ESA Medical 19th April

Hi everyone, this is my first post but joined up a couple of weeks back. been a bit ill so not been able to post.

I am concerned. I have an ilness that comes and goes, usually strikes me down 3 times a month and when it hits I can only lay in bed waiting for it to pass and taking pills.

I have been an illustrator (professionally) for many years and now I am 48 and my neck, back and hands suffer terribly. This has also lead me to suffer some mental issues where over the last few years, i have become quite an 'enclosed' person and don't want to go out much or talk to others.

I have not worked since last May and I have not received any benefits. I was told in January that I should go for this benefit and my doctor has supplied certificates (3 now as they asked for several with different dates!!) and they began my claim from Jan 24th.

It is now 7th April and all I have received is a date for a medical with Atos in London. No benefits, no help at all. I have written to the benefits people insisting that they respond and get nothing. And now, I read through this forum and other sites and it seems, that unless I am carried into the medical by two other helpers with my head in a bottle, I don't really stand much chance of getting any benefit.

My question is this: what does one do next?

I feel I will not get the 15 points (is there somewhere i can d-load the medical questions as I hear they have been changed?) and does this mean I will then have to go for JSA?? But my doctor has signed me off for 6 months and I have been incredibly ill recently. How does one make oneself 'available for work' and claim JSA if you're so obviously not available for work?

I am very worried about going to the medical and what i am going to be asked and also, I have waited since Jan to get this. If then I am told no and they insist I must go on JSA, I could have done that in Jan!! I am broke, I am almost out on the street and desperate for some advice please....

Hi, I am not good at making phonecalls but if you can, I would advise you to ring the DWP to sort your benefits out.

As Gordon has stated, you should be on the assessment rate of ESA. (£64ish a week).

I scored 6 points at my assessment but was awarded 12 more at appeal, so there is hope!

Try to be determined and methodical about it and don't let the b*ggers get you down.

Also, ask about a crisis loan to tide you over.

Best wishes,
Rachel

Firstly, apologies for posting it more than once! I couldn't even then find the post I had made, sorry.

You said:

You should be receiving ESA at the assessment rate while your claim is processed.

Well, I have received nothing at all. I am beyond desperate now and I need to know what to say if I telephone them. One day, back in early Feb, I spoke to someone who said, 'Yes we have your certificate here, you should be receiving your payment any day now and a notification of how much this is. In fact, it will be paid into your bank tomorrow'

????? Really!

I have received NO money NO letter and only the appouintment letter from Atos. And the annoying thing about rubbing salt into the wound, the first appointment was 4th April, then they telephoned me and changed it to the 19th!

So . . still I wait with no benefit, any advice would be very grateful, especially if you are saying what you said above!

Thank you (sorry for the trebble post! )

Gordon wrote:

Aragorn

OK, you should have been paid from day 4 of your claim, which, providing you have Fit Notes to cover it, could be backdated 3 months prior to your application.

You need to contact the DWP office handling your claim, the number to use will be on the lletters they have sent you previously. Unless there is a reason, which they have not explained, as to why you would not receive payment, you should have been receiving payments 3-4 weeks at most after the application.

It's too late to call today, but give them a call first thing if you can, because they may need to do a call back, which they have to do within 3 hours.

Let us know what they say.

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

Firstly, thank you everyone for your assistance today

I managed to call them and hey presto - they are STILL waiting for my 2nd doctors certificate which I posted to them a month ago alomng with a letter asking for expanation!!! Argghhhhhhh!

so, I now have called my doctor and asked for a replacement/copy of the certificate and I can't get an appointment now at the Job centre til Monday. They say it will be 15 min appointment and they will fax it thru to Basildon and then, I will get a confirmation that they have relieved it.

Amazing! I waited like an idiot and they hadn't even received it. If I had not posted here I would have waited til after the 19th as I was 'sure' that it was because of my impending medical!!

Just so you know, my first medical cirtificate was from mid May last year until early march this year. The next one (which they say they haven't got) they said they needed from 24th Jan onwards (god knows why?) and my doc has written this for 6 months from 24th Jan 11.

It's seems very complex for something which should very simple!! I understand they can back-date til october, is that right Gordon?

Thanks for the help