<p> APPEALING AN ESA DECISION</p><p>As soon as you get your decision letter</p><p> Phone up the telephone number written on your decision letter.</p><p> Say you wish to appeal against the decision and</p><p> ask for copies of all the medical evidence used to make the decision</p><p> If you get housing or council tax benefits, inform your landlord and local council (who may be your landlord) that you are appealing</p><p>THEN – make sure you get</p><p> a sick note from your GP, backdated to the date of the decision</p><p> copies of any recent medical evidence. This may have to be paid for, so make sure it is relevant to your problems. This can be from your GP, physio, nurse, specialist, mental health worker – in fact any professionals that monitor or treat you or care for you</p><p>How to fill in the GL24 Appeal Form</p><p>Use the ESA Descriptors to fill in the GL24 Appeal Form</p><p>1. On the GL24 write, “I disagree with the decision dated” (put the date from the decision letter) “regarding my ESA. I believe that I should have scored points with the following descriptors”</p><p>2. From the list of ESA Descriptors, choose the highest scoring one that applies to you from each section – Mobilising, Standing, Reaching etc.</p><p>3. You may think that some descriptors do not apply to you but think carefully and remember - this is not just about what you can do at home, when you feel able to or when someone has to be with you</p><p> At work, you have to be able to do things and repeat these within a reasonable time</p><p> If you have problems doing an action more than 3 or 4 times or for a few minutes because of pain, weakness or cramps (e.g. reaching, picking things up, writing) then say this.</p><p> If you would have a problem because of stress or anxiety or memory problems, say this</p><p> If you have these problems because of medication or effects of any treatment – say it.</p><p> Include anything that you can only do if somebody you know and trust has to be there – going out, crossing a road, using a cooker,</p><p> Things are ‘not a problem’ just because you avoid doing them</p><p>DIAL Lowestoft and Waveney June 2012 4. Write the descriptors out as a list, with the points you think you scored.</p><p>5. Put your name and National Insurance Number on any extra sheets or any medical evidence you send.</p><p>6. Get this back to the DWP as soon as you can. There is a 4 week time limit from the date of the decision. The sooner you get your appeal in, the sooner your basic money will be reinstated.</p><p>DIAL Lowestoft and Waveney June 2012</p>