I am writing to the Review as I am really concerned at the way that a government department seems to be trying to stop ill people getting the benefit to which they are entitled. There has been no publicity about this and you would not know there was a problem until the very generous (I am being sarcastic here) £71 per week stops.

This is the first time I have ever written to the Review, but I am so worried that ill people can fall into a really nasty trap I felt I had to put pen to paper. If you claim or know someone who claims ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) then please read this carefully and be warned.

If you are on ESA then you are very likely to be given a medical to see if you should continue to get the benefit or if the government deems you fit for work. If that happens and the government thinks you can work, then you can appeal against their decision and you should continue to get ESA at the assessment rate of £71 per week.

You will also get a letter which includes roughly the phrase that "you may need to provide a medical certificate and if you do need to do this the benefits agency will let you know" Note the word may.

Please do not be fooled by this, if you don't provide a medical certificate then your ESA will stop. Obviously you can try to appeal against this on the grounds that the letter was misleading, but the backlog of complaints is huge, so it will be far quicker to get an appointment with your GP and get a medical certificate sent off to the DWP, than wait for the DWP to make a decision on the complaint.

Hopefully you will never have the misfortune to be ill and have to claim ESA but if you do I trust that this letter will help you avoid one pitfall.

– Concerned Forester.