I'm sure this subject has been discussed to death, for that I can only apologise.
For a couple of years now, doing a little research on my own, I think that I may have what a Work Psychologist I saw 01/2012 called a neuro diverse condition. I thought it might be Aspergers, it might be ADD possibly Dyspraxia. I'm by no means an expert nor a diagonistician. I could be completely wrong and, as i suspect my GP thinks (but doesn't say), lazy!
When I first saw the Work Psychologist (a dwp person, i don't know much about the specific role as I'd never heard of them before) I was on JSA. Since then I started on the Work Programme which I am still on. She claimed she could test for Aspergers but relented to saying she could do some kind of test to see if I might have ADD. I realise that makes no sense, but it involved answering a load of puzzles like remembering number sequences backwards and spotting patterns and stuff. From what I could understand she said it was highly likely. I have yet to get an official diagnosis as such facilities are not local to me and I find travelling around cities rather scary. There is now a chance the local CMHT might do one.
However the Work Programme treated me badly. They ignored the information regarding my mental health (even though no formal diagnosis) and refused to accept even the possibility of such problems - of any kind. I was told that without a support worker present they wouldn't countenance any such possibility. I made a complaint and have since changed advisers. Though the replacement is better they still admit they can't do anything. Basically the WP is rubbish. I was told that the main problem was because I was on JSA and that I should claim ESA.
To cut a long and predictable story short that's what I did, six months later I have, unsurprisingly, failed the WCA. I've sent the GL24 form back to lodge an appeal. I'm not sure how that will work but I'm told that doing so reinstates my benefit until such time as they decide whether to change their mind (I doubt it, let's be honest). In the meantime I have to persuade my GP I need help.
I suppose my point in posting is just to hear what other people think. I haven't found my GP to be terribly helpful or sympathetic and the system certainly isn't. ESA should be employment support, but it seems to work on the basis that, in order to get into the WRAG (my stated goal, i don't claim to be deserving of the support group) you need to also qualify for the support group. This doesn't make much sense to me. As a result I feel guilty as if I'm swinging the lead. But on the other hand, I just can't cope with the DWP. I find life difficult and I find dealing with society at times very hard. All the stuff you've heard before no doubt.
I can't say for certain I'm an aspie/add/whatever, so I could be wrong. But just trying to get support and be taken seriously is horrendous. It's enough to make you ill even if you aren't. If anyone has any advice I'd be grateful, thanks.
If you haven't already, go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
They will be able to help you with your appeal.
I went through exactly what you're currently going through (and have been through (your experiences sound almost identical to mine)), and going to the CAB between failing in my ESA application and getting the Appeal Hearing was the best thing I could have done, and I wished I had gone to them for help from the start.
Also try to find someone, a friend, family member, or advocate, who can go with you to the appeal hearing (again, the CAB should be able to help with this).
(I won my Appeal, by the way)
I've already sent the appeal form in. I know it looks better if the CAB fill it in for you though I don't like pretending I can't do it myself since I'm not arguing I can't fill in forms. But it's difficult for me to get to the nearest CAB as it's an expensive bus journey away, and of course my money has been stopped pending the return of that form.
Can the CAB still help? I don't really know how this process works, the GL24 form is not really a big form, it just takes a signature with a little box asking for your reasons for appeal. I couldn't wait until i've spoken to a gp or to hear from the mental health assessment i had last week (i don't expect much from that either, and I don't know whether they'll be able to organise a diagnosis) because again i need that money to be reinstated.
If they at least allowed a month's run on of your ESA when making these decisions that would be something. But the whole process is stacked against you. I suppose having filled that form in myself I'm screwed.
Ironically the WCA wasn't too bad, but that's only because the waiting room only had one other person and wasn't busy and, despite what the, incredibly rude, receptionist said about having to wait over an hour I only had to wait a few minutes (the other person had to instead!). I knew what to expect from the assessment which was carried out by someone that was polite and friendly enough. That said, the process is about as diagnostic and as medical as a casual chat in a cafe. So of course my demeanour was translated as being stress free and fit for work.
If you haven't already, go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
They will be able to help you with your appeal.
I went through exactly what you're currently going through (and have been through (your experiences sound almost identical to mine)), and going to the CAB between failing in my ESA application and getting the Appeal Hearing was the best thing I could have done, and I wished I had gone to them for help from the start.
Also try to find someone, a friend, family member, or advocate, who can go with you to the appeal hearing (again, the CAB should be able to help with this).
(I won my Appeal, by the way)
I've already sent the appeal form in. I know it looks better if the CAB fill it in for you though I don't like pretending I can't do it myself since I'm not arguing I can't fill in forms. But it's difficult for me to get to the nearest CAB as it's an expensive bus journey away, and of course my money has been stopped pending the return of that form.
Can the CAB still help? I don't really know how this process works, the GL24 form is not really a big form, it just takes a signature with a little box asking for your reasons for appeal. I couldn't wait until i've spoken to a gp or to hear from the mental health assessment i had last week (i don't expect much from that either, and I don't know whether they'll be able to organise a diagnosis) because again i need that money to be reinstated.
If they at least allowed a month's run on of your ESA when making these decisions that would be something. But the whole process is stacked against you. I suppose having filled that form in myself I'm screwed.
Ironically the WCA wasn't too bad, but that's only because the waiting room only had one other person and wasn't busy and, despite what the, incredibly rude, receptionist said about having to wait over an hour I only had to wait a few minutes (the other person had to instead!). I knew what to expect from the assessment which was carried out by someone that was polite and friendly enough. That said, the process is about as diagnostic and as medical as a casual chat in a cafe. So of course my demeanour was translated as being stress free and fit for work.
