t The pain just dosent go away neither gets better 

I have nerve problems aswel Absolutely kills me Wished they’d chop my leg off and get me out of the pain 

same I have depression and anxiety aswel but that’s due to the pain  xx 
hope u get better soon @pigeon55

T1991

@poppy123456

i literally have nothing no evidence what so ever i never have had just doctors letters for my appointments and we thrown all the out when we moved home 

the doctor may have but the letter she say me just as saying what medication I’m on how many time I have to take 

l4 l5 Dehydrated this with a fuse bulge 
whitch was from 2016 when I had my mri and I’ve been in pain ever since 

put I’ve noticed everything down to my doctor about my nerve condition how bad the pain is in my back I we my self 
mans not being able to walk because my hip feel like it’s coming out my socket and not being able to daily activity just to muscle weakness so now  my moms my career 

ive ask for other mri scans u can o my have one every 5year but now I’m Conditions worse there’s something else going on with it x 

poppy123456

If your GP is going to charge for a letter that contains just that information then it would be pointless. You can get a print out of all your existing medication from the receptionist at your GP practice and there won't be any charge for this.

If it's the mobilising descriptor you think applies to you for the Support Group then do be aware that they will take into consideration your ability to use a self propel wheelchair because this is part of that descriptor.

Good luck with the assessment on Friday.

T1991

@poppy123456
my mom has just been to collect my medical report but dosent say a fat lot on there 

but the doctors have said for my doctor to write a letter Describing my pain and how it effects me it would be 65pound 😤😖😣😭😢😩😠🥺😔😟 

a bloody wheel chair I’m only 27 and that’s not fair even tho I’m struggling walking I’m already underPressure because of my health let alone a wheelchair that would make me more depressed 

poppy123456

A GP will very often charge for writing a supporting letter and they aren't really the best evidence to send because a GP will very rarely know how your conditions affect you.

The wheel chair is part of the criteria for mobilising for the support group. See link for support group descriptors. At least one of them needs to apply the majority of the time. 

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1353-support-group-descriptors

T1991

Thank you beaut @poppy123456

well I’ve been and seen her today I didn’t ask for anything as yet as I may not need it but they may ! 

but obviously I have ongoing mris coming throw the post for my hole of my back and neck and a nerve conduction test  As my condition is worse will that go against me due to not having then already ?? 

T1991

I do have pink walking sticks 😂 will that help me 

T1991

@poppy123456

I poppy I’ve had my medical assessment at home everything went well bearing in mind it was only for 10mintues as I had a bad night last night and he could see I was in pain still he didn’t ask much just about my medication and how I cope with it day to day there wasn’t any Physical Exercises as he could see I was in pain

what do u recommend from that hun 

and a nothing quick question do they contact pips?? 

poppy123456

I'm glad it went ok. It's impossible to predict anything at this stage i'm afraid. Wait a week and ring DWP to request a copy of the assessment report, from that you'll have some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report. If you don't understand it then post here and someone will help you. You'll need to look for the LCW and LCWRA recommendations towards the back of the report.

No, they don't contact PIP department because PIP and ESA are totally different benefits, with different criteria.

T1991

@poppy123456 thank you sweet I’ll be back in contact with u all soon xx did u say it was 7 days from having your assessment so I’ll phone next Friday ?? X 

poppy123456

No problem. Yes, wait a week.

T1991

Hi @poppy123456

ive just phoned esa they’ve received my report back on Friday but no Decision made as yet do u no how long it normally takes x 

poppy123456

There's no timescales. You can request a copy of that report and then you'll know what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with it.

T1991

Hi @poppy123456 I’ve just received my report back and everything in there is right he’s ticked that I have limited work access for work related group Which I am still on now and to be looked again in 12 months time Bearing in mind my condition has got worse over the years

I’ve just contacted ESA for their advice and they said decisionmaker will make their final decision  just because the medical advisor ticked the box it doesn’t mean that you’re still in the work related group or placed into the support group Is that right as you said that the decisionmaker normally goes off the report 


Thank you poppy

poppy123456

Sorry i'm a little confused by your question, so if you could just confirm exactly what the recommendations are then i'll be able to advise you.

Does it state limited capability for work and work related activity (Support Group ) OR limited capability for work (WRAG)? They usually go with the report and it's rare they go against it.

T1991

@poppy123456

T1991

It’s dosent say anything about work related or support group @poppy123456

T1991

@poppy123456 everything else has lines through 

poppy123456

@T1991 yes it does, it states in the 2nd link you posted. It states that you meet the criteria for LCWRA  (Support Group) for mobilising.

The timescale, is just a guide and nothing more. They can reassess you anytime from 3 months. Usually they go with the report but of course you'll still need to wait for the decision.

poppy123456

As you are in the work related activity group (WRAG) at the moment, if they do go with the report then you'll receive extra money from the date the decision is made.

T1991

So does that mean I’m in the support group? Or not sweet and what the extra money for xx @poppy123456

poppy123456

Recommendation is Support Group yes but you're not in it yet. Support Group is £128.45 per week without the severe disability premium.

T1991

@poppy123456 thank u hun thank u for your help the  Advisor advise me to speak to pips about my disability and mobility but at the moment I’m scared to even mess with anything x I’m only on started for both and it’s dosent run out till 2021 x what do u recommend I should do x x

poppy123456

You're welcome,

I can't tell you what you should do about your PIP i'm afraid because i don't know how your conditions affect you against the PIP descriptors.

A worsening of condition doesn't mean you're automatically entitled to a higher award. You need to look at the PIP descriptors to see if you could score more points. Reporting a worsening of condition means more PIP2 forms and another face to face assessment is most likely. You do risk losing everything you already have by doing this. Of course the award could stay the same or be increased too.

T1991

Hi @poppy123456 I thought I’d update you  I’ve just found out they’ve finally put me in the support group 🙏 it’s taken a very long time thank your for you advice you’ve been a reall great help x 

T1991

@poppy123456
just a nothing quick question 
uno Because I was already receiving work related ESA now been put into the support group will I be backdated from the date of the decision or from the day I had my assessment thank you

poppy123456

That's great news! It will be from the date the decision was made.