Scored 0 on ESA assessment

poppygirl

note from moderator, some comments on this discussion mention PIP, however it was later established that the poster was referring to ESA.

Hi, I'm new here. I need advice please. I have just had an over there phone medical assessment that I failed, I scored 0 points by their reckoning. I've been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips, my spine is crumbling and I have lumbar spondylitis, I have xrays to prove this. I am in constant pain which I explained at the start of the assessment but, because I still push myself to do certain tasks they said I am fit for some work. I can't stand or sit without severe pain. I told them I couldn't understand why I had scored 0 points and was told to appeal. My daughter read through the papers from the results of the answers I gave and said the person who phoned me had made a lot of assumptions without going into detail. She phoned them for me to get the decision looked at again, and explain this and how it affects my day to day living and was told after being on the phone for about 20mins that they wouldn't take anymore information as the person reading it would get bored. They phoned later to say the decision stayed the same. Help pls. Thanks

poppygirl

Sorry I forget to add, I have no feeling in my left outer thigh from knee to top of leg and also have plantar faceitis due to walking with a limp. Thanks

calcotti

poppygirl said: They phoned later to say the decision stayed the same. Help pls. Thanks

This reads as if they phoned you back the same day - is that what you meant?

Also not clear whether you are talking about the assessment report recommendation or whether you have actually had a decision letter from DWP saying you are not entitled.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @poppygirl I'm sorry to read about what's happened with your PIP application. 

The decision about awarding PIP isn't down to having certain conditions, it's about whether or not you can reliably carry out the PIP descriptors. If you decided to do a Mandatory Reconsideration, when assessed, you'd need to be able to answer each descriptor with detailed examples of times when you weren't able to carry out the activities listed, and what happened if/when you have tried. 

Scope has clearly set out advice on what to do if you decide to challenge a PIP decision, but it's also worth having a look at AdviceLocal to search for an adviser on your situation. 

Please don't hesitate if you're unsure of anything, or need any further help, the process can be difficult to go through, but we're here to support you.

Alex

poppy123456

Hi,

A PIP assessment is definitely not a medical and it has nothing to do with your ability to work so i don't understand how you were told you could do some work.

Have you actually requested the Mandatory Reconsideration yet? It's not clear from this comment..

poppygirl said:

 They phoned later to say the decision stayed the same. Help pls. Thanks

Usually the MR decision can take anything up to 12 weeks.

PIP isn't about a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities.

If you have requested the MR and you've had the decision now it's Tribunal stage.

What you need to do is forget about the report and what's been written because this isn't going to get you a PIP award. You need to concentrate on where and why you think you should have scored those points. Giving a couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activitity for each descriptor that applies to you. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

You may also want to get some expert advice from an agency near you. For this, start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

poppygirl

Sorry, I should have said, the medical was for ESA

poppygirl

They phoned back the same day when my daughter phoned them. I had a phone call about a week after the assessment telling me I had scored 0 points, followed by a letter a week later with the results from questions asked and to inform me mess would stop immediately

poppygirl

* my ESA stopped immediately. Also the letter said an MR was a choice, i was to go straight to appeal

poppy123456

poppygirl said:

Sorry, I should have said, the medical was for ESA

The title of your thread says "scored 0 in a PIP assessment" is this correct as well as being found fit for work for ESA?

poppygirl

I also have numbness in my left outer thigh from knee to top of my leg, I'm having to pay for private physio as these problems have caused me to have plantar faceitis in my left foot

poppygirl

Sorry, I didn't have a pop assessment as I've not applied for PIP yet because I need to focus on this first

poppygirl

My mistake on the heading, sorry, this is about my ESA medical

calcotti

poppygirl said:

* my ESA stopped immediately. Also the letter said an MR was a choice, i was to go straight to appeal

The rules for challenging ESA are different to other benefits. If you lodge an appeal with the tribunal you can get ESA reinstated at the assessment rate while you wait for the tribunal. Once you have lodged the appeal ring ESA and let them know.

poppy123456

If it’s New Style ESA that you’re claiming payments for this will stop after one year unless placed into the Support Group. 

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

If it’s New Style ESA that you’re claiming payments for this will stop after one year unless placed into the Support Group. 

It sounds as if OP has been found Fit for Work so ESA will stop immediately but can be reinstated if appeal is lodged with tribunal.

poppy123456

Maybe the title of the thread can be changed to ESA rather than PIP to stop any confusion. @Libby_Scope @Ross_Scope @Alex_Scope could you do that please and move this thread to ESA part of the forum.

poppygirl

How do I do that ?

calcotti

poppygirl said:

How do I do that ?

If you are referring to the title of the thread - you can’t change that. Poppy is suggested to the moderators that’s it might be helpfulness of they did (although the replies by Tori and poppy which are all about PIP are then going to look a bit out of place!)

poppy123456

calcotti said:

poppygirl said:

How do I do that ?

If you are referring to the title of the thread - you can’t change that. Poppy is suggested to the moderators that’s it might be helpfulness of they did (although the replies by Tori and poppy which are all about PIP are then going to look a bit out of place!)

Didn’t think of that. Maybe those comments could also be removed. @Tori_Scope @Ross_Scope

Ross_Alumni

I have moved this discussion to the relevant category and altered the title. I have also included a note in the opening post explaining the initial misunderstanding.

I hope you have found replies on here helpful so far @poppygirl