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Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
- magdelena
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5 years 8 months ago #235883 by magdelena
Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare was created by magdelena
I’m seriously starting to stress out as I’ve not had chance to even begin filling in the ESA50. Having received the assessors report of my husband’s f2f PIP, I’ve had to write to the DM because none of the medical letters we sent were acknowledged or referenced. I’m beginning to suspect they’ve gone AWOL and this is part of the reason he was even called to a f2f.
Our woes continue. My husband blacked out today and I had to call an ambulance for him. The paramedics wanted to take him into hospital but he wanted to stay home with me. The stress we are under is untenable.
I’m worried that despite my best endeavours I’m not going to be able to fill the ESA50 in well, and even if I do, I’m sickened by the thought that the medical evidence will be ignored again.
I’m now desperately concerned that this is going to tip his Parkinson’s into the next stage. The signs are there.
Does anyone have any practical advice?
His GP is useless.
I had a fractious meeting with the practice manager who doesn’t have a clue about anything.
The earliest appointment I can get with a specialist therapist is three days after the form is due back.
No one seems to truly grasp the situation.
Please, any help, thoughts or kindness are appreciated
Our woes continue. My husband blacked out today and I had to call an ambulance for him. The paramedics wanted to take him into hospital but he wanted to stay home with me. The stress we are under is untenable.
I’m worried that despite my best endeavours I’m not going to be able to fill the ESA50 in well, and even if I do, I’m sickened by the thought that the medical evidence will be ignored again.
I’m now desperately concerned that this is going to tip his Parkinson’s into the next stage. The signs are there.
Does anyone have any practical advice?
His GP is useless.
I had a fractious meeting with the practice manager who doesn’t have a clue about anything.
The earliest appointment I can get with a specialist therapist is three days after the form is due back.
No one seems to truly grasp the situation.
Please, any help, thoughts or kindness are appreciated
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- BIS
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5 years 8 months ago #235885 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
Hi Magdelena
Sorry to hear about your husband.
You can only do what you can do. Is this the first time you have filled in the ESA50? If it isn't - have a look at a previous form if you have a copy and use that as your basis. If you don't have a copy have a look at what you submitted for the PIP form. The questions are not identical but some of the information you can copy over. If you really can't do anything, return the form with his details filled in, attach a letter saying that he is ill, and explain an ambulance was called and that you will be sending in the information late. The DWP will then decide whether this is reasonable. It's a harsh system but don't waste time railing against it - it's a waste of your precious energy. Yes it's true that your evidence might not get read - but it hasn't happened yet so try not to worry about it.
Same advice with the GP. You can waste a lot of energy complaining they are useless - but there's no point. It's easy to say but spending time fearing something 'might happen' is not helpful to your stress levels.
BIS
Sorry to hear about your husband.
You can only do what you can do. Is this the first time you have filled in the ESA50? If it isn't - have a look at a previous form if you have a copy and use that as your basis. If you don't have a copy have a look at what you submitted for the PIP form. The questions are not identical but some of the information you can copy over. If you really can't do anything, return the form with his details filled in, attach a letter saying that he is ill, and explain an ambulance was called and that you will be sending in the information late. The DWP will then decide whether this is reasonable. It's a harsh system but don't waste time railing against it - it's a waste of your precious energy. Yes it's true that your evidence might not get read - but it hasn't happened yet so try not to worry about it.
Same advice with the GP. You can waste a lot of energy complaining they are useless - but there's no point. It's easy to say but spending time fearing something 'might happen' is not helpful to your stress levels.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- magdelena
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5 years 8 months ago #235889 by magdelena
Replied by magdelena on topic Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
Thank you BIS. I was looking at the ESA form earlier and wondered if some of the PIP stuff could be used here. That would certainly make life easier. The last time we filled one in was around 7-8 years ago and I didn’t make copies. I naively believed being placed indefinitely in the Support Group was just that, especially given the progressive nature of the condition.
Honestly I’m doing my best to not waste my energy on anything unnecessarily but every now and then I’m knocked sideways by the ignorance of some people.
I’m going to watch Animal Rescue on catchup and have some chocolate ice cream. That should take the edge of the stress a bit.
x
Honestly I’m doing my best to not waste my energy on anything unnecessarily but every now and then I’m knocked sideways by the ignorance of some people.
I’m going to watch Animal Rescue on catchup and have some chocolate ice cream. That should take the edge of the stress a bit.
x
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- Gordon
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5 years 8 months ago #235891 by Gordon
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Replied by Gordon on topic Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
magdelena
If you are struggling to complete the ESA50 then you have two options;
- Return the form on time but incomplete with a covering letter saying that you will provide the extra evidence as soon as you can.
- Return the form late but complete, the danger here is that you invoke additional procedures by Maximus and the DWP for a failure to return the form which ultimately could lead to the claim being closed. There is a window where a late form can still be accepted but there is no specific timescale for this it could be days or it could be weeks.
As to the PIP, if you have written to the DM then there is nothing that you can do until a Decision is made, try and park the assessment. I know that it easy to say and not so easy to do but it is wasted energy.
Gordon
If you are struggling to complete the ESA50 then you have two options;
- Return the form on time but incomplete with a covering letter saying that you will provide the extra evidence as soon as you can.
- Return the form late but complete, the danger here is that you invoke additional procedures by Maximus and the DWP for a failure to return the form which ultimately could lead to the claim being closed. There is a window where a late form can still be accepted but there is no specific timescale for this it could be days or it could be weeks.
As to the PIP, if you have written to the DM then there is nothing that you can do until a Decision is made, try and park the assessment. I know that it easy to say and not so easy to do but it is wasted energy.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- magdelena
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5 years 8 months ago #235894 by magdelena
Replied by magdelena on topic Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
Thank you Gordon.
I’m going to send it in on time and do my best to do it well. Knowing that I can send further information later feels better than gambling on a late form. At this rate submitting further medical evidence is entirely in keeping.
I appreciate your advice to park PIP. You’re right, I’ve done all I can there. For now at least.
Time for sleep.
Tomorrow is a new day.
I’m going to send it in on time and do my best to do it well. Knowing that I can send further information later feels better than gambling on a late form. At this rate submitting further medical evidence is entirely in keeping.
I appreciate your advice to park PIP. You’re right, I’ve done all I can there. For now at least.
Time for sleep.
Tomorrow is a new day.
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- Maxit
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5 years 8 months ago #235896 by Maxit
Replied by Maxit on topic Concurrent PIP and ESA Nightmare
Magdelena,
Truly sorry to hear what you are going through.
Far from ideal, and just a thought, but possibly better than returning the form late could you not:
Fill in the form, in the about your illness box write a short statement explaining how things are at the moment and in the other boxes direct them to the medical letters with something like "Cannot mobilise 20 metres - due to ill health and exceptional circumstances can not fully complete form, please see included medical reports" and just keep repeating the same answer throughout "cannot complete this task - due to ill health and exceptional circumstances cannot fully complete form, please see included medical reports".
That way maybe they will be forced to look at your evidence and if it ever goes to appeal you can explain the pressure you and your husband were under, that you tried your best and there was only so much you could do, that you explained the situation and referred the DM to letters that supported your claim.
Maybe even filling in the downloadable ESA50 rather than the paper version so you could just copy and paste answers would help.
Hope things improve for you soon.
Truly sorry to hear what you are going through.
Far from ideal, and just a thought, but possibly better than returning the form late could you not:
Fill in the form, in the about your illness box write a short statement explaining how things are at the moment and in the other boxes direct them to the medical letters with something like "Cannot mobilise 20 metres - due to ill health and exceptional circumstances can not fully complete form, please see included medical reports" and just keep repeating the same answer throughout "cannot complete this task - due to ill health and exceptional circumstances cannot fully complete form, please see included medical reports".
That way maybe they will be forced to look at your evidence and if it ever goes to appeal you can explain the pressure you and your husband were under, that you tried your best and there was only so much you could do, that you explained the situation and referred the DM to letters that supported your claim.
Maybe even filling in the downloadable ESA50 rather than the paper version so you could just copy and paste answers would help.
Hope things improve for you soon.
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