Why do I have to attend medical for ESA

[Lilythepink]

I was told because my sister was earning, we should be able to pay the full mortgage and forget about the rest of our outgoing expenses, ie gas, electricity..... etc. Why should my sister have to default on all of her outgoings because I am sick.....

[Lilythepink]

I have looked at the benefits nidirect, and it appears because I am on contribution based ESA at the moment, I can't get help.

[Lea_HTH]

If you are signed off work unwell, why are you not claiming statutory sick pay? How long do you expect to be off work?

 

Your biggest issue with your mortgage is that it is a joint one with your sister, and joint mortgages meant joint and several liability. Ergo, the mortgage company are quite right that your sister needs to reduce her payments to other debts in order to ensure she can meet the mortgage payment whilst you are unwell. The other debt companies will understand this and accept reduced payments in the interim - you/she just need to write to them to express your situation and ask for some forbearance.

 

If you are placed on IS/JSA, you will be entitled to claim statutory mortgage interest after 13 weeks.

[Lilythepink]

Yes i agree, we both have done that. We have been good payers, and considering overpaying, until I took ill. I have been getting OSP, and now half pay, ESA applied for, but I am not entitled to mortgage help, because they put me on contribution based ESA, because I have worked and have paid enough NI to pay for my benefit.

I expect to be back at work, in the next few months.

[Nystagmite]

There is something called underlying entitlement. You may have this is ESA if your only source of income.

[Lilythepink]

Should I just ask about it, and see what they say. I haven't got the results yet of the medical, does anyone else know anything about this?

[flumps1976]

Mortgages are not my strong point (I know very little if honest) I believe that uf you have an underlying entitlement to Income Related ESA you may be eligible for some help towards your share of the SMI payments, as long as it is a joint mortgage and you satisfy the othe other conditions of entitlement for help.

Do you have mortgage protection insurance that you can claim for?

You need to request form MI12 from the benefit centre and send it back asap to see if there is any help available.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/homeowners-help-with-housing-costs-is8.pdf

check through this leaflet it should cover any questions you have

[Lilythepink]

yes it is a joint mortgage but I do not have confirmation yet, where I am placed on the benefit system, ESA, JSA, or something else.

I will look into this and come back to you. thank you

[Lilythepink]

Will get in touch with them, and see if they can help. I am so worried that I cannot think of anything else, it is actually making me ill, and anytime you get in touch with Santander, you talk to a different person, and the phone bill is mounting up.

[Lilythepink]

Still have not got my result yet, and I started getting ESA in July 2012. Santander, keep sending us letters threatening legal action. I have written to them, as I said before you get a different person each time. We are paying about half the mortgage, and I am going back to work on 10th December, but the arrears on the mortgage from August are £1600, and I have written to them, and I am still waiting for the restructing team to ring back, and that was a week ago. I am so annoyed with them, as you have to deal with so many people, and we only asked to go interest only for 6 months. Because the 13 week period has gone long ago, and I still haven't got a decision one way or the other, can I see if I am able to get any help with the mortgage, as Santander just will not listen to us.

[Lilythepink]

I applied for ESA on 19/6/12, and started to receive 71 a week, but on 19/10, some woman rang me to ask for further evidence, which I provided with a letter from my doctor and a letter from the head of psychology from the hospital. She told me the decision would be deferred until 9th November.

I still have no decision, and I emailed today to ask them about it, and they said that I had been phoned on 19/10 because of a disallowance, what does that mean? I am still getting the allowance of £71.00, but no decision

Edited November 14, 2012 by Lilythepink
added information

[estellyn]

If you have a job you can receive ESA as long as you have provide med certs and an SSP1 form to show either you're not entitled to SSP or have had your full entitlement.

[Lilythepink]

Yes, but I am still on the assessment amount. I was never told that I was not going to get the full amount, and it was never explained to me. I nearly lost my job, because I have been off for so long.

I have no money coming in from my work, and no benefits at all.

[estellyn]

Yes, but I am still on the assessment amount. I was never told that I was not going to get the full amount, and it was never explained to me. I nearly lost my job, because I have been off for so long.

I have no money coming in from my work, and no benefits at all.

 

how long have you been off sick?

[Lilythepink]

nearly a year

[estellyn]

nearly a year

 

Have you completed a form called an ESA50, or gone to a 'medical assessment' with ATOS yet?

[Lilythepink]

Yes i have, way back in July, and they asked for further evidence on 19/10. I have complained to DWP and asked for my claim to be passed to a senior manager, who then told me they had only received my dr's letter, etc yesterday, which is a lie as I posted it first class on 5th November 2012.

[Lilythepink]

I hope to got back to work on 10th December this year.

[estellyn]

I'm not sure what we can say to help. Even if they haven't made a made a decision by the time you go back to work - you can still get the back pay up till when you return to work if the decision is in your favour. If not in your favour you can still appeal the decision even though you went back to work.

[Lilythepink]

Thanks, I most likely will be back to work - but as usual I keep thinking of disabled people that have to put up with this.......

[Lilythepink]

I have been for the ESA medical, and the dr actually said there were no boxes to tick for PTSD/anxiety/depression. I enclosed 3 Occupational Health reports, which stated I was not fit for work, and also a letter from the Head of Psycology and also a letter from my GP, which cost me £10. They have ignored everything I said, as I have suffered from agoraphobia before, and it came back over the last year, due to all this.

I have been on the assessment rate for well over 13 weeks, no money from work, and the mortgage company won't listen to me, and I am nearly £2000 in arrears. But I feel well enough now, to go back to work next month, on a phased return, but don't get paid until the end of January.

I am appealing the decision made by DWP, as I want backdated money, as I would have got help with my mortgage had I been unemployed, but not if you are off sick, and are on contribution based ESA.

I am so angry that this has happened, as I have paid my way all my life. I have had to relie on a charity to help me out to pay my everyday bills.

 

Any advice on what other evidence I can give them, as I am at a loss, as I can't think of anything else.

[Nystagmite]

How do your disabilities affect your ability to work? That's all they care about. You have to meet the descriptors.

[Lilythepink]

But how do they ignore consultants and gp's not fit for work forms. I cannot claim any benefits, and havent even got my treatment yet.

[Nystagmite]

Does the GP letter explain why you can't work, using the descriptors?

[Lilythepink]

No, it said if they wanted more info, she said to ring her, but they didn't.

there was no descriptor that matched my illness. Even the ATOS doctor said that?