I need help, ESA assessment

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hello everyone

I received a date yesterday for my ESA assessment, and I'm so worried about it, it took me months just to remember to tell the Dr all my symptoms how am I ever going to remember in just one meeting, and I'm worried that if I write things down and refer to it they will think it's not real rolleyes

Does anyone have any advice about it, and would it be worth getting a letter from my Dr to take?

Please help

Thank you

2

Hi Boqer. Don't feel bad about writing everything you want to say down. Fibro fog would make you forget things, so you need something to remind you. Also do you have someone who can go with you who knows what you go through on a daily basis.

Did you make a copy of your form before you sent it in to the dwp. If yes take that with you and refer to that.

Hope this helps. Take care, good luck and gentle hugs x

3

Hi Boqer,

I know it's easier said than done, but firstly try not to worry.

If you need to write everything down then do it - if the assessor asks why you have written stuff down, explain about fibro fog and that you easily forget. It may also help prompt you to add additonal vital details that the assessor doesn't mention (as it's usually a nurse or physiotherapist they don't have a clue) Also write down any changes that have happened since you filled in the form - i.e med change or appointments - Just don't do what I did this morning. I forget to mention everything I wrote down because a different doctor called me and threw me completely neutral

Do you have anybody going with you? How are you getting there?

It appears from past experience and others comments that it helps to have somebody with you.

If you can get a letter from your GP then I would get that.

I have my PIP assessment on Monday and I have a support worker helping me - well sort of - and I am in the process of noting down my changes like meds and the fact that I have started having to wear wrist supports at night because this eases the pain whilst in bed. I am writing down the slightest change

Hope this helps x

4

Sorry forgot to say - my daughter who is gradually doing more and more for me has written a statement in how she supports/cares for me - She did this by discriptor and gave examples of each one 

x

 

5

Hi Boqer A letter from your gp would most certainly help, also dont feel bad about writing things down I do it all the time as we never know when fibro fog will strike you may forget something that you wanted to say. its best to write stuff down so you wount forget anything. If you can take some one with you. it helps to have some one with you. for support.Hope it all goes well for you gentle hugs xx

6

Hi Janet, thanks for your reply

I don't have anyone who is with me daily and knows what I go through, but a I'm hoping a lady from a local charity will be able to come, and I do have copies of my original deep form and of several updates I sent them so I will take them too

Thank you

Hugs back

7

Hi erykah

Yes, it's definitely easier said than done to not worry! And I know the time is going to go so slowly towards it.

I know the feeling when something throws you, I go to the Dr with a list, and never manage to get through the whole thing, I don't know how it happens.

I'm hoping that someone from a local charity is going to come with me, I have only seen her once before but she helped me fill in the original ESA forms, and I'm hoping she will give me a lift also as getting out is difficult for me. Do you know if they do home visits for the assessment?

I just hate the whole procedure and all the stress that goes with it sad

Hope all goes well for you on you PIP assessment.

Thank you for your help

Take care

8

Thank you kaz,

Yes I hope to have someone there but she doesn't really know me at all, except that she helped me fill my forms in in the beginning.

Hope you are not doing too badly today

Gentle hugs

9

Yes, good idea. I can't do that, but my sis-in-law helps me with my meds on a morning before she goes out, so I could get her to write something for me to take.

Thank you

10

Yes I hate the process too, I think I answered your post in order to convince myself as much as to try and help you lol

I heard that they only do home assessments if you usually have GP home visits - but please don't quote me on that.

If the lady from the charity helped yu complete the form I would assume she will be willing to attend the assessment - I would call her to check (and book her time before someone else does)

Sorry I can't offer anymore advice, but I hope it goes well and just remember you are not alone. I think most of us go through the joys of ATOS at one time or another - If I get anxious on Monday, I am going to try and calm myself down by remembering this thread and that I'm not alone

Extra special (but gentle) confidence hug x

11

Hi Boquer,

I needed to let you know that many people will go to these assessments and explain in detail....that their symptoms have worsened, however one needs to remember that the focus of your illness is the time frame from 6 months before you applied and 3 months since your Date of Claim... which is why you should take your claim form or diary as evidence from that period. There's a strong chance you will be asked if your illness has got worse? This is to entrap you into saying yes...When? they'll say and you need to make sure you tell them since you started your claim or before this date. 

As far as I am aware these assessments and tribunals are a sham and I personally have experienced untruths about what I had said written about me....which I am still fighting today.

I will just say....don't be rushed into a reply, take someone with you even if for moral support, take all specialists reports, doctors letters and most definately your own notes, diaries etc.

Good luck and do not allow them to make you feel hurried or a nuisance...you're not! You're trying to give them an account of how you cope each day. Let us know how it goes.

Regards

Angie x

12

Hi Boqer tried to send you link but moderater wont allow it to go through. Its a benefit help forum, you pay for the year and they help you with appeals and claims and advice you on what to and not what to say.Lots of satisfied Pm for the link

Sue x

13

Thank you erykah for the smile your reply gave me, and let us know how your assessment goes, I have a blood test on Monday so I will think of you, and send you mental support smile I still have my PIP assessment to go.

I have phone the lady but she wasn't in so I'm going to talk to her on Friday as she will be in then.

I have never had a home visit from the Dr, they don't really like to it here and would rather talk on the phone if you can't go in, but I will still enquire as to whether I can have a home assessment or not.

Thank you for the hug, and a gentle confidence hug to you for Monday

14

Thank you - I will let you know how it goes and likewise, keep us updated for help and support along the way.

x

15

Hi Sue,

I will allow it if it is a genuine non-commercial site. However the link you posted went to outlook.com (not sure if you copied something from an email?) so try posting it again and I'll approve if ok or message me with the details.

Regards,

Alan

16

Thank you for your advice, it all seems hardly related to how we actually feel and more about the technicalities rolleyes if they had asked me if it worsened, I would have said yes. I'm not sure it's going to go ok, but am hoping that someone will be able to come with me. I have never been to a specialist, and am just trying to get a Dr letter now, I have no diary either, just the forms I filled in for them and a couple of letters I have written to them since.

I hope your appeal goes well, however long it takes.

Take care

Boqer

17

Thank you I will

smile

18

The link from sue is http://www.benefitanswers.co.uk/

19

Hi Boqer ive sent another link to the administrator for approval to send to you. you dont have to pay for this one. Oh and going by my sons last assesment  they were more interested how he felt about driving to London on the motorway, how he felt in crowds of people ect, wasnt the slightest bit interested in his on going deteriating back problem along with new reports and scans too.  Seems you have to convince these people its affecting you mentally!  Good luck and yes of course write everything down.

Sue x 

20

Thank you sue for the link, I will have a look, and thank you Alan for taking the time to look at it.