To ensure fewer very sick people will be asked to attend an assessment, new measures will be introduced to:
- treat people waiting for or between courses of chemotherapy in the same way as those already receiving it -extend the criteria for people with severe disability due to mental health conditions.
However, it's not been clearly stated exactly what severe mental health issues may be taken into account. Apparently it's something that we may hear more about in the months leading up to the start of the IB-to-ESA migration. From recent expereince it seems that welfare and health professional are also in the dark over this so, unfortuanately, it's still a waiting game just now.
You will find a list of exemptions on page 16 of the B&W Guide, Understanding Employment and Support Allowance, which you will find in the members area.
Unfortunately there are no grounds purely on mental health and you need to have quite serious conditions to be exempt.