ESA assesment advice

[[SundayGirl]]

I don't know exactly how to ask this question in the right context so I hope it isn't taken wrongly;
Basically I have both a PIP & ESA assessment pending. I am very aware that MH isn't easily portrayed (I found it very difficult to fill in the forms as the MH questions seemed ridiculous). I have no physical attributes that can prevent me from work.

Quickly, I have BPD, anxiety, an ED & self harm. I was working for 3 years until things became to much. I left my job two weeks ago & attempted suicide. I have been seeing the crisis team daily since & will be assigned a CPN etc (I find out the exact team tomorrow), have been referred to long term psyc therapy & although my ED is "bad" will be being discharged due to lack of progress & the fact the service can't see "risk patients".
So I am genuinely not lying about things.
BUT I come across very "together" ( I can keep eye contact/ hold conversations/speak clearly etc). I also have a very hard time expressing emotions etc.
I am worried I will not qualify despite how ill I am & it's causing me great stress.
Can anybody offer advice? I really need to take some time out of work to focus on recovery.

[Wonderland.]

When doing DLA and ESA assessments and questionnaires, professionals involved in my care have always told me to answer the questions on how I am at my worst.

I wouldn't be surprised if you end up having to appeal, a lot of people have to through no fault of their own (and every fault of the system). If you do end up having to appeal get the CAB to help you. When I had to appeal my ESA it was rather easy to do through them.

I don't know if that helps much.

[when.will.it.end]

^ Agreed.

I would strongly suggest laying it on thick. Don't feel guilty or like you are being attention seeking. Remember how you are at your worst and talk about that. And talk about how your ED affects you physically. Am I right in thinking you don't have a CPN yet? Because if you do I'd take them with you to help you answer the questions.

[Wonderland.]

Katie brings up a good point about how your ED affects you physically.

I get points on the physical side of things because I pass out from time to time because of my ED.

[[SundayGirl]]

Thanks for the advice!
I haven't even got a date yet and I'm just so worried already. No I get one tomorrow I think.

[Wonderland.]

If you get one tomorrow, I would definitely speak to her about it. I found when going with my SW that if I was finding it difficult to put into words how difficult things were she assisted with that.

[when.will.it.end]

If you have a CPN by the time of the appointment maybe ask them to come with you?

[Becca]

Sometimes charities like MIND (mental health charity) or DIAL (disability charity) or CAB (citizens advice) can assist with medicals as well so it may be worth asking one of them. I've heard MIND can be really helpful due to their experience with people with MH issues.

At a risk of sounding controversial, you are supposed to describe average days, not worst case scenarios. People have got into a lot of trouble doing that as it is fraud. By all means say about your worst days but be aware saying all days are like that is fraud.

You can also ask for the medical to be recorded (that must be done in writing), which I would also recommend.

Also, not all areas will allow mental health workers (CPNs etc) to attend medicals, in my area it was stopped as it is discriminatory as people who are physically disabled are not allowed medical or social services staff to accompany them. Also, medicals can over run/take a long time and prevent staff seeing other patients. Hopefully it won't be so where you are, but I thought someone should mention that just in case it is so where you live.

I hope it goes well.

[Crazy Cat Lady]

I've been on ESA for 2 years now and recently moved in to the higher income bracket (the support group). I guess it was easier for me as I have various different health complications along with my MH problems but you should still be entitled to ESA if you're unwell mentally. I know a lot of people who've appealed which isn't fair, especially when you are really struggling.

The more evidence you can attach, the better. The professionals need to explain why they feel you can't work at the moment.

Feel free to DM me - always happy to help as I know these things are very difficult.

[Copernicus]

You may need to tell them in advance but I was strongly advised (by someone who specialises in benefits and mental health) to take someone with me if I was called for a medical. (Preferably a professional.) Ask if the CPN can attend, and also ask them if they will write a supporting letter.

I've also been told that what you describe needs to be your very bad days, although you can say often/frequently/on bad days.

It might be worth writing a list of things you want them to know - although they ask structured questions it will remind you what to bring up when you get the chance.

My GP says it counts for something if you have been referred to specialist services, and having CPN, crisis team involvement and a therapy referral should make it clear you very unwell at the moment.

Hope it goes ok. I know it is a really stressful process.

[[SundayGirl]]

Thankyou so much for all the advice. I've been allocated a CPN and I'll meet them with a member of the crisis team Tuesday so I could ask then? It's just so stressing.

[sherlock holmes]

If you have okay days, average day and bad days then by nature that means your condition fluctuates and you MUST write this on your ESA forms.

Then you can talk about what you struggle with on your bad days. But you cannot say it happens all the time you have to indicate it varies.

Otherwise if you wrote it according to your very worst day and that meant you were housebound due to anxiety and needing to be watched because you were suicidal then there's a chance if they send someone to visit you and you were not that bad or they got reports of you out and about they'd try and say you were being fraudulent.

It's stressful. I'm going through the same process myself.

[tamobhuuta]

my mum came to the assessment with me and was able to be much clearer about how my illness effects me than I was, including things that I don't notice anymore because they've become 'normal' for me but very much stop me functioning. having mum there really helped.

I was told the same thing as Wonderwall, to tell them how I am at my worse.

the nurse who did my assessment was really good and asked lots of questions to find out everything relevant.

edit: I did get PIP benefits for daily living only, not mobility, so don't worry if you only fit in one category. and it took ages to be processed but when I got it through they backdated it

[Becca]

The CPN you have been allocated should be able to advise you, did you ask? I'm sorry I missed replying to your thread earlier.

[[SundayGirl]]

Is a CPN and a social worker the same thing or do they do similar things? I was given a social worker.
I've been waiting for this asseament for over 3 months, is that normal? I rang & told them I am extremely stressed by the wait but they told me there was nothing they could do

[sherlock holmes]

They are quite similar, they are probably acting as your care co-ordinator and so various different people can be a CC like a social worker, occupational therapist, CPN etc.

[Becca]

Personally I found having a social worker more helpful than a cpn; as there are more things they can have an impact on. You should ask what sort of work they have been assigned to do with you so you are sure; likely they are a care co-ordinator, but always best to check!