New ESA 50 01/13

Good evening one and all,
This morning an inconspicuous white envelope plonked onto the doormat, yes you have guessed it , it is my latest ESA 50 1/13 form to be completed and returned by 1//8 2013. Less than a month.
(Thought one was given 8 weeks to complete the form!!!!)
My previous ESA completed in 13/9/11 placed me in the WRAG, I sent a letter for an appeal and was placed in the Support Group upon Reconsideration.
( I tried to obtain a SARS but to no avail, so no idea what the DM used to place me in the SG)
I have a letter of full support from my MP recommending the Support Group and include the criteria I meet. It will be ready next week.
I also have a copy of an assessment made by our County Council Occupational Therapist in regards to Adult & Community Services Supported Assessment for Social Care which demonstrates meeting the Support Group Criteria dated end of Feb this year. A long & thorough report. I have been seeing this department of and on for quite a few years, however this is the first actual report.
There is another Occupational Report from an Independent OT who is a Moving and Handling Trainer and Consultant dated 30/10/12 who I have seen a few times during the last 12 months. Again this is a full and thorough account of my limitations which clearly demonstrates where I meet the Support Group Criteria.
I also have a pretty adequate letter from my GP dated March 2012, which hopefully will be updated next week.
I have an apt with my GP next week to revue meds etc and to discuss this form etc.
I have an apt with our local CAB, unfortunately they no longer do home visits because of funding cuts even though I live in a rural location.
I also have copies of reports from various specialists – albeit from the past - which indicates level of problems and a useful report from a Spinal Specialist and his Consultant Radiologist dated 2008 from an MRI scan.
A later report from a Consultant who now states that my condition has also brought on severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Chronic Compartmental Pain Syndrome to add to my COPD, Pulmonary Embolism and Disc prolapses in 6 discs following the motorcycle accident from 1996, primarily due to incorrect medical care over the years. From the accident.
I have been in receipt of Life awards for DLA in both care and mobility and all my aids and wheelchairs etc have been provided by the County Council
I am hoping all these reports will have value and with help completing the form I am hoping I shall gain entry to the Support Group without going thru the rest of the hell they put us thru, but hey it is a lottery on the day despite full back up. It would mean they have to actually read the reports.
Would it be ok if I highlight the relevant sentences which demonstrate criteria to Support Group entry to help them?
Is there anything else I should do or add to demonstrate the need to be in the Support Group.
All help and ideas to minimise time and angst gratefully received.
Thanks in anticipation of help to come.

pusscatsmum wrote: Good evening one and all,
This morning an inconspicuous white envelope plonked onto the doormat, yes you have guessed it , it is my latest ESA 50 1/13 form to be completed and returned by 1//8 2013. Less than a month.
(Thought one was given 8 weeks to complete the form!!!!)
My previous ESA completed in 13/9/11 placed me in the WRAG, I sent a letter for an appeal and was placed in the Support Group upon Reconsideration.
( I tried to obtain a SARS but to no avail, so no idea what the DM used to place me in the SG)
I have a letter of full support from my MP recommending the Support Group and include the criteria I meet. It will be ready next week.
I also have a copy of an assessment made by our County Council Occupational Therapist in regards to Adult & Community Services Supported Assessment for Social Care which demonstrates meeting the Support Group Criteria dated end of Feb this year. A long & thorough report. I have been seeing this department of and on for quite a few years, however this is the first actual report.
There is another Occupational Report from an Independent OT who is a Moving and Handling Trainer and Consultant dated 30/10/12 who I have seen a few times during the last 12 months. Again this is a full and thorough account of my limitations which clearly demonstrates where I meet the Support Group Criteria.
I also have a pretty adequate letter from my GP dated March 2012, which hopefully will be updated next week.
I have an apt with my GP next week to revue meds etc and to discuss this form etc.
I have an apt with our local CAB, unfortunately they no longer do home visits because of funding cuts even though I live in a rural location.
I also have copies of reports from various specialists – albeit from the past - which indicates level of problems and a useful report from a Spinal Specialist and his Consultant Radiologist dated 2008 from an MRI scan.
A later report from a Consultant who now states that my condition has also brought on severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Chronic Compartmental Pain Syndrome to add to my COPD, Pulmonary Embolism and Disc prolapses in 6 discs following the motorcycle accident from 1996, primarily due to incorrect medical care over the years. From the accident.
I have been in receipt of Life awards for DLA in both care and mobility and all my aids and wheelchairs etc have been provided by the County Council
I am hoping all these reports will have value and with help completing the form I am hoping I shall gain entry to the Support Group without going thru the rest of the hell they put us thru, but hey it is a lottery on the day despite full back up. It would mean they have to actually read the reports.
Would it be ok if I highlight the relevant sentences which demonstrate criteria to Support Group entry to help them?
Is there anything else I should do or add to demonstrate the need to be in the Support Group.
All help and ideas to minimise time and angst gratefully received.
Thanks in anticipation of help to come.

Hi pcm,

It used to be 6 weeks to return The ESA50, now 4 weeks :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

I don't know whether you used the Pdf version ESA50 last time, but you may wish to consider doing so now :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the "New ESA50 form" Claims Guides on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

I know that you are a long standing member, but posted the above links just in case.

Any medical evidence that helps to show that you qualify for The SG should help, obviously, the more current the better.

As I note that you suffer from COPD, copies of your spirometry print outs should help, and copies of your MRC Breathlessness Scale gradings, peak flow and Fev 1.

You could then compare your readings to that of a comparative healthy person.

You should treat this ESA50 as if it is your first, assume that ATOS/DWP know nothing.

It would be fine to highlight relevant information, you might like to check how any highlighted extracts come out when photocopied.

The important issue will be to show through evidence that your conditions have not improved, nor have your resulting limitations diminished since the last assessment.

You can also make comment that you have been unable to adapt any further to your limitations since the last assessment.

Unfortunately, you will have to state the obvious, even though you suffer from chronic progressive conditions.

bro58

Many thanks.
We will start filling out the fantastically logical forms out over the weekend and take along a dummy run to CAB on the Wednesday.
It looks as though my original claim was for 2 yrs. despite being informed 18months, a bonus !!
As it was dealt with back in the late summer of 2011 it looks like 2 yrs. seemed to be the max then for SG and mid Oct/Nov onwards the longest duration in SG was 3 yrs., Perhaps it might mean a lengthening of time scale in certain circumstances!!!.

I found an old IB form amongst the detritus whereby the IB doctor had stated that re assessments were no longer necessary as the circumstances of health were degenerative, prognosis of return to work was 'Never'. I suppose that still will mean diddly squit now.

pusscatsmum wrote: I found an old IB form amongst the detritus whereby the IB doctor had stated that re assessments were no longer necessary as the circumstances of health were degenerative, prognosis of return to work was 'Never'. I suppose that still will mean diddly squit now.

In your situation, I might submit a copy as part of my evidence backing up my ESA50.

pusscatsmum wrote: Many thanks.
We will start filling out the fantastically logical forms out over the weekend and take along a dummy run to CAB on the Wednesday.
It looks as though my original claim was for 2 yrs. despite being informed 18months, a bonus !!
As it was dealt with back in the late summer of 2011 it looks like 2 yrs. seemed to be the max then for SG and mid Oct/Nov onwards the longest duration in SG was 3 yrs., Perhaps it might mean a lengthening of time scale in certain circumstances!!!.

I found an old IB form amongst the detritus whereby the IB doctor had stated that re assessments were no longer necessary as the circumstances of health were degenerative, prognosis of return to work was 'Never'. I suppose that still will mean diddly squit now.

Hi pcm,

Yes, certain claimants were classed as PCA exempt with IB, no such scenario any longer with ESA and WCA.

The only use that the old IB med report may have is to show that you have chronic, long standing medical conditions.

bro58

Hi PCM,

I would use the old IB report if I were you and also mention it in your ESA answers where possible.

I used a similar one from IIB for my husbands esa and this worked in his favour as it proved that his condition was not only long standing, had not improved, but deteriorated.

You are basically providing an "orderly trail" of your health and limitations.

Hope this helps.

Radhika.