home assessment and gp

I would like to go to university but do not know what help I can get I am in support in esa and higher rate motability with high rate care I would like to study as a social worker I always worked until accident 7 yrs and it makes me feel depressed the thought of spending my life like this I am to scared to go to the dwp in case it effects anything as do not even know myself if I can manage it I would be very grateful for any help from any one on this matter

Hi Shell,

I've done a course similar to what you're saying as a disabled student and there is a lot of support out there. Have you ever looked at DSA (disabled students allowance)? Have you talked to student finance? Seen what financial support you could get for further education re tuition etc?

One thing I do want to say and please don't take this the wrong way, it's written with the best of intentions, is that some courses like social work have a fitness to practice clause in them. This effectively means that if you have a significant illness or disability it needs to be disclosed to the relevant professional body and they may require a fit note from a physician of their choice for you to start, continue or finish your course or to allow registration. This is a very grey area both legally and ethically as a profession with values of social justice and inclusiveness cannot really discriminate in such a fashion; the process is rarely used in practice because practitioners do not implement it. It has however been used some and resulted in a few high profile cases of people with long standing disabilities taking the professional bodies to court etc etc. I'm not saying this has anything to do with your case, I have absolutely no idea and it may be wildly irrelevant, but in case it's relevant I thought I'd throw it out there as you may not be aware of the, potential, issue.

Another issue I'd like to bring to your attention is that social work courses are full of work placements. Would you be able to go to a work placement on a 9-5 basis, five days a week for a few months at a time? If not, it might be an idea to approach the relevant department of the university you're thinking of attending to discuss the situation with them a bit as they may be able to give you better information on how to go about applying and on all the alternatives and support that may exist to ensure you get to study the subject of your choice!

Hope it all goes very well!

Zoe

where do esa forms go after been posted who makes the decision whether you should have a medical or not and what group you go in to and what part does the agencies and the dwp play in this, how long does it take just done mine with your sites help and my carer and we had visions of terry prattcets book and film going postal just wondering

shell wrote: where do esa forms go after been posted who makes the decision whether you should have a medical or not and what group you go in to and what part does the agencies and the dwp play in this, how long does it take just done mine with your sites help and my carer and we had visions of terry prattcets book and film going postal just wondering

Hi s,

"where do esa forms go after been posted"

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (aka HAAS) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15.

"who makes the decision whether you should have a medical or not"

Maximus as above.

"and what group you go in to "

Maximus make recommendation on which group you should be placed into in the form of an ESA85 or ESA85A Medical Report which is then sent to The DWP ESA Decision Maker who then makes the final decision on the balance of probabilities taking "All" the evidence before them into account !

"how long does it take just done mine with you"

It depends on whether Maximus feel that you have provided enough evidence for them to make a paper based assessment without the need of a face to face in which case they would compile an ESA85A and return it with your file to DWP to make the final decision.

Or, whether the feel it necessary to request Further Medical Evidence (FME) from one of your treating HCP's. (which they seldom do)

It also depends on how busy Maximus and/or DWP are in your area.

You could either contact Maximus for an update and/or ring DWP ESA :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 (Open 8AM-6PM. Mon-Fri.)

See our : ESA Claims Guides and our : ESA FAQ’s

You should Bookmark/Favourite this page in your Internet Browser now. That way you can return to this topic easily to pose any further queries that you may have by replying to the topic.

See : This Topic also !

Thanks in anticipation of your future co-operation in keeping all your ESA related queries to this topic !

bro58

how much proof do they need carer filled in my new assessment esa form in support group sent in 3 consultants letters supporting this claim 3 hrs to fill the form in going into great detail about what I have wrong one of my conditions in the words of my consultant is a very rare entity and disabling I have sevre bruising syndrome that never truly goes away and attacks any where in the body at any time with out been knocked or anything, plus arthritis that is so bad in my knees that I have to wear full length leg braces and use a wheel chair cannot walk unaided at all and other problems as been incontinence, why did we bother, as have to have a medical, my doctor going to ask for a home visit as stated on form and why, never had a medical before won the first time at tri as did not know about year rule it took them 2 mins to award it on the grounds that it was dangerous to walk more that 20 meters and my whole house has been adapted for me at the cost of 38 thousand pounds so that I can try and have alife we do not believe for one minute that this form has been read let alone looked at, worked all my life until 8yrs ago to put up with this crap is this normal when so much evidence was sent in