[erin97x]

Hi had my medical assessment for esa and haven't been able to sleep since. So nervous! Feel like it was a test rather than something to help me get better. Does anyone else who has anxiety depression and social anxiety claim ESA or had a medical? What happened during yours?

[benzenering]

What is esa?

[erin97x]

It's benefits in the UK

[carrie_ann]

hi erin97x, i had so much anxiety the first time around that when i had to go through it a second time i bottled it and applied for jsa instead. so far i've been sanctioned twice in 3 months for not coping. i hope it works out ok for you.

[erin97x]

I have only recently started claiming in April have never had a job or claimed benefits before so I'm new to it all (I'm 20) it's so scary did you attend your first assessment? Can you not go back to your doctors for a fit note and claim esa instead

[carrie_ann]

yes i attended my first assessment but the man told me it had already been decided i would pass due to all the paperwork my doc, social worker etc submitted. that was in england. i'm in scotland now so a different doc and no social worker, but my work coach has actually told me to seriously think about going to doc for a fit note as i'm using my dla to pay my rent every time i get my jsa sanctioned, not good.

[erin97x]

Deffinetly go to your docs as I know myself how much stress it can cause to not have money. You should definitely not even be on JSA if you had that much evidence to not need a medical! Can you not see if you can get a copy of your evidence to use again or will it not work as it is from the past?

[Fuzzybear]

So many letters, so many labels

[carrie_ann]

past paperwork wouldn't be acceptable but as my last sanction was for cracking up, abandoning my property and sleeping rough so not signing on ... plus i spent 2 months last year in a psych ward ... maybe my work coach is right, i'm ok for a few weeks, all fired up and determined but then i crumble big time. i don't see her for another 2 weeks as she's on hols but i hope to see my doc before then as i've been waiting since end of feb for cmht which is a joke so i need to push it now.

hope you keep us up to date with your outcome?

[erin97x]

If you have been on a psych ward surely that's enough evidence in itself. Do you feel you need to work? As I know that is what keeps some people sane but I couldn't handle it. And I will

[Sunflower123]

I know mental health care in the US could use some improvement but the U.K. system sounds really screwed up. I hope your assessment turned out ok and that you get benefits.

[erin97x]

Yes it needs to be improved I am currently under a 10-25 year olds charity which is loosing most of its funding so it's longer waiting times etc

[systemfailure]

I remember when I went on ESA, I was treated pretty badly, the nurse wrote complete lies in the report, I ended up going onto JSA and got a job, it was the biggest mistake, I needed recovery time and treatment, but once I was in work I was high as kite, until the depression hammer knocked me for 6. This pattern has followed ever since. I only ever went back to ESA once when I was brassic and had no other choice, I used savings to pay my bills, but the second time I went for ESA they said I didnt need to send in any more fit/sick notes for 24 months. Strange because I had been through a lot worse the first time I went on it and they said I was fit for work. The ESA system for people with mental health problems really needs to be looked at, because they are forcing people with mental health into work, when they actually need recovery time. Work most defiantly helps me fight my thoughts so I got back into work a few weeks after my ESA was awarded, I was in serious debt and couldnt really afford to not be in work and convinced myself that I need to stay busy. I often think if the support is there for people when they need it, mental health wouldnt be as debilitating as it is. Waiting Lists for a pyschiatric assessment in a world where ESA are pushing you to go to work, don't really go hand in hand. The worst thing is they dont even have mental health specialists doing these assessments. so how can they know how to award you ESA ?