answers to long!! esa50

hi, been filling esa 50 all week. no matter how I try my aswers are very long. I have very multi complex conditions and just cant seem to shorten what I need to say? will they get sick of having to turn to addition sheets for almost all answers?? plus how much medical evidence? our gp surgery not issuing Any letters for patients unless asked by atos. my gp suggested I send in my medical notes which I have paid £50 for, when I said they are enormous, she said "exactly that should tell them something" says there should be no problem for me but did say shes finding everone no matter what conditions are on their forms and however serious are getting sent for medical but it just seems silly. im struggling to sort through the massive pile, so my daughter is going to take over.
would I be better with just one letter per condition, or as mary span 30 years with most of the info early on and not much last last few years, should I send more to show long standing nature?. thanks

molly wrote: hi, been filling esa 50 all week. no matter how I try my aswers are very long. I have very multi complex conditions and just cant seem to shorten what I need to say? will they get sick of having to turn to addition sheets for almost all answers?? plus how much medical evidence? our gp surgery not issuing Any letters for patients unless asked by atos. my gp suggested I send in my medical notes which I have paid £50 for, when I said they are enormous, she said "exactly that should tell them something" says there should be no problem for me but did say shes finding everone no matter what conditions are on their forms and however serious are getting sent for medical but it just seems silly. im struggling to sort through the massive pile, so my daughter is going to take over.
would I be better with just one letter per condition, or as mary span 30 years with most of the info early on and not much last last few years, should I send more to show long standing nature?. thanks

Hi m,

Just in case you are not already doing so, you should fill in the ESA50 whilst referring to the guides under the heading of "New ESA50 form"

On this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

Although it is important to provide written proof that you suffer with any health condition, e.g. diagnoses, test results, X ray, MRI reports etc, etc, once you have shown that you suffer with said medical conditions, it is important to go into details of the limitations caused by the medical conditions, and how they tie in with the WRAG or SG descriptors.

Old evidence can be used to show that a condition is chronic, long standing and progressive if that is the case.

As you will be assessed on your capabilities at present, the more up to date the evidence the better. If you do not have any current evidence you should show that you still suffer from the same limitations as a result of the medical conditions.

Remember it is a "Capability" assessment, where your limitations are more important than the medical conditions themselves.

You should try and keep your evidence as brief and to the point as possible, without missing out important details.

I would not advise sending the whole of your G.P. records. Try and sort out the relevant and important extracts, from general ones such as when you may have had the flu, etc.

e.g. You could include an extract from when a medical condition was initially diagnosed, then also include any important updates to this, where there may have been a deterioration or change.

bro58

Hi m,

If you are not already doing so, you may wish to consider :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Many members do, and find it much easier.

bro58

Thanks for your help. I have 50 pages of med evidence, (1 /20th of what was in my records. Plus quite a few extra sheets for questions. Anyone else's form ended up this big?
Also in my records found 3 separate letters from pain management specialists and they mention max distances for mobilising, each is a lot less than the 50 mtr. I have put these in, do they prove what is needed for q1 . They also state no chance of further surgery. Thanks

molly wrote: Thanks for your help. I have 50 pages of med evidence, (1 /20th of what was in my records. Plus quite a few extra sheets for questions. Anyone else's form ended up this big?
Also in my records found 3 separate letters from pain management specialists and they mention max distances for mobilising, each is a lot less than the 50 mtr. I have put these in, do they prove what is needed for q1 . They also state no chance of further surgery. Thanks

Hi m,

Quality of information is more important than quantity, I am aware of several people whose file returned to ATOS has had up to a 100 pages including the 20 pages of the ESA50, added word docs, medical evidence, and index, etc.

If you feel that the added pages are relevant don't be afraid to include them, after all they can't take into account evidence that you don't include.

Any such evidence regarding mobilising (Activity 1.) should help, but don't forget that mobilisng also includes the use of a manual wheelchair unaided, as well as walking aided or unaided.

bro58

Thanks. I am not able to self propel due to severe neck shoulder problems and splints on my wrists.there is some evidence about these things including admission for injections, both this year and past years back to 2000 I think, so I will send this as well.thanks again.