I have been back and to the hospital since a relapse in February with my MS.
I am totally exhausted, sleeping is all over the place and in constant pain in my arms and legs. Some days it is a struggle to get up!
Someone advised me to look into claiming ESA - New Style as I have paid my NI contributions.
i have just received the ESA50 form and feel more sick than ever after reading through it. I just don’t know if it is simpler to go back to work or find another job without this nonsense of claiming.
The form is bad and totally doesn’t reflect the condition. I am just worried sick if I fill it in and they call me in that they will say I am fit when I know I am far from it? My GP and hospital have said they will back me up but I know what the dwp are like?
I know its down to capability but does anyone know the success rate of having Secondary Progressive MS is to get benefits. I just dont want to go down the road they say NO and I am landed with nothing??
Wow, @wfsto you are in a state. I am trying to work through what you have posted. Where are you at with work, are you on the sick thinking of returning? Work are obliged legally to make reasonable adjustments, do you have Occupational Health at work?
ESA. I think, don’t quote me, is more about not being fit for work. Graeme if you are out there (GCCK) please chip in here.
Capability, is more about can you do your current job, is there capacity to change roles and lighten the load?
I kinda get where you are coming from I work in education but have occupational health on my back asking me to change roles, I have just relinquished some responsibility not a great feeling but hey ho, health comes first,
How did you get on earlier this year? Did you go back to your original employer, change jobs or not working?
I discovered ESA having signed on for JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) at DWP Job Centre. You’re still expected to look for work under ESA but signing on regime is more relaxed than JSA and there is more specialist assistance provided. You’ll need to be covered by a sick note. I then got reassessed via a video assessment and was placed in the Support Group. I no longer need to look for work, nor renew sick notes and my NI stamp is being paid. I am however, still trying to find work, though the extent of my capabilities is diminishing.
After two years of looking for a suitable job, I finally got one and was delighted! However, I only lasted seven months. The hours I had to work were unsuitable for me and caused me a great deal of MS fatigue. I am a teacher by trade and therefore paid my NI contributions and tax as well for 16 years. I assumed I would be able to claim ESA again but, alas, the government had changed things. I am now £500 worse off a month. Unfortunately my husband earns about £1 too much to claim universal credit. Does anybody know if I could appeal based on my 16 years of paying tax and national insurance?