Too much information ?

[Maureen]

Hello everyone

I received the dreaded ESA form yesterday and was just wondering if it's possible to send too much information ? Will they just take one look at it ALL and NOT read it and then just get me in for a medical ? I was planning on sending all the information about my disabilities, medication, how it affects me, everything they ask for really, but to include all of that information I will have to send in lots of information ? My plan was to send it ALL to avoid a medical - hopefully !

What do you all think, I would love to know.

Many thanks

[Katana]

Hello everyone

I received the dreaded ESA form yesterday and was just wondering if it's possible to send too much information ? Will they just take one look at it ALL and NOT read it and then just get me in for a medical ? I was planning on sending all the information about my disabilities, medication, how it affects me, everything they ask for really, but to include all of that information I will have to send in lots of information ? My plan was to send it ALL to avoid a medical - hopefully !

What do you all think, I would love to know.

Many thanks

Hi Maureen, are you on DLA too? I am and just recently filled in the ESA form and with 99% help from CAB, was advised dont even mention DLA at this point and some of my proposed answers were DLA related, even the NASS who deal with my spinal disease had to amend my proposed letter because they were DLA related, so I ended up with what I hope was more focused information for my transition to ESA ... I tend to go overboard sometimes with info and I guess ATOS will skim read anyway?

For sure enclose a letter from your GP and or specialist, state your case strongly, add all medication and side effects and always mention your worst days to them, not the best ones ... but maybe ask CAB or a professional writer to help you too if you have not already?

I'm new to the ATOS grinding machine, am sure others with more experience will help better.

Take care and all the best.

[Jard]

If you give them everything now, at first instance, there is no way they can deny that you didn't tell them this or didn't tell them that should push come to shove and you need to go to Appeal.
But if you do have a great deal of relevant information you should try and cherry pick the best and most relevant of it, remember you are trying to meet the requirements of the Descriptors: GOOD LUCK

[Maureen]

Thanks for that CL.

I am able to get to a medical but of course would rather not go. I remember years ago when I went to my appeal for DLA (which I won HRC HRM) its just such an awful situation to be in isn't it.

I'm definitely going to send all the information about my disabilities then, its just that I now have disabilities from having spent 5 years in a wheelchair including shoulder impingement syndrome which means I can no longer really propel myself very far and cannot lift my arm above 45 degrees - straight !

Thanks for answering, hope you are as well as poss and enjoying the sunshine

[Maureen]

Hi Maureen, are you on DLA too? I am and just recently filled in the ESA form and with 99% help from CAB, was advised dont even mention DLA at this point and some of my proposed answers were DLA related, even the NASS who deal with my spinal disease had to amend my proposed letter because they were DLA related, so I ended up with what I hope was more focused information for my transition to ESA ... I tend to go overboard sometimes with info and I guess ATOS will skim read anyway?

For sure enclose a letter from your GP and or specialist, state your case strongly, add all medication and side effects and always mention your worst days to them, not the best ones ... but maybe ask CAB or a professional writer to help you too if you have not already?

I'm new to the ATOS grinding machine, am sure others with more experience will help better.

Take care and all the best.

Hello Katana

I have been on HRC and HRM of DLA for about 8 years. I have been on Incapacity Benefit for about 9 years so I am being transferred over to ESA now. I have only given the information they have asked for but it will probably work out at about 4 A4 pages and I didn't know if they was too much. I take a lot of medication and have a lot of things wrong with me so its not as if I can ignore them - but like you say, they will probably only skim read it anyway. I have joined benefits and work.com and they seem very good. I also have my OT and GP doing a letter for me as well as my 2 PAs who I have for 9 hours a day, every day.

Have you had your answer from ESA yet ?

[Maureen]

If you give them everything now, at first instance, there is no way they can deny that you didn't tell them this or didn't tell them that should push come to shove and you need to go to Appeal.
But if you do have a great deal of relevant information you should try and cherry pick the best and most relevant of it, remember you are trying to meet the requirements of the Descriptors: GOOD LUCK

Thanks Jard thats a good point

[Katana]

Hello Katana

I have been on HRC and HRM of DLA for about 8 years. I have been on Incapacity Benefit for about 9 years so I am being transferred over to ESA now. I have only given the information they have asked for but it will probably work out at about 4 A4 pages and I didn't know if they was too much. I take a lot of medication and have a lot of things wrong with me so its not as if I can ignore them - but like you say, they will probably only skim read it anyway. I have joined benefits and work.com and they seem very good. I also have my OT and GP doing a letter for me as well as my 2 PAs who I have for 9 hours a day, every day.

Have you had your answer from ESA yet ?

Hi Maureen not yet, my ESA50 went off to ATOS in Edinburgh office on Friday (yesterday) recorded delivery, it has to be there by 22nd of this month Wed (next week) their offices are likely closed today so was told it will be there Monday at latest and for sure I will be checking the bar code online because I don't trust ATOS one bit.

You are on same DLA rates as me Maureen and I was told in an earlier letter this year, this would not change until 2015 at earliest as it was one of the indefinite awards, but things chop and change and I can hardly keep up, only beginning to understand what Descriptors are.

It sounds like you are doing everything correctly but I would personally beware of sending *everything* about your full medical record history straight away, like me you must have a long time of detailed medical history, sometimes its best to play your best cards close to your chest, from what I've read unless I'm extremely lucky, I'll have to attend a medical somehow ... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it now, but if it has to go to an appeal I do have 20+ years of medical records to use against ATOS or whoever thinks I'm fit, even if it costs me £50 for that info? but I've been lucky so far, two letters for free from my GP and specialist and a letter for free from NASS my specialist group in my spine disease, these professionals have been stars to me so far.

Dont let them grind you down Maureen, glad you have someone to fight with you.

PS: and I'm sure you know, anything you do send must be photocopied, dont send them originals.

[Katana]

If you give them everything now, at first instance, there is no way they can deny that you didn't tell them this or didn't tell them that should push come to shove and you need to go to Appeal.
But if you do have a great deal of relevant information you should try and cherry pick the best and most relevant of it, remember you are trying to meet the requirements of the Descriptors: GOOD LUCK

Good advice Jard, but I know for sure if i bombarded ATOS with my full 20 year + medical history for my ESA50 straight away they would not only skim read it but ignore it completely, then if I needed an appeal as I suspect most of us do, where can I turn to then?

All the other good advice I've got thus far is make it (not short) but sharp and concise, send ALL pertinent medical info for sure, NASS and CAB had to edit some of my extended scribble pertinent info for the ATOS ESA50.

I think somewhere on the ESA 50 it says dont send in over much or something, send it to the DWP?

Its a horrible situation of affairs with IDS and Cameron revelling in a state of confusion amongst us all, simpler more efficient system Cameron, yeah right!

[davewhit]

one of the anti atos web sites forums asked under FOI act questions on time allowed for each DLA ESA50 to be read Its not long IMO you can be as guilty of too much info as too little, that said god knows how you balance it?

I make sure all health problems are listed followed by drugs taken affect of drugs main reports and letters that support diagnose of main health problems followed by test results then a list of all my drs and address of each hospital

for IB to ESA that was 15 sheets

DLA request for care 25 sheets.

I use wide spaceing and high lighter on important text to focus them

Both dla and esa had a last page saying I should be in ESA support group because then say why then quote regs same for DLA I should get middle rate care because regs say if ect ect

[Katana]

one of the anti atos web sites forums asked under FOI act questions on time allowed for each DLA ESA50 to be read Its not long IMO you can be as guilty of too much info as too little, that said god knows how you balance it?

I make sure all health problems are listed followed by drugs taken affect of drugs main reports and letters that support diagnose of main health problems followed by test results then a list of all my drs and address of each hospital

for IB to ESA that was 15 sheets

DLA request for care 25 sheets.

I use wide spaceing and high lighter on important text to focus them

Both dla and esa had a last page saying I should be in ESA support group because then say why then quote regs same for DLA I should get middle rate care because regs say if ect ect

Dave for clarification,

: is that for IB to ESA that was 15 sheets an extra 15 sheets of info above and on top of the ESA 50 form?

Also mate, are you waiting to hear about ESA just now too? how far are you on the treadmill?