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Doctors letter?
9 years 10 months ago - 9 years 10 months ago #137259 by
Hi Mh,
I agree with you "in part" in that is the limitations/disabilities caused by a medical condition that may or may not result in an ESA Award, (or indeed a PIP Award) rather than the medical condition itself.
It still helps to provide documented evidence that one suffers with any particular medical condition.
I look at this issue as being in several parts.
Provide documented evidence of medical condition.
List any limitations/disabilities suffered as a result of said medical conditions.
Tie in said limitations/disabilities to the appropriate ESA Activity/Descriptors whilst cross-referencing to your evidence of the medical conditions.
When a decision is made by an ESA DM, they make it on the balance of probabilities taking all evidence before them into account, they are not medically qualified.
e.g. If you look at the evidence I suggested that a COPD sufferer may choose to obtain in : This Post. to support a PIP Assessment. (Could also be applicable for ESA)
If a DM was looking at a claimant's evidence, they would be more likely to believe, on the balance of probabilities, that a claimant suffered severe breathlessness, etc on Mobilising or carrying out other "Activities", if the claimant had evidence of them suffering "Severe Stage" COPD and being at "Level 5" of The MRC Breathlessness Scale, than they would with a claimant who had evidence of suffering "Mild Stage" COPD and being at "Level 2" on The MRC Scale or a COPD sufferer who provided no medical evidence at all.
Just an example of course !
The above is a rather simplistic viewpoint.
Many claimants have been in receipt of DLA for many years and have still no been given an ESA Award.
Different "benefits" , different qualifying criteria.
As you know, you can be in receipt of DLA (or PIP) and work full time. DLA is an "in work" benefit.
ESA is an "out of work" benefit.
It is therefore perfectly feasible that a DLA recipient could be found "fit for work" under The ESA WCA.
bro58
Replied by on topic Doctors letter?
Millhouse wrote:
meikle wrote: I have been suffering from Lupus (SLE) since 1984 and I am in receipt of indefinite DLA, mobility and care component.
I have received my ESA form and visited my doctor to ask for evidence of all my illnesses and he gave me a printout which is a "Patient Summary: Disease + Ops". This lists most of them but not all. I will be contacting my rheumatology dept to ask if they can supply something similar. My question is; will this be enough to satisfy the DWP or do I need more detailed evidence.
This is just my personal opinion based on my experience but confirmation of your health conditions is not relevant to obtaining ESA. They don't dispute that you have certain illness but instead look at your ability to do certain tasks.
I am assuming because you have had DLA so long, that you have also been receiving long term sickness benefits. If that is the case, then the comparable ESA award is the support group.
Have a look at the guides here about the ways to get into the support group. Pay attention to the wording of the support group descriptors as they are very specific. You would need to demonstrate how you qualify for at least one of them and this is where it would be very helpful to have independent medical evidence to back up your claim.
If not the support group, then you would be aiming to qualify for the work related activity group. There are more descriptors for this group and to qualify you need to score 15 points or more. Again if you can identify the activities which reflect your condition this is a good place to start in terms of looking to get medical evidence.
Hi Mh,
I agree with you "in part" in that is the limitations/disabilities caused by a medical condition that may or may not result in an ESA Award, (or indeed a PIP Award) rather than the medical condition itself.
It still helps to provide documented evidence that one suffers with any particular medical condition.
I look at this issue as being in several parts.
Provide documented evidence of medical condition.
List any limitations/disabilities suffered as a result of said medical conditions.
Tie in said limitations/disabilities to the appropriate ESA Activity/Descriptors whilst cross-referencing to your evidence of the medical conditions.
When a decision is made by an ESA DM, they make it on the balance of probabilities taking all evidence before them into account, they are not medically qualified.
e.g. If you look at the evidence I suggested that a COPD sufferer may choose to obtain in : This Post. to support a PIP Assessment. (Could also be applicable for ESA)
If a DM was looking at a claimant's evidence, they would be more likely to believe, on the balance of probabilities, that a claimant suffered severe breathlessness, etc on Mobilising or carrying out other "Activities", if the claimant had evidence of them suffering "Severe Stage" COPD and being at "Level 5" of The MRC Breathlessness Scale, than they would with a claimant who had evidence of suffering "Mild Stage" COPD and being at "Level 2" on The MRC Scale or a COPD sufferer who provided no medical evidence at all.
Just an example of course !
"I am assuming because you have had DLA so long, that you have also been receiving long term sickness benefits. If that is the case, then the comparable ESA award is the support group."
The above is a rather simplistic viewpoint.
Many claimants have been in receipt of DLA for many years and have still no been given an ESA Award.
Different "benefits" , different qualifying criteria.
As you know, you can be in receipt of DLA (or PIP) and work full time. DLA is an "in work" benefit.
ESA is an "out of work" benefit.
It is therefore perfectly feasible that a DLA recipient could be found "fit for work" under The ESA WCA.
bro58
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