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Evidence from doctor, family and friends? Help.

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5 years 2 months ago #223599 by IamShell
Hi,
For now I'm in the SG.
Got the dreaded ESA50.
I have Fibro/ CFS with related conditions (eg environmental sensitivities, and depression and anxiety). I've been under sole care of GP since diagnosis. She knew me well and was sympathetic but she left early last year. Before leaving she provided me with a fairly full letter (in anticipation of ESA50 arriving). It is dated March last year so, while nothing has changed for me, I assume this is out of date...

My old GP helped me to find another GP in the surgery whom I have seen a few times. They have agreed to write a cover letter to send with my letter from my old GP. I'm not sure what they will write as they have limited experience of me. Will that carry any weight? Will the DWP consider my old GP's letter with a cover note from my GP of only ten months?

Also, on the form it asks for your GP's info which I will provide.
Then it says 'About other healthcare professionals, carers, friends or relatives who know most about your disability, illness or health condition.
As I'm solely under new GP's care and am fairly new to them, I am guessing I have to put mum (I live with) and/ or friend who takes me to medical appointments and tries to help with getting me out as mum doesn't drive.

I suffer with terrible anxiety and my worry is, while my mum is the obvious choice to put down I am concerned. I have fluctuating conditions that I know are treated with skepticism to begin with and she literally goes to pieces when she has to speak to anyone in authority, not herself at all, so I'm anxious that they will interrogate her, pick up on her nerves and try to catch her out and spin things their way. I suppose I just don't trust them not to be snakes or play fair! She also works part-time, looks after the home, then there's me, her mum is in a home with dementia and has to look after her affairs (she gets a lot of help with this from a trusted friend and who normally talks on the phone - with her permission - on her behalf when dealing with the relevant agencies). Her life being busy and stressful as it is, I feel awful even asking her to be willing to be contacted by them!
I could ask this friend. They are already trying to help with filling in the form.They drive and take me to doctor's appointments, take me to theirs just so I get out of the house. They have their own ongoing health journey (stints in hospital for treatment) but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't mind being contacted. However, I'm concerned the DWP would wonder why them, not mum when I live with her.
I'm pretty stressed at having lost my GP and the fact my current one's knowledge is limited about me. As I wrote, will the DWP even consider a cover letter from them along with a letter about my conditions and the effect they have on me from the spring of last year? Should I put my mum and/ or my friend down as contacts when my mum doesn't cope well with such things?
I'm not sure what to do for the best...
I'd appreciate any replies, especially if I can get a heads-up on what they might ask mum so I can try to put her mind at ease if she says I can put her down and they want to speak to her.

Thanks.

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5 years 2 months ago #223602 by Gordon
IamShell

The original doctor's letter should be OK, it would only be a problem if it was over two years old.

It is rare for them to contact the GP, so someone without any medical knowledge is not going to be contacted but if they did then they would be sent an ESA113, there's a copy on the following link

www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa11...thcare-practitioners

It is of course up to you whether you include her name on the form but it would be more effective if she was to write a short letter explaining what she knows about your problems with the ESA activities and you attach this to your form as evidence.

Have you looked at our ESA Claim guides to help you complete the form? See

www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa11...thcare-practitioners

Gordon

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

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5 years 2 months ago #223608 by IamShell
Hi Gordon, Thank you.

I thought medical evidence over 6 months old was more or less discounted so that is reassuring.

Apologies, Gordon, it's me, not you - foggy brain! ...

Where you write: 'It is rare for them to contact the GP, so someone without any medical knowledge is not going to be contacted but if they did then they would be sent an ESA113, there's a copy on the following link...'
^
By that, do you mean it's unlikely they will contact my GP? Or do you mean it's unlikely that they will contact friends or family whose details I put down on the form? I find it weird that they ask for details of those who know you best ie. friend's / family's details if they rarely contact them...? Is that what you meant?

Would you advise sending the original GP's letter with a cover letter from my current GP. They have agreed to this but have not elaborated. I could ask them to explain I am their patient of ten months and, as far as they can determine, my condition remains unchanged? Is it still possible the DWP could send my new GP - who has much less experience of me - an ESA113?

Also, where you write:
It is of course up to you whether you include her name on the form but it would be more effective if she was to write a short letter explaining what she knows about your problems with the ESA activities and you attach this to your form as evidence...
^
Do you mean my mum or my doctor?

Lastly, if I put my mum or friend down where it says details of person who knows you best -(obviously have already put GP in the box above, so have to put someone else here, esp as my new GP doesn't know me so well) - are they more likely to be contacted if they do or do not provide letters of support to include with my form?
I think my mum would be happy to write something, especially if reduced the likelihood of an interrogation by phone.

I had my assessment delayed for 2 years so am wondering if - because I've not been assessed for 5 years and have been in the SG for the duration - they are likely to go all out to try to get me kicked out of that group and into WRA (where they put me way back before I saw the CAB who asked for a MR on my behalf and I got transferred to the SG).

Thanks, Gordon, I renewed my subscription recently so have access to those. It's all just very overwhelming.
Sorry for all the questions but if you could clear those two things up I'd appreciate it. Fuzzy brain and anxiety so just want to make sure I understand correctly.

Thanks.

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5 years 2 months ago #223657 by Gordon
IamShell

Yes, I am saying that it is unlikely that they will contact your GP, the last statistics I saw for this showed they contacted the GP in less than 25% of claims, even more worryingly, only 1 in 4 GPs bothered to respond to the request.

If you are happy with the original GP letter then send it, you have nothing to lose by doing so and potentially much to gain.

Your mother can write a letter of support, detailing your problems with the ESA activities, which you can include as evidence with your form.

Decisions are based on how you meet the ESA criteria, not how long you have been in one of the groups, so there is no reason to assume that you will be moved to the WRAG.

Gordon

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