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Daughter in ESA support group with 2 kids under 5

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5 years 8 months ago #236735 by Ciaransgranny
Hey everyone,

We're really confused just now and it's exacerbating my own medical conditions and my daughter's. She's a lone parent in the ESA support group and has two small kids, one is 6 months old and the other is 3. She has generalized anxiety disorder, severe depression, chiari malformation and suffers blackouts. She's been asked to attend a medical assessment. Should she be attending? Should she be on another benefit? She had to cancel her last appointment due to a hospital appointment that she had to attend due to cervical cell changes, now tomorrow she's got an appointment at 2pm however her son finishes nursery at 3, I would have to attend the medical with her for safety reasons therefore no-one to pick up her son from nursery. There's no way she's able to travel alone, with a baby for an assessment it's absurd. She is also actively suicidal and had to attend an emergency mental health appointment last week. I've no idea what to do about this scenario. Any advice is welcome

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5 years 8 months ago #236738 by BIS
Hi Ciaransgranny

Your daughter being in the support group means that the DWP currently recognises that she is unfit for work, but it does not make her exempt from having an assessment. If she does not attend then her claim could be at risk and her benefit stopped. You could contact the DWP on her behalf and Maximus (who sent the assessment date) and ask for a different day. Or you could say that she is ill and if you have the support of the GP get a letter saying she is too unwell to be interviewed and because of her recent emergency appointment is at risk of a further deterioration in her health. They may or may not be sympathetic but it's worth a try. They will expect you to have the GP's backup.

In terms of other benefits - if she doesn't already have PIP - (Personal Independence Payment) - she could apply for that.

BIS

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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