Hello All,
Got the letter today informing me that I will continue to remain in the support group for ESA.
I wanted to say a BIG THANKS to Benefits & Work. I don't know how I would have managed without it. Thanks for the guides and all the information. Thanks to the moderators. Thanks to the creators of the site! The subscription is a very modest request considering all the help I have received. For as long as the government and DWP seek to obscure the mechanics of a process that is supposed to be helping to safeguard vulnerable people in our society, Benefits & Work is absolutely essential.
The re-assessment was far more complicated (got called in for medical) and protracted (three months from receiving the form to receiving notification letter) than previous re-assessments, and made the transition from incapacity benefit to ESA seem very easy by comparison - it probably took six weeks from start to finish.
I agree with the advice given on the site - even if previous re-assessments have been easy for you, treat this one as if it was your first.
With previous assessments, even if - for example - ATOS had been unable or disinclined to contact my doctor, it did not seem to make that much difference as long as I did a conscientious job with the ESA50 & accompanying notes.
This time, I took just as much time with the form & notes, but I was called in for a medical anyway. The woman I spoke to at the medical was decent and kind, and even though she was not a doctor, seemed to understand my condition well enough to want to help me. I am aware that it could just have easily gone the other way with an ignorant or disinterested ``healthcare professional.' These worryingly random elements that make up the process are what scare me. Try to get as much help from your doctor and other specialists as possible, and take care with your form. Add notes on additional pages if you need to. If you are in the support group, don't presume they already know this or that it will stop them from investigating you further even if they do know this.
So thanks again to all at Benefits and Work. The last three months have been horrible, and the stress has made me really crazy again. Am starting to relax a little now.
Droopy
PS if you want to excerpt any portion of this `thank you' as a recommendation for the site, please feel free.
I'm sorry this has taken such a toll on your health, I do hope that you will be able to relax for a while now.