Employment Support Allowance Completing the ESA 50 form

1. Salford Advice and Information
Network
Employment Support Allowance
ESA 50 Form Filling

2. Aims of Course
• To identify descriptors to fit client needs
• To look at when completing forms what health
care professionals and appeal tribunals look
for
• Look at Exceptional Circumstances and
Regulation 35

3. Employment Support Allowance
The Process
• Client makes a claim for ESA
• 13 week assessment phase
• During assessment phase receives ESA50
• There is a time limit on returning ESA 50 –
highlighted on accompanying letter
• Following return of ESA 50 will attend a
medical with a healthcare professional to be
assessed for ESA
• Decision made on claim

4. The Decision
• Client placed in Work Related Activity Group
(can Challenge in one Month)
• Client placed in Support Group
• Client refused Benefit (can Challenge in 1
month)

5. The Descriptors
• The descriptors are made up with regards to
specific problems a person may have with
physical and/or mental health issues which
affect their daily life
• A claimant has to score a minimum of 15
points from one or a combination of both sets
of descriptors (see hand-out)

6. The ESA 50
• The ESA 50 is a medical questionnaire to be
completed during the assessment phase, and
precedes a medical assessment with a
healthcare professional.

7. Client Details

8. Face to Face Assessment

9. About Your Ilnesses

10. Medication

11. About your treatment

12. Drugs & Alcohol

13. Case Study
• Mrs Hippy has physical problems, mainly in the
lower limbs being arthritis in her knees and feet
and her walking is limited to about 30 – 40
metres before she has to stop due to the pain
• Se watches TV most nights and can watch
Emmerdale, then stands up and has a stretch
then sits down and will watch corrie, then has to
stand up again
• Using the descriptors score sheet how may points
will she get

14. Mobilising

15. Using Steps

16. Standing and sitting

17. Reaching

18. Picking Up and Moving Things

19. Manual Dexterity

20. Communicating with people

21. Commuication with you

22. Getting around safely

23. Case Study
• Miss Hap has Irritable Bowel Syndrome and has
soiled herself but this is infrequent but in the
main when she feels a need to go is able to get to
a toilet
• She also has epilepsy and has a seizure once a
month when she loses consciousness for
approximately 60 seconds and is not aware of her
surroundings this happens at night whilst asleep
• How many points is she likely to score

24. Controlling Bowels and Bladder

25. Staying conscious when awake

26. Mental Health
• Cognitive and Intellectual functions

27. Learning how to do tasks

28. Awareness of Hazards or Danger

29. Starting and Finishing Tasks

30. Coping With Change

31. Case Study
• Dave is 56 and has anxiety and depression
which can cause panic attacks
• He goes to Tesco's with his brother shopping
but is unable to go any where he is not
familiar with as he panics
• Would Dave score any points under descriptor
15

32. Getting About

33. Coping with Social Situations

34. Behaving appropriately

35. Eating and Drinking

36. Other Information

37. Any Questions