Esa and dla

Hia, I will be filling in my esa questionair in the next week or so, I am being refeired to my local wellbeing service for my depression but the only problem is the appointment to see them isnt until march so is it still worth sending a copy of the letter of with my form, and I have also being sent a letter to say that I have an appointment with an epilepsy nurse which I havnt had to see before, so should I also send that letter of aswell as thats not till march either or will they just disrigard them becouse I havnt seen them yet.thanks

brad72 wrote: Hia, I will be filling in my esa questionair in the next week or so, I am being refeired to my local wellbeing service for my depression but the only problem is the appointment to see them isnt until march so is it still worth sending a copy of the letter of with my form, and I have also being sent a letter to say that I have an appointment with an epilepsy nurse which I havnt had to see before, so should I also send that letter of aswell as thats not till march either or will they just disrigard them becouse I havnt seen them yet.thanks

Hi b72,

It should certainly do no harm to make them aware that you are having to attend appointments in connection with your current ongoing health conditions, in the near future.

You should actually inform them in your ESA50 of all and any forthcoming appointments in the next 3 months !

The main reason being that if it is decided that you need a face to face assessment, once you have informed them of any dates where you will be unavailable to attend, they should not make an appointment for a face to face which clashes with another pre-arranged appointment.

If they did so, and you could show that you had already informed them that you would not be available on that date, they would have to re-arrange to another date, and this re-arrangement should not be counted as the one opportunity to re-arrange that they have to offer.

Something else to take into account is that if you are going to request a Home Assessment with your ESA50, they may question "how" you manage to attend other "Medical" appointments, and "why" you cannot travel to an ESA Assessment Centre.

So , you would need to explain "how" and "why" as above.

As I have previously advised, a face to face may not be necessary if you can provide enough "paper" evidence, but even though this may be the outcome that you desire, you should still make your request for a Home Assessment in writing with the ESA50, rather than waiting for them to arrange a face to face at a Centre, and then you having to challenge that to request a Home Assessment.

Your opening statement on any such written request for a Home Assessment could be along the lines of :

"Even though I feel that I have provided enough evidence in/with my ESA50 for a paper based assessment, if it is decided that you require me to take part in a face to face assessment, I am formally requesting that the face to face assessment is carried out in my home"

Then give the reasons why you need a Home Assessment !

If it would be helpful to you, you can also request that a Taxi is provided if they insist on you travelling to an Assessment Centre.

You will find further information on the process before, during and after your assessment : HERE.

You should take into account that all the information on The CHDA Website, may well paint a "Rosy" picture of how the process operates. i.e. How it "should" operate, rather than how it "does" actually operate.

If you can get a letter from your G.P. or other treating HCP supporting the fact that you need a Home Assessment, explaining "why" you need one, that should help.

You should send a copy of any such letter (always keep originals) along with your request for a Home Assessment with The ESA50 !

bro58

Thankyou bro 58, I have had the phone call now just waiting for the ESA50.

brad72 wrote: Thankyou bro 58, I have had the phone call now just waiting for the ESA50.

Thanks b72,

Please keep us updated !!

bro58

Hia can you tell me seens as I suffer from severe depression and epilepsy is staying conscious while awake the only part of the form I would have to fill in, and could you tell me which guides apply to me me regarding the depression. Also if I was to end up on jsa would I still get sdp on top of jsa seens as I get middle rate personal care dla. Many thanks