esa support group experiences of reassessment?

idvi

i started claiming esa in december 2008 and had a medical. i passed and was put in work related activity group

7 months later i had the assessment form come through the post again and i phoned up and they said they were assessing me again and i filled out the form and they awarded esa again and i didnt have to go to a medical

a couple of months ago i got the form through the post. suprise suprise i was being assessed again, for the 3rd time in a year and a half. ANYWAY.. i had to go to a medical again this time, and i was upgraded to SUPPORT GROUP.

has anyone in esa support group had to go to another medical/be reassessed yet? am i likely to be called up again in 6-12 months??

ta :j

idvi

just bumpin this because there arent any replies yet

saintscouple

Hiya,

6 months ago i had a medical and was placed in the support group, and have another medical tomorrow.
I believe this was due to the content of a supporting letter i provided from my psychiatrist who had hoped for improvement in my condition in 6 months time.
I suffer from anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia which brings on panic attacks.

Unfortuatley there has been little improvement in my conditions after months of a cocktail of medication.

Fingers crossed nothing changes after my medical tomorrow, and they take note of the supporting letter my psychiatrist again.

So to answer your question i'm presuming they can call a reassessment by means of a medical at any time, regardless of what group you have been placed in.

BTW just seen your note on a blue badge. I applied unsuccessfully and had no luck going through all other options i could think off including the chief exec of the council and my local mp. Suffering from agoraphobia it would have helped me in getting near shops, and an escape route should i feel the oncoming of a panic attack.
My psychiatrist, and mp all wrote a letter of support for my claim, but the council refused stating they will only give blue badges to those who have been awarded high mobility rate of DLA, forwhich i only get the lower rate mobility.
Hope you have more luck than i did.

Moonlight1971

Having worked for the company who does the medicals for ESA I can say that 6-12 months is a fairly common time span for assessments. It does however, depend on your condition.

If the examining doctor feels that your condition MAY change within the 6 month time span they may recommend a reassessment at this interval, whereas someone with a condition which will patently not change or have any chance of improvement may be left longer before reassessment.

ESA is a totally different benefit from Incapacity Benefit, its a lot more focussed with getting people "back to work" so they do tend to be more keen in frequent reassessments than the old system used to be . . .

dane-katie

I passed my medical last year and it ran up to March this year, they sent me a ESA50 form, filled it in and never heard anything back from them, when i called they said that they had passed me but im being reviewed in 3 months time! took me so long to fill them in i hope i get longer than 3 months next time.

idvi

thanks for the replies guys!