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Date: 27.10.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Employment & Support Allowance

got my letter about changing over to ESA from Incapacity Benefit , been on it since 1997 because of RA

looking through the information it says
" Some illnesses and disabilities are so severe that we can decide whether you can get Employment and Support Allowance without you having to attend an assessment centre. If this applies to you, we will tell you."
this is how it was with Incapacity Benefit , just wonder has it changed & how do they expect someone with bad RA be ok to work not knowing if they can walk from room to room tomorrow let along anything else

just wonder how has anyone got on with changing over to ESA
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Date: 28.10.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

i never changed from incapacity but i know its more difficult to get on it and you only have a year on esa once on it unless you get in the support group which is extremal hard to get on that part especially if you can walk with no problem from room to room.

x
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Date: 28.10.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

thanks davina , will have to see what they say when they phone up , had look at it but know what the DWP are like & the Doctors that work for them , dont trust them at all
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Date: 02.11.2012
From: Kim

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Hi Colin

Good luck with your claim, I had to claim esa and had to have a medical every 6 months and despite the ATOS dr saying I clearly was in alot of pain and have limited mobility and my health needs to be stable for 6 months before considering returning to work they put me in the work focus group and stopped paying me money after 1 year. So now trying to find a part time job working from home which is all I can do and so far have not found anything! The esa system is not geared for people with long term illness as we dont fit into their category, I mean how many people with ra or any type of long term illness make a miraculous recovery after one year!
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Date: 03.11.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

hi kim your so right unless you are really bad to the point of not being able to move you will not get in the support group of esa. i was in the work related group and stopped getting money after the year and i was even worse!!!

Kim i hope your well and good luck looking for a job that will allow you to be flexible with your health. x
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Date: 03.11.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

thanks guys , had my phone call & told will get forms in next 7 weeks , just in time for xmas

I used to manage a engineering factory before developing RA , with it got Permanent health insurance , which makes up your wages so realy dont know how it will affect myself but dont intend to return to work unless the RA is under control

thing with RA , if they can stop the people get joint damage , there is a chance they may find a effective treatment at some point , but those of us with joint damage will still be left with it

personaly this goverment should be totaly ashamed of themselfs & the way they are threating disabled people , just easy to pick on

just looking forward to them replacing DLA with Personal Independence Payment next year , at least we will be used to filling in forms
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Date: 03.11.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Good Luck Colin!!!!
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Date: 03.11.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Good luck from me too Colin x
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Date: 03.11.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

good luck collin hope alls well and yes defiantly used to filling out forms know x
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: Colin

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

got letter today saying that they put me in the support group so very pleased

had someone help me do the forms & included last letter from consultant to my GP after my last appointment & nothing much else , very pleased not to have to go for medical or anything
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: Bsk

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Well done Colin, that must be a relief.
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

That's one less stress for you Colin, you are only getting what you deserve. x
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: suz

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Hello Colin

Im in the same boat as you,, stopped working its been 5 years now. Altho I had R.A since age of 17 got gradually worse and now its nearly 18 years of having the disease. I went through a medical assessment and they put me on the work related group I have also appealed against their decision as I have a lot of joint damage and recently had Hip replacement which Im still trying to adapt to. Im still waiting for appeal decision.

I can't go back into work due to Joint damage causing pain and didnt take any of the DMARDs the Drs told me to take at start cos I thought they won't cure me but I was okay uptil 4 yrs ago where previous joint damage got worse but before that I was coping with diet and supplements in away.

If you don't mind me asking you Colin, Are you the same colin who has been on MTX for a long time I think you said 20 years on one of your posts. Im just wondering have you still got joint damage despite being on this drug?
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

Well done Colin, great to hear some good positive news!!!
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: Colin

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

hi Suz , had RA since 1996 when they first done blood test for FR + maybe a year before when had ankle problems

been on/off MTX since june 1998 + Sulfa & still get the joint damage , need two opperations on my ankles to fuse them , already had Triple Arthrodesis done on both ankles (fuse three small joints in ankle )+ right elbow will at some point need replacing but , in no rush

as for the appeal get www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ to help you , they know what they are doing , I am luck because not needing medical but we used them twice with my Son for incapacity appeal & won both times , if you got joint damage it wont get better within 12 months if you are in the working group

gl with the appeal
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Date: 08.01.2013
From: Suz

Subject: Re: Employment & Support Allowance

I have appealed against their decison of being on work related group. Still waiting for their answer.

Your Brave taking the drugs, Im sorry you still got the joint damages unlike myself i got the damages for not taking drugs in the first place. Thanks for the info for the appeal.

Take care.
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