Change in health condition before my medical

Hello

In brief..I was caliming Income support and had a had a letter to say it had been stopped due to my Sons age and I had to claim JSA. As I was too ill to work (Migraine and vertigo)for which I have been having treatment for years. I was advised to get a medical certificate from my Doctor and apply for ESA. It all moved pretty fast and I was awarded the assessment phase money. During this time My Doctor has started treating me for depression and put me on further medication which is knocking me out. I have lost alot of weight , can't sleep and am wandering around in a daze, when I can stand up. On my second medical certificate my Doctor has added depression as well as the migraine and vertigo which is what my ESA claim is for. Do I need to inform ESA or anyone else that I have further illness and medication before my medical assessment on 14th september? I did call and ask them but was told no as it would be seen on my medical certificate which I sent in yesterday. I just wondered if it is classed as a change of circumstances as my Doctor is also reffering me to see a CPN. Any advice is welcome and thank you in advance.

Hi mamawange

You didn't say whether or not you filled in and sent your ESA50 medical questionnaire.

If you haven't sent it yet, make sure your new illness is detailed on the form. If you have already sent the medical questionnaire, make sure that you tell the doctor about it at the medical.

Although the DWP have your doctor's medical certificate I very much doubt that the doctor who examines you will be aware of it, so it is important that you mention it at the examination so that it can be taken into consideration for your medical report.

I don't know if deterioration in health is a change in circumstance that has to be reported but in any case, you have already reported it by sending in a new medical certificate and by calling them.

Best wishes

Derek

Thank you for yor reply Derek.

Yes I have sent in the ESA50 and how I wish I had found this web site before I did. I think I have made a complete and utter mess of it by saying I have good days and bad days ect. Trying to sound positive and not really telling them the full extent of my illness and how it affects me. Anyway, since sending it in I have become even more unwell. My Doctor has upped my medication and the side effects alone are making it impossible for me to function at the moment. I am having to be prompted by my daughter to do things and can not eat. I have lost almost a stone in weight and the will to live. My Doctor has reffered me to a CPN but that will take ages. Is this the kind of thing I need to tell the medical examiner when I go to my medical assessment? I am lost with it all.

Hi mamawange

You should certainly tell the doctor everything about your illness and deterioration in health at the medical, including everything you have just mentioned. It may help if you can obtain evidence from your GP that you can show to the doctor at your medical assessment.

I would suggest you read the ESA mental health guide which you will find in the members area, in particular pages 71-73, regarding submitting medical evidence. You can still submit medical evidence to the DWP but you will have to take copies with you to the medical if you want it to be considered in your medical report, which would of course be ideal.

Best of luck

Derek

Hi Derek

thank you again for your help and support.
I see my Doctor again on 7th and will ask her if she can maybe give me a letter to take with me. I have just recieved a letter from The West Access Team RE: mental health telling me someone will view my refferal and contact me as soon as possible. So I will take that with me as well.
I really do appreciate all your help.

Hello all
Well
today is the day of my ATOS medical assessment. I have had so much happen since I last posted on here, I have been reporting the changes to DWP by letter and have copies to take with me today along with emergency refferal letter to the mental health team. My medication has been changed twice since I applied for ESA and during this assessment phase although it sounds like they won't take this into consideration.
I had a mental health assessment yesterday and it is being reviewed with a psychatrist on Monday but I have no evidence of this as yet, only the appointment letter to say I had the assessment yesterday. Sorry to waffle.
I will take these along with me and ask them to be taken into consideration even though my claim is for debilitating migraine and vertigo. It is going to be so difficult to get there but I will be going, I am going to have to walk as the dizziness makes me vomit and fall down, transport makes it worse, plus embarrasing in public. My Daughter is coming with me. I just had to write this down somewhere as I am driving myself into an early grave from all the horror stories I have read. I just wish I was well and able to hold down a job and be normal because this is making things a whole lot worse for me. So I just go in there and answer the questions honestly I have troule remaining upright so I hope to goodness I don't fall or have to get down on the floor. I will feel stupid. The thing that worries me is the fact depresion is not what I added on my questionaire even though I have been treated for it on and off since childhood and seen psychologists on many occasions, it is all in my medical history and my GP said she will contest anything should need be. Oh I am worried though. I know you all have been through this and I just felt a need to share as I am scared. Of the unknown i guess. Thanks for reading..I will try and get back to to let you know how it went and then eagerly await the results when ever they come .
Good luck to everyone going through this. One consolation is knowing there are people here to offer advice and support.
Thank you