DLA and ESA

Hi, I got another ESA50 almost 3 weeks ago. I'm losing the will to live as I struggle to complete it, but I'm sure you're familiar with that complaint!

I was migrated from IB 16 months ago, initially to WRAG but after a letter to a decision maker at DWP I was moved to Support Group. They said at the time a return to work could be considered in 18 months, so I wasn't surprised to get the ESA50 last month. However, the narrowing of criteria in the meantime has shocked and upset me and the guides you've updated reflect this, of course. They make even sadder reading than they did 18 months ago, but that can't be helped from your end of course. I have very recent evidence of further complications to both my physical and mental health, and yet I'm finding this time around that I'm less inclined to try to squeeze in answers to as many of the questions as I did before. I just can't bring myself to fit aspects of my condition to some of the questions I answered last time, it feels disingenuous and hopeless. What I'm hoping is that by answering fewer of the questions as thoroughly as possible and submitting copies of psychiatric and A&E reports I'll be taken at least as seriously as I was last time, but I'm worried that if they don't 'score' me on the fewer questions I've answered I'll lose my benefit. It's a nightmare. (I'm sorry if I'm not explaining this properly.)

Anyway, last autumn my DLA was re-awarded for 5 years, and increased to take account of increased care needs. I felt incredibly fortunate, as you can no doubt imagine. Much of my evidence for DLA is the same as my evidence for ESA - the same conditions make me unable to work. I'll send a copy of the award letter with my ESA50 if you feel this would be helpful? My worry is that if they're determined to push me off ESA they might reassess me for DLA too, although as I say I have very recent evidence of both physical and mental health issues that only adds to the evidence I sent with my DLA forms last autumn.

Thank you, Gordon. I appreciate that there's no definitive answer to my questions - this is part of the scandal of what has happened to sickness benefits in the last few years. Nevertheless, your response has helped.