My ESA report

Mark8699

Hi,

When I did my ESA claim I didn’t provide any medical evidence. So I did a work capability assessment without any medical evidence. 

I am panicking again. My ESA report shows what happens on a typical day but a typical day for me is now different to what the report says. 

I still have all my self care issues. But I am trying to correct them with counselling. 

It doesn’t mention that I could have a fluctuating condition etc. 

Theres bits missing and bits I don’t agree with and yet I was put in the support group LCWRA. 

I feel anything I do now looks better than what that report says. The report sounds exaggerated by the medical professional. 

poppy123456

Medical evidenced isn't needed for the work capability assessment. They look at how your conditions affect you the "majority" of the time. You don't have to be affected all the time.

All this worrying isn't helping your condition, you really do need to put the assessment reports for your ESA and PIP away and try to forget about them.

calcotti

Mark, please find something else to do. You are overthinking everything. I am not able to provide any more advice to address your anxiety. You have an award, it’s fine. Leave things alone.

Mark8699

I didn’t provide any medical evidence at any stage for the ESA. But I did for the PIP. 

My LCWRA information says I have suicidal thoughts and that I struggle to do washing, cleaning, personal care 

poppy123456

Mark8699 said:

My LCWRA information says I have suicidal thoughts and that I struggle to do washing, cleaning, personal care 

Which very likely placed you into the Support Group through substantial risk. There's nothing further to add that what's already been said.

janer1967

Hi Mark.

I have read a few of your posts so thought would just say I totally agree with poppy and calcotti 

You have been assessed for both esa and pip and awarded 

You don't have to report every single thing that is different to your report 

The reports are just a high level summary and will never include every bit of detail about anybody 

The reason for reviews is so you can be reassessed to see if your condition has changed 

Your awards are in place so leave it alive put the reports away somewhere our of sight and live your life best you can 

If everyone reported any slight change to their report dwp would be in crisis dealing with all the cases

If you report any changes you start the whole process off again eg forms assessment decision which could take up to a year . You would also risk losing your award even if you think you have got worse . 

Do you want to put yourself through all that I doubt it 

Lawny

Mark, I have seen your posts on PIP too. I completely understand your anxiety around this. If this is your first time claiming any benefits then it is a big stressor, a lot of the people on here have lots of experience and maybe forget what it was like the first time they claimed. 

It’s all new to me too and I have found it extremely stressful and uncharted territory. I have previously been able to work for 30+ years whilst managing my mental health condition. My latest ‘episode’ is the worst I’ve had, so was advised to apply for PIP and ESA. I was put into ESA support group but have done a MR for my PIP award.
I notice that you have been having issues with sleep, I have just had a short course of sleeping tablets for the same reason. 48 hours with no sleep is not fun. After taking a couple of days I did feel a lot better and was able to sleep better the following days. 

*Advising a person with mental health issues/illness to ‘stop worrying and overthinking’ is like telling a cow to stop mooing. 

calcotti

Lawny said:

Advising a person with mental health issues/illness to ‘stop worrying and overthinking’ is like telling a cow to stop mooing. 

Understood but unfortunately finding strategies to seek to reduce the worrying is the only advice possible. There is no further benefits advice that can be offered.

Mark8699

Is it the PIP decision letter that counts more than the actual medical report?

Because the decision says prompting not supervision. So they probably didn’t even take into account the seizures. 

poppy123456

The decision letter is what counts.

Mark8699

I was awarded ‘cannot undertake any journey due to overwhelming psychological distress’

On the basis I don’t use any public transport like severe restriction. Are taxis considered public transport?

also; with this award does it mean you can’t leave the house at all? Can you leave 3 days a week?

poppy123456

Mark8699 said:

also; with this award does it mean you can’t leave the house at all? Can you leave 3 days a week?

You’ve been advised of this a few times. It doesn’t mean you can’t  leave the house at all. It means the majority of the time you can’t leave the house. 

I understand your anxiety but you’re not helping yourself by continuing to look at the reports and decision letters, please put them away. 

Mark8699

I’m sorry, poppy. It’s just I don’t want to be strung in court for doing something wrong which would be a genuine mistake. 

As I say, it can be difficult to measure your progress with mental health since it is a sliding scale.

I guess if you had depression and 4 days you couldn’t do anything but on 3 you could and you worked on the 3 you could. You’d lose your award etc. 

poppy123456

Mark8699 said:

I guess if you had depression and 4 days you couldn’t do anything but on 3 you could and you worked on the 3 you could. You’d lose your award etc. 

3 days a week is not the "majority of the time." Lots of people also do permitted work while claiming ESA so working doesn't mean you're not entitled to ESA, providing you work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £152/week.

Mark8699

poppy123456 said:

Mark8699 said:

I guess if you had depression and 4 days you couldn’t do anything but on 3 you could and you worked on the 3 you could. You’d lose your award etc. 

3 days a week is not the "majority of the time." Lots of people also do permitted work while claiming ESA so working doesn't mean you're not entitled to ESA, providing you work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £152/week.

But if you had self care issues like not brushing your teeth, showering etc and then got a job. What would that look like? If you can do it 3 days why can’t you do it the rest. Is that what they would think?

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Mark8699 the assessors have set criteria they are measuring a claimant against, and will be looking for how someone manages things a majority of the time, as mentioned. 

It sounds like you've got a lot of questions you're wanting to ask at the moment, and that can feel quite draining when the mind is racing away. Do you feel like the answers are helping to calm that racing feeling?

It might help to spend time over in the Coffee Lounge for a bit, maybe play some of our games or chat to members about your interests, or what hobbies you enjoy? 

What sorts of things do you enjoy doing?

It's clear you're very curious about lots of details, and that shows how important finding answers is for you, and sometimes the process can make us more worried than when we started.

I want you to know it's okay to take a break from being online as well, perhaps spend time talking to someone you're close to, catching up about their day, or going for a walk, whatever might help lessen any feelings of anxiety.

Remember, you are worthy of a break, and we're all here to support you. Let us know if we can help further

poppy123456

Mark8699 said:

poppy123456 said:

Mark8699 said:

I guess if you had depression and 4 days you couldn’t do anything but on 3 you could and you worked on the 3 you could. You’d lose your award etc. 

3 days a week is not the "majority of the time." Lots of people also do permitted work while claiming ESA so working doesn't mean you're not entitled to ESA, providing you work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £152/week.

But if you had self care issues like not brushing your teeth, showering etc and then got a job. What would that look like? If you can do it 3 days why can’t you do it the rest. Is that what they would think?

Mark, quite a few people have tried to help you but you're twisting everything you've been told. 3 days is not the majority of the time.

Mark8699

Sorry again, 

Is it true the GP doesn’t know how you match up to PIP descriptors?

calcotti

Mark8699 said: Is it true the GP doesn’t know how you match up to PIP descriptors?

Why would they? They’ve are not benefits specialist and have no knowledge of how benefits are assessed.

Starlingbird

Hi @Mark8699. I can really feel your anxiety about all the things you have going through your mind about your recent benefits decisions. There's really no need to analyse the decisions when they have gone in your favour (people usually do that when their claim was rejected!). You filled in your forms, answered questions, etc, and now you have been awarded what you are genuinely entitled to. Don't worry about what went on, it's now in the past. As has already been said, you are allowed to live a life and you won't get in trouble for doing so. 

It may take some time to allow all this stress and analysis to calm down for you. Do you have any hobbies, etc? Sometimes it's good to try to distract yourself; even if your mind is still racing, you will have moments of concentration on your hobby or interest and it will give your mind a bit of a break.

I hope you start to feel a bit less stressed soon.