ESA Support Group - Called into Job Centre Plus

Bill wrote: Thanks for that Bro, sorry for this late 'thank you' but I have been ill...funnily enough!!

Merry Christmas Bro

No problem B !!!

Have a "Good One" too !!

bro58

Hi, I was a bit concerned by Heffy being told by the adviser that they are calling every one on ESA in. Does any one know if they are going to be doing this to us all, one by one? I don't know how much more stress and anxiety I can take! I don't even have a passport, don't even know where my driving licence is (have not been able to drive in so long!) and am a bit concerned about bank statements as I am trying to pay off some longstanding debt as well as conribute at home.

My condition is such that I may not be able to attend on a stated date and time (symptoms can fluctuate and vary in intensity and severity...but are compounded by stress and anxiety, making inability to attend more likely on the day). I read that they won't come to you... It was the same with my WCA. I ended up having to go to the centre and don't know how I got through that... I ended up staying in the SG (having been placed in the SG on appeal the time before) which was an immense relief because I knew if I'd been put in WRAG I'd never have coped with visits to the JCP (and would have been sanctioned, I'm sure, when symptoms made attendance impossible).

So, now this... And I'm already in a state since I read that the updated ESA50 calls for more supporting evidence. The last time I was assessed the only medic who could provide supporting evidence was my GP (GP actually told me that because I have suffered with my condition for so - and was diagnosed by specialists way back - it would not be taken into consideration by DWP. I had her letter only which was, thankfully, clearly enough as I continued in the SG.) I have long since exhausted medical specialists/ treatments that might have helped, so can provide nothing 'new'. The last specialist I saw a year or two back were not specialists in my condition, rather in symptoms that are part of it, and my GP said they'd be pretty useless in supporting my claim.

I know I can ask my mum to provide a letter of support. I didn't last time and stated why on the form - bereavement, close relative with cancer and stress. She is obviously not a medic and, anyway, she finds such things very stressful (she is an anxious, nervous person at the best of time and she is one of those people who falls to bits with anyone she thinks of as important!). I am so reluctant to put her under extra stress. Plus, because my condition fluctuates, I always have the concern that the conversation would be manipulative and steered towards what I can do and when instead of what I can't do etc

I'm getting a bit off track here and am probably letting my anxiety get me carried away. It doesn't help that the medical condition I have is to this day not often taken as seriously as it should be (because it can't be proven by a blood test)...I wish they could have it for a week...then they'd believe it's real alright. Thankfully, my doc understands and is very understanding, but it's hard. My anxiety has seemingly quadrupled in the past year or two and stress makes everything worse for me. I am so grateful to be able to come here, see latest developments and ask questions - and I suppose knowledge is power - but sometimes it gives me new things to fear and worry about. I find it so hard to cope in the here and now, but can't help but worry about what might happen...the 'what ifs!'
I'm sick of being put through this kind of anxiety... As if it's not bad enough being ill!
I'm sorry for offloading here...but can anyone offer any advice/ further info.
Thank you.

Hello, Could I ask whether OP pensions are taken into account if you have been moved over to ESA from Incapacity benefit and have been in receipt of Incapacity benefit from when it changed from Invalidity benefit? I had no idea about any of this. I'm on Esa CB. Thanks

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for replying, I appreciate it. Thank you to for the very sound advice, it's really helpful to have some idea of what to do/ say should it come to it.

I know so many of us here fear the dreaded brown envelope, so maybe that's the idea! Perhaps it's just part of IDS's grand scheme to push more of us over the edge! As if it's not enough to go through medicals and interrogation, it seems they are now trying to get those in the SG to attend interviews (can't believe - well, l I suppose I can - the latest post is a woman in the SG being called in for a work-focused interview to update her skills and being told attendance is mandatory. How is that even legal under the current law/ rules?)

It's just one thing after another and usually directed at those who really struggle! This such an uncaring government. Could you please (after Christmas, of course) try to get more feedback from members who've received a letter, and other sources about whether it is certain groups of benefit recipient, regions, age groups etc being targeted. It'd be great to know, too, how many of those in the SG 'have'/'had' to attend and what happened at the interview.

Anxiety is a huge issue for me so I have been concerned that they are targeting those who were already in and continued in the SG without a medical (I didn't have a medical last time so am wondering if they are trying to belatedly check those they didn't have the time or resources to put through another medical...due to that whole backlog that happened a while ago.)

There's also been a lot in the press about people claiming by using multiple identities or identities of passed relatives, also those living abroad and claiming as if they are based in the UK (I think), so perhaps that's also an issue. If the press is to believed, everyone on benefits is a scrounger or doesn't actually deserve them...they are doing a very good job of tarring everyone with the same brush.

Anyhow, it's concerning so many here have had letters - esp if in the SG - and that the purpose/ reason doesn't seem clear. If you find out more, please update us in the new year or beyond via the newsletter.

Ps, Gordon, May I ask: I think my subscription is due to expire soon...will I get an email to re-subscribe/ will everything stay the same (name etc?)

I am very sorry if I came across as unappreciative at all in my last message (said I fear reading stuff here). I'd like you to know - and the others who work so hard here to answer questions and provide support - that it really is very much appreciated.
I wish you, and every one here, a blessed and peaceful Christmas