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ESA GP evidence letter
- angelab
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6 years 2 months ago #226248 by angelab
ESA GP evidence letter was created by angelab
I am being reassessed for ESA . I am currently in support group and had a F2F as part of last reassessment in in 2016. I have copies of the decision letter and my medical report from that reassessment. I intend asking my GP for an updated letter to submit with ESA50 as medical evidence. I have 2 questions about this:
1 The decision letter gives reason as: “severe functional disability in area of mobilising short distances reliably and repeatedly”…. “this is due to chronic fatigue syndrome that affects her daily functions”. I feel this accurately reflects how I am. But my 2016 GP letter says “she has good mobility and is able to walk without any aids”. Would it be worth asking my GP to amend this to better reflect what the assessor wrote? I think the words “reliably and repeatedly” are probably key for me.
2. Is it worth saying that there has been no change/ improvement since last time? And is worth me writing that on my form?
Thanks
1 The decision letter gives reason as: “severe functional disability in area of mobilising short distances reliably and repeatedly”…. “this is due to chronic fatigue syndrome that affects her daily functions”. I feel this accurately reflects how I am. But my 2016 GP letter says “she has good mobility and is able to walk without any aids”. Would it be worth asking my GP to amend this to better reflect what the assessor wrote? I think the words “reliably and repeatedly” are probably key for me.
2. Is it worth saying that there has been no change/ improvement since last time? And is worth me writing that on my form?
Thanks
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6 years 2 months ago #226252 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA GP evidence letter
rosie
1. A letter that denies the very reason that you have received an award is of no use to you so you definitely need to get the GP the re-write it, I don't think that amending it will be sufficient.
Understand that ESA is not a Mobility test. ! In addition to your walking, it considers your ability to self-propel a manual wheelchair over the same distances, you do not need to be using a wheelchair or even to own one for it to be considered. SO even if you can show your walking is restricted unless you can also show that you cannot self-propel the wheelchair you will still not score points.
2. You can certainly say that nothing has changed but it is extremely unlikely that those assessing you will look at your previous claims so you still need to explain your current problems in detail.
Gordon
1. A letter that denies the very reason that you have received an award is of no use to you so you definitely need to get the GP the re-write it, I don't think that amending it will be sufficient.
Understand that ESA is not a Mobility test. ! In addition to your walking, it considers your ability to self-propel a manual wheelchair over the same distances, you do not need to be using a wheelchair or even to own one for it to be considered. SO even if you can show your walking is restricted unless you can also show that you cannot self-propel the wheelchair you will still not score points.
2. You can certainly say that nothing has changed but it is extremely unlikely that those assessing you will look at your previous claims so you still need to explain your current problems in detail.
Gordon
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6 years 2 months ago #226263 by angelab
Replied by angelab on topic ESA GP evidence letter
Thats helpful thank you. The decision letter does also say I couldn't use a manual self propelled wheelchair, so will ask GP to say same.
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6 years 2 months ago #226454 by angelab
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GP was happy to do so and I letter should be ready this week.
For feedback in case helpful, the charge is £20. GP said reason was that they are doing about 20 such letters per week and it will bankrupt them if they dont charge.
For feedback in case helpful, the charge is £20. GP said reason was that they are doing about 20 such letters per week and it will bankrupt them if they dont charge.
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6 years 2 months ago #226877 by angelab
Replied by angelab on topic ESA GP evidence letter
I've got the letter, GP has made the changes I've asked for and I was happy with it. I re read it yesterday and it noticed it says "at present" in front of 4 of the descriptor sentences e.g "at present her mobility is impaired....." In other places she has written "at times". Her previous letters have said same and I have been placed in support group twice now, 1st time after a paper assessment and 2nd time after a F2F.
My husband says its probably just GP jargon as they can only really write about what they see when they see you., but I'm now anxious about it. How much will it matter? I have to post my form on Friday to meet Mondays deadline, so would be difficult to get it changed in time, I saw GP this morning about something else and she asked if letter was OK and I said "yes" even though I had already was unsure about the at present bit. Just felt too anxious about it to ask about it.
So now I'm in a bit if a state about the whole thing!!
My husband says its probably just GP jargon as they can only really write about what they see when they see you., but I'm now anxious about it. How much will it matter? I have to post my form on Friday to meet Mondays deadline, so would be difficult to get it changed in time, I saw GP this morning about something else and she asked if letter was OK and I said "yes" even though I had already was unsure about the at present bit. Just felt too anxious about it to ask about it.
So now I'm in a bit if a state about the whole thing!!
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6 years 2 months ago #226881 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA GP evidence letter
Rosie
The assessment is about how you are now, your mobility may change in the future, it may get better of it may worsen, the assessment can't take account of this all they can look at are how you are on the day.
Gordon
The assessment is about how you are now, your mobility may change in the future, it may get better of it may worsen, the assessment can't take account of this all they can look at are how you are on the day.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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