You're right about the backlog, you're supposed to be assessed after 11-13 weeks of being on ESA but many people are on it for a year or more before their assessment. I didn't actually have an assessment, I found out 8 months after I applied that I was put straight into the support group, so I don't know what happens at the medicals.
But at least it would mean that you'd be on ESA for between 3-12 months before the assessment so you'd have money coming in without looking for work during that time, which would give you some space to relax a bit and concentrate on getting better!
I don't know much about the criteria they look for, to be honest you've got depression and you take medication for it so they can't ignore that. But the more medical evidence you have the better, for example if you see a counsellor they can write you a letter describing what you struggle with and so on.
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