employment and support allowance - what happens next?

[tweenyb]

hiya

im on employment and support allowance (contributions based after my temping contract ended following a back injury)
I was put in the fit to work category and have had to go to meetings (of which none have been done face to face but over the phone as i am unable to attend due to my disability) I have one compulsary appointment left but my advisor wont tell me what happens next

do i still get benefit? as i cannot cope with the pain and the mobility issues im struggling top understand what happens next!

can anyone help/advise?

many thanks x

[humpy07]

I'm in the same boat... i'm unable to get around without the use of crutches / wheelchair, but according to the Medical Assessment, I do not have any difficulty in walking or getting around. I am therefore not entitled to the higher element of ESA payment. I've appealed and am now continuing to get the lower rate. I've not had any meetings yet, as I've been having treatment / appointments, but I'm not sure what happens next either.

[TUT1588]

I too am on ESA, off with stress. I went for the medical exam, and received a letter stating that I had passed the medical and therefore no longer entitled to ESA. My In Training advisor told me to appeal, which I have. This process takes a long time, during which you will continue to receive ESA until they make a decision on your appeal. Lodge an appeal !!! Good luck.

[saxy_jag]

I used to care for adults with multiple disabilities, most of whom were in receipt of the old mobility benefit. There was one chap who, unusually, could run, and at a good pace too. Thing was, he had no idea where he was running to - like into a busy road - so he had to have his hand held at all times when out in the street. Yet because he could run, he was classed as not eligible for the benefit.

When my mother first applied for DLA, she underplayed her disability, not wanting to seem any less capable than she was. She was subsequently turned down. So she applied again and, on the advice of my social worker boss, milked every ounce out of her disability when it came to the medical assessment. She got the benefit.

It's not something that honest, hard-working people like to do, but it seems to be the only way you'll get any of them to take you seriously.

Unfortunately, Tweeny, I'm way out of date on disability benefits, but I hope you and TUT both get the results you want.

[tweenyb]

thank you all for your answers.
I have since had a diagnosis of what is partly wrong with me (still cant account for back pain issues but the rest is fibromyalgia) had to go private after a year of nhs messing me around to get an answer (within the hhour lol).
Have reported this update to the benefits office and they say that the initial assessment stands and i still only have one meeting left but they said it would be a waste of time to appeal now as its so late in the day.

i think the way forward is to appeal and if i have to start the battle with them all over again!!!

Thank you for your kind wishes and i must say i think they will be needed ha ha.
good luck to all those in the same boat and keep me posted xxxxx