ESA Medical - questions re examination and general

Hi

I have an ESA medical in three weeks. I am very depressed, and now having read your guide, I don't think I answered the form very well. Probably I did not give enough detail. I have no family and no friends so the form wasn't easy to complete and concentrate on. I am a total recluse so have no-one to help. I am worried as the guide keeps saying they will refer back to the ESA claim form too if you apply for PIP, which I think I will have to do as I am not coping at all. Any advice on the following questions is greatly appreciated as I can't see the answer anywhere:

1. Do they physically examine you? I self harm when stressed and am very worried they will want me to take off my clothes, and I am particularly frightened they will want me to remove my underwear to see the scars on my breasts etc. I was sexually abused so this would be very traumatic for me.

2. I will have to self harm quite badly to get there and over the next few weeks as stressed by it all. I will probably still be bleeding from cutting myself when I arrive. Should I show them the cuts or make sure it is bandaged up (which is what I usually do). The Dr knows I self harm, but I have tended to keep it hidden and lie e.g. I tell the dr I split some coffee on myself, not I poured boiling water on myself deliberately, when getting treated for infected burns. Should I clarify this with the Dr before I go? I did not include any medical evidence with the forms, as I am scared of my Dr and asking for these things.

3. I usually don't wash or change my clothes for weeks. Should I make an effort for the medical, or be as I usually am? Usually I make an effort for the GP who I see once a month, so it may not say on the GP's notes I am scruffy and smell - though they know I have great difficulty with this.

4. I was really shocked that I will not get any/many points for getting there alone as I will be deemed capable. I have no family and no friends whatsoever, so I could not get anyone to come with me even if I wanted to, as I have no-one. Also, I will probably have to cut myself pretty badly to make the appointment. That is the only way I can make myself cope sufficiently to get there. I also made mistakes when answering the form, saying I can go out mostly ok, as long as I self harm in order to do it. From the guide it looks as if I should have said I can't go out.

5. Can I tell them information I should have put on the form e.g. I tried to kill myself last year (within 12 months). I didn't see anywhere appropriate to put it. at the time

Anyway, sorry for so many questions and many thanks for your help if you are able to answer.

SadCat wrote: Hi

I have an ESA medical in three weeks. I am very depressed, and now having read your guide, I don't think I answered the form very well. Probably I did not give enough detail. I have no family and no friends so the form wasn't easy to complete and concentrate on. I am a total recluse so have no-one to help. I am worried as the guide keeps saying they will refer back to the ESA claim form too if you apply for PIP, which I think I will have to do as I am not coping at all. Any advice on the following questions is greatly appreciated as I can't see the answer anywhere:

1. Do they physically examine you? I self harm when stressed and am very worried they will want me to take off my clothes, and I am particularly frightened they will want me to remove my underwear to see the scars on my breasts etc. I was sexually abused so this would be very traumatic for me.

2. I will have to self harm quite badly to get there and over the next few weeks as stressed by it all. I will probably still be bleeding from cutting myself when I arrive. Should I show them the cuts or make sure it is bandaged up (which is what I usually do). The Dr knows I self harm, but I have tended to keep it hidden and lie e.g. I tell the dr I split some coffee on myself, not I poured boiling water on myself deliberately, when getting treated for infected burns. Should I clarify this with the Dr before I go? I did not include any medical evidence with the forms, as I am scared of my Dr and asking for these things.

3. I usually don't wash or change my clothes for weeks. Should I make an effort for the medical, or be as I usually am? Usually I make an effort for the GP who I see once a month, so it may not say on the GP's notes I am scruffy and smell - though they know I have great difficulty with this.

4. I was really shocked that I will not get any/many points for getting there alone as I will be deemed capable. I have no family and no friends whatsoever, so I could not get anyone to come with me even if I wanted to, as I have no-one. Also, I will probably have to cut myself pretty badly to make the appointment. That is the only way I can make myself cope sufficiently to get there. I also made mistakes when answering the form, saying I can go out mostly ok, as long as I self harm in order to do it. From the guide it looks as if I should have said I can't go out.

5. Can I tell them information I should have put on the form e.g. I tried to kill myself last year (within 12 months). I didn't see anywhere appropriate to put it. at the time

Anyway, sorry for so many questions and many thanks for your help if you are able to answer.

Hi SC,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I will try to answer your queries by number :

1. ESA face to face "medicals" are not Medicals in the true sense of the word, they are more of a Q & A session, which "may" involve some very basic physical examination.

They will not ask you to undress to the level that you mention, even if they do want to "examine" you, which is doubtful

2. I would try and be honest with your G.P. regarding this if you can, and take their advice on bandaging treatment of any wounds caused by self harm.

The ESA Assessor should be made aware of this also, maybe your G.P. could contact : The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15, on your behalf.

Do you have access to a CPN, they can help in such matters ?

3. You should not make any extra effort in your dress, etc, be how you normally are on a day to day basis.

4. It is not to late for your G.P. to contact Maximus and request that you have a Home Assessment, explaining why.

I am wondering whether Maximus are fully aware of all your problems at all, if enough evidence is provided to them there may be no need for a face to face.

5. Yes, you need to inform Maximus of any such occurrences

I fully understand how extremely difficult it must be for you to discuss all your issues, but if The ESA Assessors, or indeed your G.P. are not fully aware of them, this may stop them making the correct ESA Award recommendations for you.

Please try and talk to your G.P. regarding all this ASAP, you could print off what you have written here and take it to your G.P.

As well as contacting your G.P. ASAP, organisations such as : MIND have experience in helping in such issues.

Finally, reading through this FAQ : ESA "Medical" – What to expect and the referenced information therein may give you a better idea of what to expect.

Good luck !!

bro58

Thanks for your extremely quick, informative reply. It is very much appreciated and has massively put my mind at rest 're the examination.

I will make an appointment with my GP asap. I have a blood test Friday and the receptionist is lovely and will fit me in. Both my GP and therapist should have detailed notes 're total social isolation, inability to leave the house etc. I think they suspected the burn wasn't innocent. You never really know what they write down though! I also recently was diagnosed with Aspergers which probably helps, though I have been waiting months for specialist treatment. I had thought I would see the specialist before applying for PIP. My GP is worried I am getting worse, so has been chasing specialists for me.

I would not want to risk a home assessment as I could never tidy the house sufficiently in time, and it would be far more stressful than leaving the house. Having strange, perhaps hostile people in my home would be very violating. I did put in the final box I could only leave the home if self harming with a scalpel (I trained as a vet - so am also good at bandaging!!!) So they do know.

Your advice was very practical and sensible and just right. Thank you.