Esa + support group granted first time!

I joined this site as soon as I heard of it. I claimed ESA in May and got notification in November that I am being awarded ESA and I'm in the support group. We don't have ATOS in NI but Medical Support Services. The medical lasted 20 minutes and the doctor used what looked like a benefits form and not a laptop. It took just over four weeks from the medical to get a decision. My only problem is that it is going to take about 3 or 4 weeks to get my arrears paid. The advice here was invaluable and I made sure that I read everything before filling in the forms and going to the medical.

Some other advice.

When I first claimed DLA I asked for a doctor to come out. It was awarded for two years. Next time I asked a professional to fill it in for me. It was awarded for one year! Then I used the internet to study the decision makers guide and filled the form in myself. I now have DLA indefinitely.

My advice is to study the DMG and follow the advice on this site. When civil servants are checking forms they are looking for key words and times and dates. They are overwhelmed with application forms and if you make it easy for them you will get a quicker decision. Always keep copies of any correspondence and if your doctor tells you something that really helps your case, GET IT IN WRITING! My consultant told me that I was to refrain from work for at least one year. My GP gave me a sick cert for 8 weeks. I complained and received a new one for nine months.

Now I can relax a bit and concentrate getting better.

Hi Rory,

Glad to hear of your success, and pleased you found our guides to be of help.

I agree with you that the Decision Makers Guides (DMG) are well worth studying.

Thank you for posting of your success, it really does give encouragement to others in similar situations.

I hope you can relax and hope you soon feel a little better

Best wishes.

Jim

Jima1 wrote:

Hi Rory,

Glad to hear of your success, and pleased you found our guides to be of help.

I agree with you that the Decision Makers Guides (DMG) are well worth studying.

Thank you for posting of your success, it really does give encouragement to others in similar situations.

I hope you can relax and hope you soon feel a little better

Best wishes.

Jim

DMG very good, some people even advisers say "put it in your in words" kiss of death IMO if them words not in DMG they then use there idea of what them words mean and it might be what your thinking

I have been looking for the key words . i must be a bit thick because i cannot find them. help please

well done

hi i would like to introduce myself , i have HOCM , osteoporosis & osteoarthritis aswell as Crohns disease I joined a couple of months ago , i have never had problems getting DLA ,HRM & MRC . But , this ESA FILLS ME WITH DREAD , I HAVE ALWAYS FILLED IN THE FORMS MYSELF , BUT , ALWAYS have included ( sorry left CAPS on )photocopies of medical admissions , surgery i have had etc . always provide as much detail as possible , consultants name etc. sounds so simple , but , it still takes ages filling form in when your doped up to eyeballs. Good luck to us all , when our time & forms come . I would also like to take this chance to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas .