ESA help

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I got a letter telling me about ESA but I have heard all about what the atos people are like. And I'm concerned about them not understanding or telling them too much. I can't and couldn't face work and would not be able to pay for my support staff. I have typed something but me thinks they will still think I can work, I was diagnosed at 22 and had care manager, support worker and other help for 10 years

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What stage of an ESA claim are you at? Not everyone (I didn't) needs an assessment with ATOS.

Well when they called they seemed disbelieving of me that I never recieved the letter. Why a letter then a form is silly. And she said its likely you need to go for a face to face. My care manager will help me in 2 weeks write the form. I'm frightened I struggle with change big time but in a work place I'd have no choice

Ive received your PM. I am not answering stuff like that via PM.

Most people have to go for a face to face unless they're terminally or meet another criteria which would automatically entitle them to ESA.

I was not trying to annoy you with pm it was just for opinion sorry

hat is it you're trying to ask here? It makes no sense to me.

What I'm trying to wonder how hard the face to face is for autistic people

If the evidence you supply [along with information gathered from your GP or taken from the ESA form they will send you or any previous medical assessments] is sufficient for the DWP decision maker to categorise you, then you are unlikely to be called for a face-to-face.

My advice is seek advice from Citizen Advice as soon as possible if you are not confident in fighting the system alone.

Do I need to obtain anything from GP or do they do it. What about all my condition details, diagnosis and support from my social worker / care manager and a letter from my mum about the condition

The more evidence you supply the better. Try and get evidence from everyone who has dealings with you and knows how you are affected by your conditions. A GP letter confirming you could not cope with face-to-face assessment would also help.

Most importantly get help with the form.

Well should it be a doctor or my care manager as she knows a lot about my condition as she filled in my dla form

hi Andyggow2010,
am quite knowledgeable on benefits stuff but mine is still waiting to change to ESA and am not sure if will even be given a medical as am living in residential care,cant access the community and woudnt be able to communicate with them.
try emailing or phoning the NAS helpline as this is one of their specialist support subjects-
http://www.dontwritemeoff.org.uk/inform ... dvice.aspx

yes it is a big issue for people on the spectrum because its a huge change,and ATOS are a bunch of idiots who arent even real doctors; they relie on a computer program to do the assessment for them.
however,please get as much support as possible with it from support staff/family/NAS/CAB/DIAL etc and dont go on forums like digital spy or money saving expert until have got an answer back from the assessment as there are a bunch of miserable resentful sockpuppeting idiots spreading BS about ESA,making out everyone who isnt quadraplegic or in a coma fails it to stress people out and put others off from applying.

I've never been for anything like this before so I don't have personal experience, but what I can say is that surely by virtue of the fact that you have a care worker, a social worker and support staff should show them how affected you are. You would never have got all that without having the need in the first place.

If it does turn out you do have to go for an interview, I believe you can ask to have it at home, if for some reason that doesn't work out you can get an advocate to attend with you.

In law, you are entitled to reasonable adjustments for having autism and/or mental health issues. This means that every public body (including the DWP) has to make any reasonable adjustments you need, which might include interview at home, the format of the interview changed to suit you if it's face-to-face or anything you reasonably request. This is according to the Equality Act 2010 and there is also the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

You could contact the NAS for advice: www.autism.org.uk and if you need an advocate you could try MIND: http://www.mind.org.uk/mental_health_a- ... tal_health

On the NAS website (specifically here: http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-au ... wance.aspx) it says:

Hi kingdom do you know me or sonething he he, I mean that as a joke. But that like going on digitalspy is the sort of thing I would have done. The plan is for my care manager to fill the form in with my info and her knowledge, with a letter from my mum and also a letter from my support worker re my condition and my autism diagnosis. But what scares me is if they don't belive me

Whirlingmind what about my care manager coming with me if they need face to face, exactly like the social work they partially fund my support and the rest comes from benefits

I will also try and arrange meeting with nas and support worker about what to expect