ESA Troubles - Please Help

louiseg0151

A bit of background for those of you who don't know, I filed a claim for ESA last October and after a long hard struggle with them, they started paying me last month (which was backdated to October). I then got the next fortnightly payment 3 days later and then moved to a different area. My fiance phoned up ESA and they sent the documents to the new JCP office and we have since had a form sent to the new address to add my fiance to the claim, which we have posted back to them.

However, since I moved, I have not received any ESA payments and when I or my fiance phone up, they will not talk to us because I have an 'appointee' (my mum). So, last Monday my mum phoned up ESA while I was there and asked what was going on and they rang her back the following day and my mum told them I hadn't moved (although I have) which has confused things even more. Now, I can't trust my mum to sort this out, she keeps saying she'll phone them but never does and they won't talk to me or my fiance (even though it's my claim with my fiance being added to it).

I've been without my ESA payments for a month now and am struggling to manage financially. Please can anyone offer any advice about how to get this resolved?

Thanks

gazfocus

Any idea why they're witholding payment?

tigerlily

Your mum would have been made the appointee for a reason, if she is to no longer be the appointee she needs to write in relinquishing this. It is correct that if there is an appointee the staff member you spoke to would not have been able to speak to either yourself or your partner.

NASA_2

If your mum isnt doing her job as appointee then you should make moves to have her removed as your appointee as she is abusing the system by her actions and not acting in your best interests.

Does she also get payments sent to her account? Does she collect your payments or anything like that?

louiseg0151

NASA wrote: »

If your mum isnt doing her job as appointee then you should make moves to have her removed as your appointee as she is abusing the system by her actions and not acting in your best interests.

Does she also get payments sent to her account? Does she collect your payments or anything like that?

According to ESA, my mum has to 'sign off' as appointee and I cannot get her removed which seems daft.

She doesn't get the payments, they are usually sent to my bank account. It's just frustrating that they won't talk to me about my own claim.

NASA_2

louiseg0151 wrote: »

According to ESA, my mum has to 'sign off' as appointee and I cannot get her removed which seems daft.

She doesn't get the payments, they are usually sent to my bank account. It's just frustrating that they won't talk to me about my own claim.

That is usually the case but where the appointee is not doing their job then it can be revoked and someone else can take over as appointee.