ESA Medical

Hello Everyone,
I applied for ESA and was given an award. Then I filled in the ESA50 (latest form I assume) following the B&W guides.

The 21st of this month I have a Medical at an office in Neasden. I will review my copy of the ESA50 and the B&W guides once more.

What I would like to ask is for any general tips. Last minute thoughts to help me mentally prepare. I have decided to EXPECT to have to appeal so I will not be too depressed/frustrated by the news...

As I wrote I will review my documents and the B&W guides. But, if you could just give me any help I would be so grateful. Maybe some of you have recently gone to a medical and can tell me to prepare me....

I realise the moderators are hugely busy and may not be able to get back to me. So, anyone else?? Fedup/Rachel???

Thank you in advance for your time,
cmarie

No real tips I'm afraid on how to prepare for a medical as this can be a subjective matter, but it is likely that you will be asked questions which are similar to those found in the "60 questions you’re likely to be asked at your incapacity medical" which can be found in the incapacity resources area HERE.

Although the questions refer to IB, it is thought that they will also be pertinent to ESA medical assessments.

I had the medical based on physical grounds and since I had read no guidelines I did not expect it to be a series of questions. Since you have prepared a little you will hopefully not be left as perplexed and bemused as I was!
I think the most important thing is to know exactly how long things take you to do. I had no idea and since I spent most of the day in a lying position and doing as little as possible so as not to cause myself unnecessary pain. The doctor ended up giving me examples of how long things took to do and asked if I was able to for example walk for 20 mins. I just said that I didn't know but maybe. (Do not say this!!!)
I was a bit slow in making the connection between the questionnaire and what he was asking (not sure why, it seems so obvious now!)
Basically he was asking me how long it took to do things that I wasn't doing but I was sort of trying to answer from a theoretical point of view. For example if there were a fire I would make it up the stairs as opposed to dying but I don't use stairs ever because of the pain.
I hope this makes sense, I have rambled a bit. I actually have my tribunal this month so I'll see if I do any better at explaining!!

Electric,

Your reply was HUGELY helpful. I also am on bed all day long. I have severe degeneration of the spine at c and l levels, both hips have full replacements and one is now at shelf life, plus peripheral polyneuropathy nerve damage of hands and feet which causes not only pain but tremors, and now both feet have developed claw toes making shoes nearly impossible to wear.

Your information about time required to do something was extremely helpful, as it is one thing that I did not really think about. NOW I will.


1000 thanks to you. I really cannot thank you enough. As I said, I will expect to have to appeal. I prefer to prepare for the worst.


cmaire

Crazydiamond,

Thank you for your reply. I will also review the IB document that you have pointed out to me.

I'm expecting the worst; don't want any surprises.


Always grateful to you all at B&W,
cmaire

Crazydiamond,
My thank you to Electric is up but I did not see my thank you to you, so I am writing again....THANK YOU. I will look at both the ESA guide and IB guide.


cmaire