Failed medical!

[1959greeneyes]

Hi, I suffer with depression, anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia. I only go out if I absolutely have to and have to have someone accompany me. I had to go for the medical on 4th May, which caused me a lot of anxiety and distress, which the examiner acknowledged and apologised for. I had to go to my doctor's beforehand as I was so upset by the very thought of going and I hardly ever visit the doctors as I find that in itself very distressing.

I received a phone call last Thursday saying that I had failed the medical. I have seen the list of the points system and to not be able to go out unaccompanied to a familiar place without it causing distress is 15 points! For the other part I got it to 11 points! I haven't received the letter yet, so I'm yet to see how they awarded points. To be honest, it makes me wonder why they call you for a medical in the first place if they're going to totally disregard what you say to them anyway.

So now I have to see my doctor, once the medical letter arrives, to see if he can help, then go through a whole lot of upset and anxiety to try to appeal, when all I want to do is cower in a corner and cry.

Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem and what happened next?

[davewhit]

Hi, I suffer with depression, anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia. I only go out if I absolutely have to and have to have someone accompany me. I had to go for the medical on 4th May, which caused me a lot of anxiety and distress, which the examiner acknowledged and apologised for. I had to go to my doctor's beforehand as I was so upset by the very thought of going and I hardly ever visit the doctors as I find that in itself very distressing.

I received a phone call last Thursday saying that I had failed the medical. I have seen the list of the points system and to not be able to go out unaccompanied to a familiar place without it causing distress is 15 points! For the other part I got it to 11 points! I haven't received the letter yet, so I'm yet to see how they awarded points. To be honest, it makes me wonder why they call you for a medical in the first place if they're going to totally disregard what you say to them anyway.

So now I have to see my doctor, once the medical letter arrives, to see if he can help, then go through a whole lot of upset and anxiety to try to appeal, when all I want to do is cower in a corner and cry.

Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem and what happened next?

Bad news on not getting the 15 points now the good news appeal............. people with 0 points go on to win at appeal so with 11 you might have an even better chance you can download the GL24 form from the DWP web site and by putting that in they will carry out a reconsider if they find they cant award ESA at that stage they will hand it over to appeals tribunal and you will hear from them

[1959greeneyes]

Bad news on not getting the 15 points now the good news appeal............. people with 0 points go on to win at appeal so with 11 you might have an even better chance you can download the GL24 form from the DWP web site and by putting that in they will carry out a reconsider if they find they cant award ESA at that stage they will hand it over to appeals tribunal and you will hear from them

Thanks for the positive reply, Dave, made me feel a lot better.

I received the letter this afternoon and they didn't award me any points at all. The 11 I mentioned were what I worked out for myself that I feel I should have got after reading how the points were awarded. I've just subscribed to benefitsandwork.co.uk, so I'll read up a bit first before I fill in the form and I'll take it with me when I go to see my Doctor to see what he can do to help. I can't see him until Friday as he's on holiday until then, so it looks like I have a few days to do some studying of the guides I've downloaded from b&w.

Looking at what the assessor put, I think I must have been in on a totally different conversation. She was very kind, chatty and sympathetic to me at the medical, but what she's written has totally disregarded everything I said, and because she put me, sort of, at ease, that has gone against me, too! I'm rather numb and angry at the moment and trying to take it all in, but I really can't believe what she has said. I think medicals should be recorded so that the conversation can be referred to, rather than what they put into the computer.

Something else which is worrying me is, do you get paid anything while you appeal? My final payment will be on 11th June and I have no idea what happens after that, and I have direct debits!

Thanks again for your help, Dave, much appreciated.

[Lighttouch]

Thanks for the positive reply, Dave, made me feel a lot better.

I received the letter this afternoon and they didn't award me any points at all. The 11 I mentioned were what I worked out for myself that I feel I should have got after reading how the points were awarded. I've just subscribed to benefitsandwork.co.uk, so I'll read up a bit first before I fill in the form and I'll take it with me when I go to see my Doctor to see what he can do to help. I can't see him until Friday as he's on holiday until then, so it looks like I have a few days to do some studying of the guides I've downloaded from b&w.

Looking at what the assessor put, I think I must have been in on a totally different conversation. She was very kind, chatty and sympathetic to me at the medical, but what she's written has totally disregarded everything I said, and because she put me, sort of, at ease, that has gone against me, too! I'm rather numb and angry at the moment and trying to take it all in, but I really can't believe what she has said. I think medicals should be recorded so that the conversation can be referred to, rather than what they put into the computer.

Something else which is worrying me is, do you get paid anything while you appeal? My final payment will be on 11th June and I have no idea what happens after that, and I have direct debits!

Thanks again for your help, Dave, much appreciated.

So you got no points. It's a shame you didn't sign up with benefits and work prior to the medical to see how you are assessed at the medical. They don't actually look or take into account your medical condition. All they really want to know is what you're capable of doing not what's medically wrong with you. And you'll need plenty of supporting evidence to back your claim up from friends, relatives, professionals. You need to be very descriptive as to how your condition affects your ability to work.

[1959greeneyes]

So you got no points. It's a shame you didn't sign up with benefits and work prior to the medical to see how you are assessed at the medical. They don't actually look or take into account your medical condition. All they really want to know is what you're capable of doing not what's medically wrong with you. And you'll need plenty of supporting evidence to back your claim up from friends, relatives, professionals. You need to be very descriptive as to how your condition affects your ability to work.

Unfortunately I only discovered benefits and work today.

I can't go out unaccompanied and don't mix with people, not even family, except for my daughters and Mum. The examiner put that I was fine doing that, even though I had told her otherwise!!! I told her that using public transport upsets me and that, to get to the medical I had to be on the bus for 45 minutes.........and she apologised. In the assessment she said that I did the 45 minute journey, accompanied by my daughter, and I was fine!!! The thought that I may have to go to the Jobcentre sometime soon sends me into a panic attack. Even the thought of having to go to the Doctor's is a problem and I know on the day I'll be a mess.

[Stepheninleeds]

There are several issues here. First your situation. Appointments in private as JovCentres can be arranged. Have you had any therapy? Someone like the CAB can help with appealing, & might be able to arrange a home visit. I think you need help, professional, & to get that help you need to ask for it. Now this may panic you, but it is the only way. There are therapists qualified to help people with your conditions, & hopefully the CAB can help with benefit claims & appeals.

[1959greeneyes]

There are several issues here. First your situation. Appointments in private as JovCentres can be arranged. Have you had any therapy? Someone like the CAB can help with appealing, & might be able to arrange a home visit. I think you need help, professional, & to get that help you need to ask for it. Now this may panic you, but it is the only way. There are therapists qualified to help people with your conditions, & hopefully the CAB can help with benefit claims & appeals.

Thanks Stephen, I didn't know you could have your appointments in private at the Job Centre, that's good to know.

On my last visit to my Doctor, he suggested I see their Health Centre counsellor. I saw her a few years back and she kept steering the conversation away from the things I needed to talk about. She only wanted to discuss the problems I'd had at work, which were horrendous, which we did, but more importantly, I needed to talk about my over protective Mum and my controlling, mentally abusive ex husband. She dismissed talking about them as "gone and in the past"! The marriage had only ended about a couple of years previous to the job problems. I only had a couple of sessions with her as I came out feeling so angry and frustrated and I later found out that they get a large bonus if you are "cured" within the 7 1/2 hours allotted sessions with them.

I've yet to fill in the GL24 form. I'm going to make notes about what I said to the ME and what she wrote, then I'll take them with me to my Doctors on Friday and see what he has to say.

[Stepheninleeds]

YW 1959. I would contact your local office & ask, at worse they will say no, at best they will say yes, so you have nothing to lose. When you go to such places you are discussing private things, most people do not mind doing it in public, but some do. In your case you have other reasons for asking for this to be in private.

I think you need proper therapy & you need to demand this. As I say, there are people qualified in helping people such as yourself. It can be a long road, with a lot of work, & will be hard for you. However, you want to be free of this as it is controlling you. If you can get the therapy you need you can come through this. Some people have no idea what they are doing, some wish to deal with issues they feel are affecting you. You have the right to raise issues you feel are not been discussed, finding out why, etc. From what you say I would disagree with her on one important fact, if it is causing you problems & worries it is not in the past & cannot just be ignored. If you feel something is affecting you then it is affecting you. This might be something easy to deal with, or harder, but it needs to be discussed so you can move on from it & on to other issues. I am not an expert, but I can say you are not going to be cured in 71/2 hours. You need something more than just counselling. You can fight this, you really can. You can get the help you need, but it might be a battle to get that. I cannot say what sort of therapy you need, & would not, but your doctor should be able to refer you to someone who can assess you & send you to the right person.

I want to add one more thing I say to people such as yourself. Do not see the mountain ahead, do not look at it. Take one step forward, then another, then another. Before long you will be climbing this mountain & you will see things improving, slowly. Or if you see it as a long road of problems to deal with, it is the same, just look down & take one step at a time. You can do this, but only you can. You do not have to do it alone either. You can post here on anything that worries you, & you do have some family support.

[wobble1]

Good advice from stephen.
As there is quite a waiting list for professional therapy you could look at mental health sites and forums on line to help, Talk depression is just one example. The forums can be very helpful talking to those with similiar health issues and also they may have had personal experiences of dealing with DWP in this area.
All the best.

[1959greeneyes]

YW 1959. I would contact your local office & ask, at worse they will say no, at best they will say yes, so you have nothing to lose. When you go to such places you are discussing private things, most people do not mind doing it in public, but some do. In your case you have other reasons for asking for this to be in private.

I think you need proper therapy & you need to demand this. As I say, there are people qualified in helping people such as yourself. It can be a long road, with a lot of work, & will be hard for you. However, you want to be free of this as it is controlling you. If you can get the therapy you need you can come through this. Some people have no idea what they are doing, some wish to deal with issues they feel are affecting you. You have the right to raise issues you feel are not been discussed, finding out why, etc. From what you say I would disagree with her on one important fact, if it is causing you problems & worries it is not in the past & cannot just be ignored. If you feel something is affecting you then it is affecting you. This might be something easy to deal with, or harder, but it needs to be discussed so you can move on from it & on to other issues. I am not an expert, but I can say you are not going to be cured in 71/2 hours. You need something more than just counselling. You can fight this, you really can. You can get the help you need, but it might be a battle to get that. I cannot say what sort of therapy you need, & would not, but your doctor should be able to refer you to someone who can assess you & send you to the right person.

I want to add one more thing I say to people such as yourself. Do not see the mountain ahead, do not look at it. Take one step forward, then another, then another. Before long you will be climbing this mountain & you will see things improving, slowly. Or if you see it as a long road of problems to deal with, it is the same, just look down & take one step at a time. You can do this, but only you can. You do not have to do it alone either. You can post here on anything that worries you, & you do have some family support.

Thanks Stephen, for the great advice.

When I see my Doctor on Friday, do I ask him for a sick note to send with the GL24? If so, my payments stop on 11th June, so I gather he would have to date the sick note from then?