EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ALLOWANCE - MEDICAL/APPEAL

[alison falshaw]

Hi Guys,

Hope you are well. I am currently claiming Employment Support Allowance ( you may remember a little while ago that I was made redundant whilst off sick with my KC) and have recently failed a medical. Apparently you need to score 15 points and I was awarded zero. I have lodged an appeal - my disability employment advisor and support co ordinator at Action for the Blind both advised me to do so. The medical took no account of my KC. No questions were asked as to they symptoms and how it affects me or how I manage.

Has anyone else been through this process?? CAn anyone offer any words of advice??

Since I was last here I have had one intac removed, now only have one upper intac in the right eye and have kerasoft lenses. Not extremely comfortable but I can tolerate them for longer periods now that the shape has changed a litte. Graft is still an option for me. Driving in the hours of darkness is still not wise with the halos etc.

Thanks

ali

[Andrew MacLean]

Alison

I am so sorry that you continue to suffer this oppression at work. I have never been through the process in which you are involved, but have always found RNIB and Action for the Blind to give excellent advice and support.

Are you a member of a Trades Union? They would also be able to ensure that you have proper legal support.

Every good wish.

Andrew

[alison falshaw]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your reply.
I am now unemployed ( I accepted my redundancy whilst in the process of grievance and taking legal advice, witht he support of Action for Blind People) on a tribunal under the DDA). As I was off sick ( statutory sick pay) when I was made redundant I wasnt able to claim for unemployment benefit - or JSA as it is now, I had to continue to claim SSP which after a certain time becomes ESA until the point where the DWP send you for a medical to assess if you are still sick. If you score enough points then you qualify to continue to recieve the benefit Employment Support Assistant. Claiming benefit is a whole new world to me - a frustrating one it is!

In the meantime I am registered with loads of recruitment agencies etc, have completed numerous applications and interviews. I feel that when I ask for adjustments - even though i explain it is of no cost to them under the ACCESS TO WORK program- it becomes a hurdle which they dont want to overcome.

Also, what is the latest on medication for KC. Has anyone succesfully claimed for their meds to be exempt from prescription charges??? I have two lots of eye drops, antihistamines together with creams for my exzcema.

[rosemary johnson]

Yes, always appeal!
There are some of these types of disability-related benefits where the unfortunate "norm" is for most people to be rejected and have to appeal and then get them on appeal.
Good luck with it.
EMployers not wanting to know about adjustments and the people who need them is all too common too - but can one prove it to take action??!
SOmething to remember is that, you are supposed to be guaranteed an interview at least if you are a disabled person who meets the necessary criteria. Again, of course, can you prove this?? - often not ANd I've been to job interviews where I've felt I was onnly there cos the eployer had to "go through the motions" - they had people who had far more relevant experience than me and already knew they didn't really want someone who scraped in with the minimum necessary criteria, but had to do it. ZVery dispiriting.
Good luck with the job hunting.
As for meds - don't know any way of claiming immunity, other than being too young or old or pregnant or on the approrpiate sort of enefits - but if you have a lot, have you costed out getting a season ticket? These now come in either 3 months or annual versions - if you can cram 6 months supply into 3 months of ordering, the season ticket can pay for itself in "bulk" savings, as it were.
You local pharmacy shoudl have the forms. If you get a prescription (or several) and ring up the number on the form with a credit card, they should give you the "season ticket" serial number on the phone and you can use it right away.
Rosemary