ESA Claim - Positive experiance but what happens next?

leoren

Hi All

I've been having a look around the forum and have seen lots of threads on ESA and the medical assesment.

I was really worried about mine, but I am pleased to report that it went better than I expected. I know I'm the exception rather than the rule but wanted to share my experiance.

So my advice for anyone going. Make sure you are prepaired, take someone with you, take a copy of your ESA claim form to refer back to and don't be rushed into giving answers or doing tests, take as long as you need.

My assesment was about 3 weeks ago and I've had a letter today saying I'm in the work related activity group.

I'm quite confused though as to what happens next as I'm still employed. Has anyone else been in this situation? What happens next?

Thanks

stazi

Your ESA will continue to be paid, and you will be sent for another ESA medical at a future date.
More info on ESA is here-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/index.htm

andyandflo

leoren wrote: »

Hi All

I've been having a look around the forum and have seen lots of threads on ESA and the medical assesment.

I was really worried about mine, but I am pleased to report that it went better than I expected. I know I'm the exception rather than the rule but wanted to share my experiance.

So my advice for anyone going. Make sure you are prepaired, take someone with you, take a copy of your ESA claim form to refer back to and don't be rushed into giving answers or doing tests, take as long as you need.

My assesment was about 3 weeks ago and I've had a letter today saying I'm in the work related activity group.

I'm quite confused though as to what happens next as I'm still employed. Has anyone else been in this situation? What happens next?

Thanks

Hi, first of all congrats - you have achieved a minor miracle! You should frame that letter as not many are actually sent out!!!

Seriously, and without going into any great detail, how did you find completing the ESA50, I presume that you weren't like most of us taking a quick 5mins and bunging it off?

Did you send any evidence? The reason I ask, is that according to the documents you are not supposed to send anything to ATOS.
The DWP Decision Maker will only consider the ATOS report and the ESA50 to make his decision. Only if you fail, are you asked to send evidence in.

As a matter of interest what is the nature of your illness/disability?

Thanks

stazi

andyandflo
"....according to the documents you are not supposed to send anything to ATOS." Correct- ATOS don't want your sick note for example- JCP does. However, there is nothing to prevent you from providing any other evidence at the examination. The ATOS HCP should then attach it to your file to be sent back to JCP.
"The DWP Decision Maker will only consider the ATOS report and the ESA50 to make his decision." Incorrect- a DM can use any evidence provided by either ATOS or the customer/GP.

Uncertain

leoren wrote: »

I'm quite confused though as to what happens next as I'm still employed. Has anyone else been in this situation? What happens next?

Thanks

I was in this situation, off sick long tern but still employed.

You will have to attend "work focused interviews". Mine were with a private organisation who had a contract with the DWP. They were very nice, apologetic almost, knowing that it was as much a waste of their time as mine. We chatted over a cup of coffee while they filled in their forms! There is (well was) no way out of this farce. This repeats, from memory, every four to six weeks!

mum-of-3

You will continue to be paid plus you will get any back payments due to you from the end of the assessment phase at week 13.
I also had a pleasant experience with my ESA claim and am in the work related group- I posted once I had received my claim information as after reading all the threads on here I was worried!
You will have a letter through shortly either from the jobcentre or the agency that deals with disability claimants and that will be your first meeting. I had mine put back for 6mths due to treatment so you can ask for this if you are having any treatment or if you had recently had surgery etc you are recovering from.
I have attended two meetings and both lasted 20 mins, as you have already got a job they may ask if there is anything they can do to help you when you do eventually return to work. If you are unlikely to return they have a list of learndirect courses that may benefit you etc.

leoren

Hi answers in pretty pink

andyandflo wrote: »

Hi, first of all congrats - you have achieved a minor miracle! You should frame that letter as not many are actually sent out!!!

Seriously, and without going into any great detail, how did you find completing the ESA50, I presume that you weren't like most of us taking a quick 5mins and bunging it off?

Very hard. I took about 3 or 4 weeks to complete it and sent in lots of additional information from specialists.

Did you send any evidence? The reason I ask, is that according to the documents you are not supposed to send anything to ATOS.
The DWP Decision Maker will only consider the ATOS report and the ESA50 to make his decision. Only if you fail, are you asked to send evidence in.

As above

As a matter of interest what is the nature of your illness/disability?

Will PM you as don't want to go into that on open forum. I'm sure you understand.

Thanks

andyandflo

stazi wrote: »

andyandflo
"....according to the documents you are not supposed to send anything to ATOS." Correct- ATOS don't want your sick note for example- JCP does. However, there is nothing to prevent you from providing any other evidence at the examination. The ATOS HCP should then attach it to your file to be sent back to JCP.
"The DWP Decision Maker will only consider the ATOS report and the ESA50 to make his decision." Incorrect- a DM can use any evidence provided by either ATOS or the customer/GP.

Ah yes, you can take the evidence with you, which I did, but was told by the HCP that it was immaterial and would not accept it or even read/glance at it.

Errr, not quite, I believe that I am in the majority here when I say that the only boxes that are ticked on the form that shows what info has been used to come to the decision is the ESA50 & the ATOS report. Nobody ever contacted my GP, before the assessment or indeed after. The boxes marked GP report & other evidence are left blank.
From what I have since found out that the DWP do not contact the GP at all.

What I am trying to get to, and this is the subject of a complaint I now have with DWP/ATOS, is that there is nowhere on any form or document that advises or suggests that other evidence should/needs to be, sent in.

I know the ESA50 says that you should give further info if needed, but the letter from ATOS clearly states that nothing should be returned with the ESA50 other than the ESA50.

Sorry to side track the thread, but I feel that it is wrong that people send in evidence when they are told not to, yet have this evidence used in the decision making. And those that abide by the rules suffer. This may be the answer as to why there are so many failures.

I am asking that the ESA50 be re-worded to show this.