Hey, Is anyone in the U.K. currently receiving ESA for their mental health problems? I have BPD, depression & anxiety and have not been able to work since May. Well, I started a job, lasted 3 days, and went back off sick and into hospital, so I obviously wasn't ready for work - that was in October. I reapplied for ESA and have got some money but they said they won't release anymore money until I've had a fitness for work medical or whatever it is called. Is anyone in a similar position? I've had the medical once before (before I was given a diagnosis) and they took me off ESA hence why I got a job. I feel think they don't take mental health seriously. I don't feel ready to get a job but just wondering what is going to happen now. Thanks for listening/reading x
Last edited by baggyjeans : 24-03-2011 at 03:19 PM.
Reason: Random wrong words in sentences! Sorry!
Just speaking from my experience, I have borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder and I receive ESA. I believe you go through an assessment phase, then you have an assessment with a GP from Atos Origin and you are placed into a work related activity group if you will be able to work once you are better.
I don't think the assessment is any good for people with anxieties etc, I personally find it incredibly hard. They really trigger my anxiety and I constantly rock back and forth, can't really communicate very well, constantly fidget and move around in my seat etc. I've been on ESA for two years and have had three assessments. They have assessed me as not fit to work on those three occasions. I know some people have had to appeal decisions but I've not had to.
Also for people with certain physical conditions the assessment is hard for i.e people with severe mobility issues.
Have you had an appointment through for an assessment yet?
i have just been accepted for ESA although im still in the early stages of it, i will be required to attend a medical assessment though. i also have BPD
I don't have BPD but I get ESA (support group I think) for MH stuff. Failed the assessment, appealed, had to wait ages (the whole system of applying, getting a medical etc. took months) then had a tribunal which I didn't have to attend and they approved my ESA (didn't have to go because CMHT wrote to them and my mum). It's fairly common for medicals not to approve MH related claims (fault of the system and the way it's run), but a lot of appeals are successful. So even if you apply and then fail the medical it doesn't mean you don't deserve/can't get ESA.
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It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we
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I haven't had my appointment through yet but I got a medical questionnaire to fill in (I presume that's related?!) so I'm expecting a phone call with an appointment date soon. I rang them up today and they said I should be contacted within the next 2 weeks.
Last time I had an assessment, he didn't seem to ask the right questions at all. Maybe I was meant to tell him how I struggle, I don't know, I was too anxious and quiet, but basically he had a list of questions and just asked me them and they were only really related to my anxiety, not my depression or anything else... It was a bit of a weird assessment actually, which is why I'm a bit concerned about this next one.
Incidentally, it is ok for my mum to go in the assessment with me? She's going to go with me to the place as I don't do public transport but I wasn't sure if she'd be allowed in the actual room or not?
I didn't appeal to the last one as I just sort of presumed I must be fit for work then but when I rang up to ask about being put back on ESA, the woman I spoke to was really surprised I didn't appeal, so obviously it is a very common thing to do.
Considering I'm not at all well, it just seems a whole lot of stress but I know it's unavoidable!!
The medical was stopped after 20 minutes and i was out in the support group.
I'm due another medical soon and am dreading it as i think they are purposly waiting till after the 28t when the MH descriptors change (so it will be harder to pass the medical).
Its fine for you to take your mum in with you OP, she'll be allowed in with you for support.
Most people do appeal and many are successful. If i fail my medical i will be appealing and if necessary take it to a tribunal. that's because i KNOW i am currently not fit for work and my GP/Psych/CPN support that.
Wishing you the best of luck with everything
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Oo didn't know about the MH descriptor change! Humm they are probably doing that too me also! Well, I guess I'll just be honest about how I am and whatever happens happens. At least my mum will be there to support me then and I'm sure she'll be able to tell them how I am better than I ever could. xx
I have apparantly psychosis, and apparently bipolar (I question these but whatever) and supposed bpd or something. but anyhoo. I failed the medical if you like and 'havent paid enough NI contributions' to receive Esa. but haven't got the energy to appeal. I would defo bring someone with you to the assessment. it was awful for me, felt like 'trick questions' ...but yea good luck. :) just realised how pointless this reply was sorry x
woo... dont get me started on ESA and the stupid failings of the system!
Ok gonna try and say something helpful and not just rant...
Right first I'd suggest googling 'ESA descriptors mental health' and you will find a wealth of information relating to claiming ESA and passing the medical from people who have done it and people who work in mental health.
Basically you get certain points for fitting certain descriptors in the 'limited capability for work' questionnaire. The medicals are carried out by 'medical professionals' who often don't have a clue about mental health, in a sort of tick-the-box-on-the-computer way. You have to fit the descriptors. Offering additional info at the medical is still a good idea though, as there is an 'exceptional circumstances' descriptor (which is really a get-out clause for them for fear of getting sued/terrible publicity) which means if you don't fit the other descriptors but it would be very dangerous/detrimental to you health to be declared fit for work, they will pass you anyway.
The company that do the medicals (on behalf of the DWP) are called ATOS, and in my opinion (and many others) are an unethical company who have already been investigated for their appalling treatment of vulnerable people. If your doctor/CPN/psych don't think your fit to work, remember they are the ones who know you best.
Don't even think about going on your own, and if you could get a CPN or other health professional/someone from a mental health charity to go with you that would be best.
I would like to say that I am not trying to get you to unfairly pass the medical but people who are seriously ill are being refused benefit so all the information you can get is helpful! Unfortunately the process of proving that you are unfit to work atm makes you feel like you are somehow lying (I'm appealing at the moment.)
I scored zero in my medical despite the fact that I was stopped from committing suicide 3 days before by a friend (this is recorded in the medical, followed a few lines down by 'no thoughts of harming herself' - they really are idiots). Sorry not trying to rant too much, just showing how absurd the whole thing is and how you REALLY have to prove it to them.
Good luck... x
"I have a room for life at the home for the chronically groovy!" - Sgt Floyd Pepper
Oh also, get a letter outlining why you're not fit to work from your doctor or CPN or psych... and take it to the medical. Make sure you get lots of photocopies first though as they love to lose important evidence.
Although this letter wont affect the medical itself, they will use it when making the final decision for entitlement.
"I have a room for life at the home for the chronically groovy!" - Sgt Floyd Pepper
I dont have BPD, but rethink have a great leaflet on Work Capability Assessment. It gives you an idea what they are looking for in the questionnaire, and what sort of things you should mention.
Wannabe CPN : -)
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I have had my ESA form (renewal) sat here for ages, worrying about it, spoken to my therapist about it, blah blah blah
according to the information you guys have posted because i am on the highest level DLA care i dont have to do it. I know the lady i see at the job centre is in tomorro so i will try and call her to sort out what i have to do, do i still have to fill in the form or is it just the assessment i dont need ect as it doesnt seem to say anything on those links about it.
Hey, Thanks for all the info. guys. Your posts have been EXTREMELY helpful! I'm going to check out the link you've posted in a bit. I think it's a good idea to take my CPN with me although I've just got a new one and really don't feel like she knows me very well yet (we've only met once) but then again, I guess she has read my notes. I think it is a bit ridiculous having to go through this when my doctors don't think I should be working...
Ferretmonster - I'm so glad you don't have to go through it all now. I am only on the medium DLA. But my mum has to look after me most of the time, so I hope that having her with me should help my case. I really am not ready to go back to work right now.
I haven't heard when my medical is going to be but I hope it's soon as they've stopped all my benefits until I have had it... grr...
Thanks again!! x
Yeah, it is! I think for me it is scary because I also had one last year and I ended up having to go back on Job Seekers and get a job and then I ended up on a psych ward...obviously wasn't ready for work! And I think things have really got worse since then! Ah well! Something I've got to do I guess! Good luck for you too. x
I agree that you have to fit certain descriptors, but googling what those are might be a little confusing as those descriptors have, as of 28th March this year, changed.
So you'll have to check the date of any information you do get as the descriptors have changed, albeit slightly. The new descriptors have basically made it a little more difficult to pass the assessment.
I realise that the link that I posted does have government jargon in and therefore isn't the most straight forward of documents but it is the up to date version of the descriptors and points that is being used. The descriptors are on page four of the document, so you can skip ahead to there.
Last edited by BridgesAndBalloons : 30-03-2011 at 03:32 PM.
Hi guys! Thanks again for all your support regarding ESA. I heard today that I don't have to go for the medical and that the questionnaire I filled out was sufficient. I have been put into the support group, so will continue to get my ESA, which I'm very pleased about as funds are getting very low!! Again thanks for all your help. Just wanted to update you all! xx
Ah well! Something I've got to do I guess! Good luck for you too. x