This is a library of information and files about the British benefit system. They are specifically aimed to help people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Fibromyalgia, Post Viral Syndrome, and similar conditions, but anyone can access them.
Currently the focus is on Employment & Support Allowance, but Personal Independance Payment and Universal Credit information will be added and adapted as and when it becomes appropriate.
For those who do have the conditions these files and posts are aimed at, you can join our Facebook group for additional help.
We have experience with these forms, and are very happy to offer you advice. We also have a Helper System, whereby we can either check over your forms before you send them off, or help you to fill them in.
Because we specifically wish the group to remain on topic, we also have a social group where we can share woes and jokes:
(Note, it is not a dating group).
As documents and posts are added to the site, links to each one will be added below:
ESA:
- What is ESA? Explains ESA, Contributions Based ESA, Income Related ESA, Work Related Activity Group, Support Group, payment rates, and outlines the process of application.- ESA50 Download tthe ESA50 (the long questionnaire) as a PDF
- Filling in the ESA50 A helping guide to completing the ESA application form.
- ESA50 Example Answers for M.E. & FM This post goes through each question, suggesting M.E. and Fibro specific answers. You should hopefully be able to find answers that meet your circumstances here.
- ESA Descriptors. Descriptors are used to score your application for ESA.
- 3 Ways into the Support Group & the ESA Suport Group Descriptors. Meeting any one of these will place you in the Support Group.
- Special Circumstances Explains in simple terms how you may be exempt from filling in the ESA50 and / or having to do the medical assessment (work related activity assessment)
- Regulations 29 & 35 This is the legislation to use if you should be exempt from filling in the ESA50 and / or having to do the medical assessment (work related activity assessment).
- The Physical / Mental Dilema Explains how physical and mental health symptoms are taken into consideration.
- I Can But I Can't Explains how to fill in the form for tasks that you can sometimes, but not always, do.
- Aids & Appliances Talks about how Decision Makers can assume the use of aids and appliances you do not own.
- Supporting Evidence Talks about how a decision is made, the different types of evidence, and discusses how to write supporting letters.
- Assessment Centres Check that you will be able to cope with the centre you've been assigned.
- What to expect from the Work Capability Assessment If you're looking for the part about home medicals, it's right at the end.
- Questions You May be Asked A post copied from dwpexamination outlining the type of questions you may be asked, and how to understand them, in the Work Capability Assessment.
- Work Capability Assessment Centres A list of UK centres.
- Work Capability Assessment List of Questions The list of questions you may be asked in the WCA and how to answer them.
- Challenging a Decision. Describes what to do if you don't agree with a decision. Use the GL24 to Request a Reconsideration of to Appeal, for ESA, or DLA.
- Work Related Activity - Explains what the Work Related Activity Group is, and gives ideas as to what you can do.
- Sanctions Explained What are "sanctions"? When are they applied? How much will I lose?
- Tidbits of ESA Advice Anything extra that doesn't fit in the other posts.
- Document for requesting reconsideration Description's in the title ;)
Other Material:
- Work Capability Assessment described by Joyce Drummond Joyce Drummond is a nurse who worked for Atos performing assessments for ESA.- SYMPTOM SECTION of the International Consensus Criteria for M.E. Useful to help fill in the ESA50
- International Consensus Criteria for M.E. Useful to include as supporting evidence if you have an official diagnosis.
- Canadian Consensus Criteria for M.E. The symptom section, plus a download of the whole available.
- 'About your illness and disability' example answer How I answered this section of the ESA50
- Why you need to save information you find Explains why it's important to save information you find that could help with your claims
- GL24 Word Version (Use this to request a reconsideration or appeal of ESA or DLA).
- GL24 PDF Version (Use this to request a reconsideration or appeal of ESA or DLA).
- Request for Reconsideration Example The document shows you the format I used to make a reconsideration request after I was turned down for DLA.
