ESA BENEFIT

crabtree123
crabtree123 Bots Posts: 31
PLEASE CAN YOU ADVISE ME . I WAS DISMISSED FROM MY EMPLOYER OF 30 YRS , AS A HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT , AT THE END OF JULY THIS YEAR , ON THE GROUNDS OF INCAPABILITY , DUE TO ILL-HEALTH . WITH SEVERE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS . I APPLIED AND AM GETTING ESA : £ 67.50 PER WEEK . MY CONDITION HAS WORSENED , SO AM APPLYING TO MIDDLE-RATE OF DLA . I HAVE SOME SAVINGS , SO MANAGING SO FAR . THE LOCAL COUNCIL HAS ASKED ME TO PAY ABOUT £500 UNTIL MARCH , NEXT YEAR , BUT I NEED THAT TO LIVE ON. I AM FINDING THIS ALL VERY STRESSFUL . CAN YOU HELP ? JOSIE .

Comments

  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Josie,

    Might be worth giving your local citizens advice a call see if they can help you,, i am in the appeal stage of my ESA as they said i am fit for work although i was dismissed from my job on medical grounds..CAB know the rules and regulations and can advise you properly..
    If i can help in any other way let me know..
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dear Josie,

    Thank you for your enquiry to Helplines. The key thing with benefits applications is to make sure that you get a welfare rights service to help you firstly fill in the forms and support you if you need to appeal.

    The major places to ask for welfare rights support are:
    some local coucils (but not all), Dial Uk http://www.dialuk.info/ , And the CAB (but often it's better to go in person, as not all answer the phone.)

    I hope that is helpful

    Guy
  • crabtree123
    crabtree123 Bots Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    traluvie wrote:
    Hi Josie,

    Might be worth giving your local citizens advice a call see if they can help you,, i am in the appeal stage of my ESA as they said i am fit for work although i was dismissed from my job on medical grounds..CAB know the rules and regulations and can advise you properly..
    If i can help in any other way let me know..
    Hello traluvie , i dont have pc at home so use my partners`s , so very sorry for not getting back sooner . Yes , i went to CAB some weeks ago , and found them very helpful . they wrote out the forms... with RA , as you know , is v. difficult . so still waiting to hear back ........ for dla , it has been 6 weeks , for esa 4 weeks . trying to up dla to middle rate , yes , so all a worry . many thanks . are you familiar with the benefits and work web-site ?
  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    traluvie wrote:
    Hi Josie,

    Might be worth giving your local citizens advice a call see if they can help you,, i am in the appeal stage of my ESA as they said i am fit for work although i was dismissed from my job on medical grounds..CAB know the rules and regulations and can advise you properly..
    If i can help in any other way let me know..
    Hello traluvie , i dont have pc at home so use my partners`s , so very sorry for not getting back sooner . Yes , i went to CAB some weeks ago , and found them very helpful . they wrote out the forms... with RA , as you know , is v. difficult . so still waiting to hear back ........ for dla , it has been 6 weeks , for esa 4 weeks . trying to up dla to middle rate , yes , so all a worry . many thanks . are you familiar with the benefits and work web-site ?

    I too have been dismissed from work and am in the appeal process of ESA so am familar with some things so if you want to ask any questions feel free, and if i can help i will..x
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • crabtree123
    crabtree123 Bots Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    traluvie wrote:
    traluvie wrote:
    Hi Josie,

    Might be worth giving your local citizens advice a call see if they can help you,, i am in the appeal stage of my ESA as they said i am fit for work although i was dismissed from my job on medical grounds..CAB know the rules and regulations and can advise you properly..
    If i can help in any other way let me know..
    Hello traluvie , i dont have pc at home so use my partners`s , so very sorry for not getting back sooner . Yes , i went to CAB some weeks ago , and found them very helpful . they wrote out the forms... with RA , as you know , is v. difficult . so still waiting to hear back ........ for dla , it has been 6 weeks , for esa 4 weeks . trying to up dla to middle rate , yes , so all a worry . many thanks . are you familiar with the benefits and work web-site ?

    I too have been dismissed from work and am in the appeal process of ESA so am familar with some things so if you want to ask any questions feel free, and if i can help i will..x
    Hi, Tracy , Yes, I am still waiting to hear from the DWP and DLA . But would like to ask you about being dismissed from work and any advice you can give . Did they offer to talk with you and put in reasonable adjustments ? Josie .
  • alison64
    alison64 Member Posts: 14
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My hubbys claim has just been reassessed and given 6 points!!! He has severe OA in both knees and needs knee replacements,it has now been passed to to tribunal,it is demoralising and upsetting to both of us. Some days he cant even dress himself properly cos he cant bend let alone be fit for work. Which is the best advice people to contact i am at my witts end,have even sent the specialist letter in which states "severe OA of both knees and when hes lost a bit of weight they will do replacement,what other evidence can i offer!!!! Help please. Alison x
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dear Alison,

    The key people to talk to without delay are welfare rights advisors I'm attaching some organisations where you can find these advisors

    http://www.turn2us.org.uk/
    http://www.dialuk.info/
    http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

    I hope that is helpful

    Guy
  • velma
    velma Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :sad: hi alison i have been suffering from oa for 18 years started in my knee and then spread to my hips and back got xray results and found i have lost height in my spine .suffer with pain on a daily basic and take my med like a good little girl but does not help much .fought for dla for last 7 years took 13months to get to tribunal and now been told i cannot claim anything even told them it,s started in my shoulder and arm but they are not bothered . all the things i used to enjoy now put a strain on my life and my family ,been told to just get on with life but i get depressed and stressed out as pain constant all the time it,s about time dla sorted this out as some can claim for oa but others cannot .yes i can walk but just putup with pain feet tingle all the time i am on 3 lot,s of med but only touch the pain slightly doc said just keep up with it but not easy but do try to get what you are entitled to for your own good. i got help from dial and my advisor was really shocked that i got refused dla don,t know what to do now as feel my pain will never go away but still have to try and cope with day to day living . hope 1day someone will understand that pain his on the inside and not on the outside so because i pull faces and struggle with this but can do little biy,s for myself i don,t get help . my family see me struggling with pain and do there best to help but it get,s frustrating for me and them .keep your chinup lol and fight for what,s right good luck and like people say on hear help is at hand anytime you feel down . sorry about the moaning but i am new on this sight regards to all xxx
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Velma,

    First of all welcome to the forum. I know it's hard to try and keep your chin up when you are fighting pain, but for you and everyone else out there who is having trouble getting DLA, it is important to remember when filling in the form to put in as much detail about the things you can't do as a result of your arthritis. This can be a tedious process but perhaps our DLA fact sheet will help you:http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Factsheets/main_content/ACFactsheetClaimingDLA2011.pdf
    If you wish to speak to us please feel free to give us a call.

    Best Wishes,
    Simona
    Helpline Team
  • velma
    velma Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi simona thanks for info i have just been to my tribunal after waiting over 13 months . i did have help filling in my forms from someone at dial and she really thought i would get help this time but not to be case dismissed so once again defeated .i am now waiting to see why i was refused again after trying for 7 years to get help ,i do have a good family but my hubby took ill 10 years ago and i had to look after him plus my ill mum plus 4 grankids plus my own 2 son,s each one helped to do chores around the house to make it more easy on me .i got no help or care for looking after my hubby as he suffered a mental breakdown and deprression and arthritis also so could not do anything himself but i tried to get help and nobody gave me any .now with lifting and taking care of him and my other family i am now suffering as a result of this but i do get my good days when the pain eases for awhile .doctor said it was wear and tear of working outside for years on farms in the cold he did send me for x,rays and that,s when i found out that 3 of my discs had problem,s and now it,s all over /feet /hands/hips/back/knees/shoulders and down my arm,s but because i can walk they think my pain is,nt there but like i have said pain,s on the inside not on the outside .my hubby also ended up in hospital after 2 mental breakdown,s and then we found out he also had diabetis plus high blood pressure and high colestral so more stress to contend with but through all this and the kids growing up and me loosing my mum 3 years ago took it,s toil on all of us but i still manage to keep on going .maybe one day the law will change for arthritis suffers to get the help they need because i was still working upto 8 years ago till i started feeling ill myself with falling over and then ceolics disease and depression myself but i still carried on .so to those people who are suffering please keep your chin up and do try anything and everything to find help don,t end up like me as i now have nowhere to turn xxxxxxx
  • velma
    velma Member Posts: 3
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi again alison have you tried welfare right,s they can also help do try everything even go to your mp if you have to good luck try looking on the internet also xx
  • samdorres
    samdorres Bots Posts: 2
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think your best option would be the welfare rights advisor. One of my friend who was covered by (weblink in breach of forum guidlines, removed by moderator) and was disabled due to the OA in his right knee. He was offwork and was also going through the same phase like you and eventually got help from welfare rights advisor. There are many success stories of people using welfare rights advisor.