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Assessment
- Linnie
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8 years 7 months ago #140880 by Linnie
Assessment was created by Linnie
Hi I am still finding my way around this helpful site.
I have worked all my life but have been living and working with a nasty illness.
7 years ago I nearly died through a complication of the illness. I went back to work after 8 months. I have struggled with work and my illness but continued the best I could and even cut down my work hours. 2014 was a bad year with my illness flaring up regularly. In September 2014 I went on long term sick leave. My SSP finished and I applied for contribution based ESA. After a mess up on the DWP side I eventually got my ESA and it explained it would be for a year. I was then sent a ES50 form to fill out. I did this and today I got a letter to say I have to go and see an healthcare professional. Can anyone give me advice what happens at this interview. My work has sent me for a few occupational health appointments and my Doctor sent them all my history and a full report. The occupational health have just sent me a copy of a letter they have sent to my works HR confirming I am unfit for work and a recommendation for ill health retirement. I have not heard from my HR as yet. Would it be helpful to take a copy of this letter to the ESA assessment meeting with me. I have never applied for anything before. My condition can not be cured I take medication and sometimes admitted to hospital. Any info regarding meeting or where to look on the site for this would be much appreciated. Regards Linnie
I have worked all my life but have been living and working with a nasty illness.
7 years ago I nearly died through a complication of the illness. I went back to work after 8 months. I have struggled with work and my illness but continued the best I could and even cut down my work hours. 2014 was a bad year with my illness flaring up regularly. In September 2014 I went on long term sick leave. My SSP finished and I applied for contribution based ESA. After a mess up on the DWP side I eventually got my ESA and it explained it would be for a year. I was then sent a ES50 form to fill out. I did this and today I got a letter to say I have to go and see an healthcare professional. Can anyone give me advice what happens at this interview. My work has sent me for a few occupational health appointments and my Doctor sent them all my history and a full report. The occupational health have just sent me a copy of a letter they have sent to my works HR confirming I am unfit for work and a recommendation for ill health retirement. I have not heard from my HR as yet. Would it be helpful to take a copy of this letter to the ESA assessment meeting with me. I have never applied for anything before. My condition can not be cured I take medication and sometimes admitted to hospital. Any info regarding meeting or where to look on the site for this would be much appreciated. Regards Linnie
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- Gordon
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8 years 7 months ago #140891 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Assessment
Linnie
Welcome to the forum.
It appears from your post that you completed the ESA50 some time ago, if your conditions have changed then you are entitled to update the assessor and the DWP with how you are now. See
Invited to a face to face assessment but the ESA50 is old
Yes, you can take a copy of this letter to the assessment, ask the assessor to read it and include it in your file before they start the interview. You might also want to send a copy to the DWP office dealing with your claim, marked for the attention of the Decision Maker.
Sending Documents to the DWP or Maximus
If you have a look at the ESA Claim guides there is a section covering the assessment towards the back, it also covers the questions you are likely to be asked.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1
Best of luck
Gordon
Welcome to the forum.
It appears from your post that you completed the ESA50 some time ago, if your conditions have changed then you are entitled to update the assessor and the DWP with how you are now. See
Invited to a face to face assessment but the ESA50 is old
Yes, you can take a copy of this letter to the assessment, ask the assessor to read it and include it in your file before they start the interview. You might also want to send a copy to the DWP office dealing with your claim, marked for the attention of the Decision Maker.
Sending Documents to the DWP or Maximus
If you have a look at the ESA Claim guides there is a section covering the assessment towards the back, it also covers the questions you are likely to be asked.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1
Best of luck
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Linnie
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- Linnie
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8 years 6 months ago #141460 by Linnie
Replied by Linnie on topic Assessment
Hi Gordon
Thank you very much for the information.
I had to see my nurse at my GP Surgery today and she found a letter my GP has sent to occupational health doctor for my works HR dept. She has kindly printed me a copy. It states that I am unfit for work and that my condition is getting worse and that despite my health problems I struggled on with my job which I have been in for 25 Years. I am now on long term sick and my condition can not be cured. Recommendation for retirement on ill health grounds. Do you think this would also be good evidence to support my claim. I have never applied for anything before and I just don't know what to take. I will also take the occupational health report. I will read as much as I can from this site. Which I have joined and thank you for your advice. Linnie
Thank you very much for the information.
I had to see my nurse at my GP Surgery today and she found a letter my GP has sent to occupational health doctor for my works HR dept. She has kindly printed me a copy. It states that I am unfit for work and that my condition is getting worse and that despite my health problems I struggled on with my job which I have been in for 25 Years. I am now on long term sick and my condition can not be cured. Recommendation for retirement on ill health grounds. Do you think this would also be good evidence to support my claim. I have never applied for anything before and I just don't know what to take. I will also take the occupational health report. I will read as much as I can from this site. Which I have joined and thank you for your advice. Linnie
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- Gordon
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8 years 6 months ago #141466 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Assessment
Linnie
I would certainly use it, but you should be aware that your GP saying you are unfit for work will have little weight in regard to ESA, your ability top work is derived from the assessment but is not tested directly, so the best evidence is one that addresses your problems with the activities that you are tested against.
I've just realised that I missed a question from your earlier post, details of the assessment and the questions you are likely to be asked are included in the ESA Claim guides, towards the back.
Gordon
I would certainly use it, but you should be aware that your GP saying you are unfit for work will have little weight in regard to ESA, your ability top work is derived from the assessment but is not tested directly, so the best evidence is one that addresses your problems with the activities that you are tested against.
I've just realised that I missed a question from your earlier post, details of the assessment and the questions you are likely to be asked are included in the ESA Claim guides, towards the back.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Linnie
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8 years 6 months ago #141893 by Linnie
Replied by Linnie on topic Assessment
Hi Gordon
Just wanted to share this with you.
Has you know from my earlier contact I was going for an assessment today.
My Husband took unpaid leave to take me and I took my new evidence letters with me. Which I have got since my ESA50 form was sent in.
Myself and my husband had just arrived in a nearby car park to the assessment centre and my mobile phone rang. It was the actual assessment centre apologising they are cancelling my interview 40 minutes before it was due because they had too many people for assessments and the assessors will not get through the appointments today. They will send a new appointment out to me. I just can not believe it.
My husband wants to write to the dept dealing with my claim to complain and said I should send my new evidence letters and ask them to look through my form and new evidence again before sending me to another interview. I won't go into detail about my illness but I am in a bad flare up at the moment and had to go to hospital this week and I was very poorly but still went for this apt today and they ring and cancel when I was actually outside. What a system Gordon.
Regards Linda
Just wanted to share this with you.
Has you know from my earlier contact I was going for an assessment today.
My Husband took unpaid leave to take me and I took my new evidence letters with me. Which I have got since my ESA50 form was sent in.
Myself and my husband had just arrived in a nearby car park to the assessment centre and my mobile phone rang. It was the actual assessment centre apologising they are cancelling my interview 40 minutes before it was due because they had too many people for assessments and the assessors will not get through the appointments today. They will send a new appointment out to me. I just can not believe it.
My husband wants to write to the dept dealing with my claim to complain and said I should send my new evidence letters and ask them to look through my form and new evidence again before sending me to another interview. I won't go into detail about my illness but I am in a bad flare up at the moment and had to go to hospital this week and I was very poorly but still went for this apt today and they ring and cancel when I was actually outside. What a system Gordon.
Regards Linda
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- Gordon
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8 years 6 months ago #141907 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Assessment
Linnie
I'm afraid all of the Assessment Providers (ESA & PIP) overbook, they claim it's because of the number of claimants dropping out on the day, but it does mean that when their own staff go sick they are forced to cancel appointments.
You can make a complaint
www.chdauk.co.uk/contact-us
If your conditions have worsened since you completed your ESA50 then you can update Maximus about this, send a copy to the assessment centre, a copy to the DWP office dealing with your claim marked for the attention of the Decision Maker and if they still go ahead with the interview take a copy to it and ask the assessors to read it an include it in your file before starting with the assessment.
Gordon
I'm afraid all of the Assessment Providers (ESA & PIP) overbook, they claim it's because of the number of claimants dropping out on the day, but it does mean that when their own staff go sick they are forced to cancel appointments.
You can make a complaint
www.chdauk.co.uk/contact-us
If your conditions have worsened since you completed your ESA50 then you can update Maximus about this, send a copy to the assessment centre, a copy to the DWP office dealing with your claim marked for the attention of the Decision Maker and if they still go ahead with the interview take a copy to it and ask the assessors to read it an include it in your file before starting with the assessment.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Linnie
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