ESA Advice

Hi

My name is Chris, i am 42 and 3 years ago i had an accident at work and slipped on water leaking from my NHS Employers ceiling.

Following my accident my health has suffered drastically, i was dismissed from my 24 years of NHS Employment.

I am now taking: Gabapentin, Sertraline, Fentanyl Patches, Amitryptiline and Propanalol. I know walk with 2 elbow crutches as my GP told me i have Arthritis affecting my hands and suffer pins and needles in my hands and legs/feet. I am having trouble holding my bladder due to pain and not having the feeli g when i need to pass urine and also holding my bowels at times and not know i need to go until the last minute but then get severe constipation due to medication.

I am also being treated for severe Anxiety and Depression to top it all off.

I was found to have bulges in the sacks around my lower discs and now chronic back and nerve pain - anyway i was claiming ESA initially and that ran out and they were just paying my stamp.

I waited over 8 months for a medical and was surprised to be seen by a Physiotherapist, who seemed understanding etc.

To my astonishment i was told that i was fit for work even though my GP said i was not due to symptoms and medication side effects.

Anyway i appealed and then was unsuccessful.

In March of this year i reapplied due to my symptoms and deterioration with pins and needles and arthritis and now my knees are swollen and in considerable pain - my GP has referred me to a Pain Consultant at mt local Hospital.

I received a call from a ESA decision maker who went through my application and when i said about my bladder and boeels got the reply of 'well you can wear pads/carry spare underwear) I had a mobility assesment who came to my house and installed an additional hand rail and toilet frame - this person then said that she thinks i need another medical.

Anyway it has been 8 weeks nearly and i have not heard anything apart from a medical questionnaire which was completed and returned. I called ESA last week and was told to call the Medical offices who are dealing with this. I called them who said it is being processed and a decision would be made on whether i did need a medical or not, they said this can be upto 12 weeks!!

I called ESA back and informed them and was told they cannot do anythibg else at present until a decision made. I explained that i only get PIP and Industrial injury and am now struggling financially, the advisor said the only thing i could do was claim Job Seekers Allowance, but i cannot see how i can when i am signed off due to ill health and lost my job due to a risk assessment being undertaken and due to condition was unfit to work due to injuries and medication.

So i am now in a position where i do not know what else i can do as i cannot see a light at the end of a tunnel.

Has anyone else been in this situation or know anyone who is. Many thanks for taking time to read this but i am unsure what to do next.

Kind regards

Chris

Thank you both.

Gordon - no at present they are just paying my stamp, but i cannot understand how they keep people hanging like this.

I have contacted Maximus again but they still say the same.

I am going to call ESA again now and see what they say about the hardship payment.

Thank you