A couple of months ago, I had a battle to be transferred from contribution based to income related ESA, which really exhausted me. During the same period I was called for a medical assessment. Today I received a letter to say that my ESA has been discontinued and I should apply for Job Seeker's Allowance.
I have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years and had a complete breakdown in 1994. Although my depression is not as bad now as then (suicidal, etc) I still don't know when it's going to strike and when it does, I almost totally shut down, sometimes for a day, sometimes for a week or more. My anxiety is still an almost daily companion and makes it difficult for me in certain circumstances.
I had previously been listed as having a limited capability to work and was in a work focus group, although have been waiting seven months for some training.
I explained all this to the lady I saw at my assessment. However, she chose in her report to only relay how I operated on my good days. I am totally worn out having to battle all the time and don't know how many times I can do it. I worked for 25yrs without a break before I became ill and find this begging for money really demeaning.
I have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years and had a complete breakdown in 1994. Although my depression is not as bad now as then (suicidal, etc) I still don't know when it's going to strike and when it does, I almost totally shut down, sometimes for a day, sometimes for a week or more. My anxiety is still an almost daily companion and makes it difficult for me in certain circumstances.
I had previously been listed as having a limited capability to work and was in a work focus group, although have been waiting seven months for some training.
I explained all this to the lady I saw at my assessment. However, she chose in her report to only relay how I operated on my good days. I am totally worn out having to battle all the time and don't know how many times I can do it. I worked for 25yrs without a break before I became ill and find this begging for money really demeaning.