limited capability for work

lesleygraham

Hi folks
After a medical for ESA 2 months ago I have just been informed I have limited capability for work. Does this mean I can stay on ESA benefit? The letter is very unclear. However, I do have to attend another medical with a doctor (I think) to see what work I am capable of doing, aswel as seeing a personal advisor at the jobcentre.
The day I had the medical I could barely move and in teriffic pain. I failed all but one of the 'tests' like touch your shoulders and stand on your tip toes. My point is, how ill and incapable do you have to be to get and stay on ESA without being pestered and made to feel like a fraud.
Anyway, on a more positive note, started new med, humira, and feel alot better so might even get back to work. Just what the doctor ordered!!!!
Take care and love to hear your stories on ESA.
Les

jackie1955

Hi Les,

I too had my first medical and now have to attend for a Work Focussed Health Related Assessment (WFHRA).

So, although you are 'unfit for work' at the moment, what the second assessment is for is to try and find out what you can and can't do in order for your Personal Advisor at the Job Centre to match you to a suitable job.

Please be aware that, should you get an appointment through on a date which you cannot attend, you are only allowed to CANCEL the appointment once. After that, should you need to cancel again, they will ask exactly why you cannot attend, and your benefit can be reduced permanently if you do not have an acceptable reason.

I am going for my WFHRA on Monday so will let you know how I get on.

Jackie

happy_feet

Hi Les
When you say you failed the tests do you mean you couldnt do them or they failed you because you could do them? Its scary to think when someones in pain like that they make you do things thats obviously going to hurt. I think when youre diagnosed with a painful condition that in itself should be enough. Ive got all this to come, I just put in my claim for ESA havent seen a rhuemy yet so if they decide Im fit to work I dont know what Im going to do because some days are ok for me but some are horrendous. What physical tests do they make you do? Its got me really scared because I can touch my shoulders and pick something up off the floor but that doesnt say Im capable of working full time and walking here there and everywhere for jobseekers allowance, I just cant cope with it

lesleygraham

Hi Wendy
When I said I failed I meant I couldn't do what the nurse asked, tasks like standing up from a chair, standing on one leg, raising my arms above shoulder level, touching my shoulders, bending my wrists etc. She was also going to examine me on the bed but she said I would have difficulty getting on so she didn't bother. Oh, and of course walking!! My rhummy said I was one of the worst cases of RA he had seen (I'm only 40).
To be honest, on the day of the medical EVERY joint was inflammed and I was extremely poorly, the pain was all I could think about (didn't take pain killers) and I could barely move without help and they still think I am capable of doing some kind of work!!! This government is a joke, I've heard only 16% of people get onto ESA. I know people 'on the sick' for many years with nothing wrong with them, it's these people who should be also having these medicals and the numbers would soon be reduced.
Anyway, rant over.
Take care and good luck
Les

happy_feet

lesleygraham wrote:

Hi Wendy
When I said I failed I meant I couldn't do what the nurse asked, tasks like standing up from a chair, standing on one leg, raising my arms above shoulder level, touching my shoulders, bending my wrists etc. She was also going to examine me on the bed but she said I would have difficulty getting on so she didn't bother. Oh, and of course walking!! My rhummy said I was one of the worst cases of RA he had seen (I'm only 40).
To be honest, on the day of the medical EVERY joint was inflammed and I was extremely poorly, the pain was all I could think about (didn't take pain killers) and I could barely move without help and they still think I am capable of doing some kind of work!!! This government is a joke, I've heard only 16% of people get onto ESA. I know people 'on the sick' for many years with nothing wrong with them, it's these people who should be also having these medicals and the numbers would soon be reduced.
Anyway, rant over.
Take care and good luck
Les

Thats crazy! I cant believe they make you do all these things when youre in pain! It can be easy to fake pain yes, and I know of people who are on the sick and have nothing wrong with them but youve actually been diagnosed with a painful disabling condition so that should be enough. Its idiotic. Youre right this Government is a joke, theyre going to be pushing people into an early grave at this rate and they will have a lot to answer for.
When I was at A4E there was a woman there with an oxygen tank, shed had cancer and failed the medical. They declared her fit for work and said she would have to take her oxygen tank to work with her! :shock:
Sounds a terrible thing to say but I hope Im having a flare when I go. If they get me on a good day (Which is rare) They will say Im fit for work, I know myself Im not well enough to do the jobseekers agreement thing and all the trecking about looking for a job. The future is worrying enough without the stress they put on people who really arent well. :x

woodbon

Its a bit like Alice in Wonderland!! :roll: I wonder just what the cost of the system is and how many people have found them useful and are going into proper paid employment? The basic idea of helping people who are able to do something meaningful to get jobs is fine, and I'm sure that if they had trained advisors, who worked with disabled people and employers, training centres etc., people who could manage to do something would be glad of help and advice. This scheme seems like the government are calling us the paitent and our medical pratitionars fraudulant!

Sorry I'm off ranting again I hope that you can sort it out and apeal the decision. Love Sue

c4thyg

After finding out more about ESA and how ridiculous the system is I didn't bother to apply. The stress of having to get to these appointments on my own with a toddler in tow was just too much. I don't understand why letters from consultants aren't enough.

I think I know why the stats say that only 16% get it though. Only the ppl who are well enough to get there can actually apply so of course the stats are going to be low. Those who really need it and have proper diagnosed conditions are often simply too ill to even go through it all. This is why the system doesn't work. It's not allowing those who really need help to get it. Grrr.

jackie1955

Hi,

I don't think the stats are low because "only people who are well enough to go" attend! By this way of thinking then, because I attended I am fit for work in your book? er, don't think so

Come on, we all suffer with our condition, some days are worse than others, but lets be honest - if you can manage to attend hospital appointments etc then you can make the effort to attend for any other medical surely?

I don't know of any rheumy consultants who do house calls - how do you get to those appointments? Same way as you'd get anywhere else presumably

How many people on here are actually housebound 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Anyone?

Jackie

hileena111

I keep seeing this ESA.......what is it??? DLA I know but dont know what ESA is....sorry for my ignorance

Love
Hileena