THE FULL FACTS

Hi, just discovered this site and i wish i had done so sooner. My husband has been on ib since 2006 after he was placed on the blind register as partially sighted. His condition has deteriorated over the years and last year his registration was changed to blind.

His ESA50 form was delivered a few days ago and we are working our way through it. I ask the questions,he gives me the answers, i then point out that he is far less capable than he thinks he is. We then come to more realistic answers and the relevant section, filled in accordingly.

We are about halfway through the form and then i discover this site. I have read the ABC of ESA guide and just wished i had discovered the site sooner.

We have abandoned the form for now and the first thing after reading the facts, will be to make an appointment for my husband with the doctor and start to go through any other medical info we have collected from the consultant dealing with my husbands visual impairment.

We shall ask the doctor for a letter with diagnosis/symptoms as suggested in the guide and post this with any other info we have from the hospital.

I don't think there is much we can do on the parts of the form already completed but i will follow the guide very closely when completing the remaining sections.

I just noticed if you are registered blind, you fall into section1 (unsuitable for calling to a medical examination centre) Is this still the case? What happens once we have returned the form with doctors/consultants letters etc? If it deemed necessary for an assessment, will my husband be informed of this and is it automatically set up as a home visit due to his condition?

I have also been informed that if we state he is incapable of reading 16point text, my husband will go straight into the support group. Is this the case?

No doubt i will be in here a lot over the next few months and can i just say a big thank you to all involved with this forum and all who post their experiences for our benefit.

Keep up the good work!

The most important info on this site are the bottom five posts here

Support Group Criteria checklist
If you feel you should have a home visit
What to do if you feel you shoudnt couldnt attend medical
What the DWP will ask your GP
IMPORTANT: MUST READ FILES IN THIS FORUM

http://thefullfacts.com/esa/forum/viewforum.php?f=31

The most important is the 55 page claim form and medical guide. It takes you throu the claim form page by page and tells you what to expect at medical
http://thefullfacts.com/esa/forum/download/file.php?id=66

_________________
IMPORTANT FILES TO HELP UNDERSTAND HOW ESA WORKS
The Full Facts ESA50 Claim form and Guide (pdf download)
This guide is the most important file at site.including what illnesssess do not have to attend a medical
download/file.php?id=66

ESA SUPPORT GROUP CRITERIA
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=321

What to write if you think you should have a home visit
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=620&hilit=home+visit#p1871

Hi Patch, Welcome to the forums,

Regarding the partially filled out form, you can start again if you need to by downloading a pdf copy here which you can fill out online or print off a fill out.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg ... 195544.pdf posting it back in the envelope supplied with your own form.

Good luck

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• WCA handbook pdf Revised 2013
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

Keep calm and carry on.