The benefit you receive is changing

Hi everyone,

I have received in the post this morning a letter informing me my benefit is changing. I have not been able to work since 2002 I have problems with scoliosis, demylination, fibromyalgia, depression, widespread body pain to name a few and am currently being tested now for MS and awaiting the results.

On receiving this letter is has thrown me in to a state of panic as I have read how ruthless these Atos people can be. Has anyone else recently gone through reassessment who could give me advice. I have been looking through the documents on this website for advice which is very very useful but there is nothing better than peoples own experiences to give you a bit of reassurance.

Fifi wrote:

Hi everyone,

I have received in the post this morning a letter informing me my benefit is changing. I have not been able to work since 2002 I have problems with scoliosis, demylination, fibromyalgia, depression, widespread body pain to name a few and am currently being tested now for MS and awaiting the results.

On receiving this letter is has thrown me in to a state of panic as I have read how ruthless these Atos people can be. Has anyone else recently gone through reassessment who could give me advice. I have been looking through the documents on this website for advice which is very very useful but there is nothing better than peoples own experiences to give you a bit of reassurance.

Hi you can download a copy of the ESA50 Questionnaire that you may receive in the near future below :

www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/...lasset/dg_195544.pdf

Once you have done this you can familiarise yourself with it, and even start filling it in, using the ESA guides in the members area.

You can fill it in at you own pace, and save it and go back to it as you wish.

If you then receive the ESA50 through the post, you can print off the online version that you have saved, and keep a saved copy on your PC, and maybe a backup, on a USB stick.

Remember it is not your illness or conditions that will qualify you for ESA, it is the resulting limitations that you suffer.

Go into as much detail as you can, add extra pages if you need to with your name, NINO,and DOB, on the top of any added pages.If you have letters of support from your G.P./Consultant include them also.

You will have around 6 weeks to fill the ESA50 in from when you receive it so try not to panic.

Finally if you put ESA50 into the search engine at the top of the page many posts re this will come up.

Keep copies of everything!!!

Good luck

bro58

The letter you have received will be followed by a pnone call and this is read off a script making sure you understand that you have to complete the work capalibility assesment form and return within one month.
In my experience this will be followed by a further letter from ATOS two weeks later saying that if you have not returned the form benefits could be stopped.
This to me seems that it is likley to put pressure on claiments to rush filling in the form.
Download the advice given on site regarding transfer and allow youself time to complete the form accuratley and remember it is about you.

I got the same letter and then about a week later I got the phone call and another week later the ESA50 form arrived and I am slowly filling that in. I am finding the online version of the ESA50 form very useful as I can do little bits, save it and go back to it later and it is easy to make changes.

i 2 got the same letter 3 days ago and it also panicked me big time, think so many of us have receieved the letter recently.I am going to try and get an app with Dial so they can help me fill in the form as i am not 2 good at doing these forms, maybe you can get some help filling in the forms, take care x

Well I have just had the phone call, it didn't seem like she was reading from a script, she just asked the security questions and asked whether I had got the letter which I said I had. She then said a questionnaire would be sent to me in 7 weeks time and that I should fill all the tick boxes relevant. I said that if the tick boxes don't apply is there additional space for me to write which she said there was. She told me to put as much detail as possible with as much supporting evidence as possible which may mean I might not have to attend a medical. I am going to do it online as I can do a bit and then save it as my writing is very poor now. I will keep you all updated Hope you are not as stressed as me about it x