ESA support group renewal times?

Tehya

Hello all,

My husband was placed in the support group last year (May) so now it's almost 12 months. When he received his award the letter just stated he'd been placed in the support group and thus he didn't have to take part in the work related interviews that he'd already started. This was great as we expected a fight even though he is very ill.

My question is now he's been on ESA for about a year what happens now? He didn't have a medical as they used his own form and reports from his GP and I think maybe his specialist too. Do you need to fill in the ESA medical form every twelve months as there is no mention of time scales on any of his letters?

He was also awarded DLA around the same time (HRM and MRC) again he didn't have a medical. His DLA award will be up for renewal next May, will the peeps at ESA wait until his DLA renewal or are they not really linked in that way, it's just that I've read online that a few people have lost their ESA when their DLA award was not renewed and have ended up having to appeal both decisions.

He is still in need and this won't change I've even had to give up my job as I care for him full time now and have just started to receive CA too.

Thanks for reading,

Tehya

PS: His claim actually started in February but because I then earned more than the assessment rate of ESA he was only entitled to NI credits but as soon as he was placed in the support group he was awarded a small amount of ESA as the applicable amount for a couple was then more than my wages.

NASA_2

ESA and DLA are not linked and the medicals are very different.

The renewal time can be anything up to two years I think. Ask the DWP what the review date is.

G51shopaholic

I've been getting ESA since Oct 08 - despite me explaining that I live with my partner, they still insist I'm single.

I've read your post stating you get the "couple" rate.

I was placed in the Support group as well and haven't heard anything since then.