ESA, Desperate help needed!

amber1979

Okay, am in a bit of a panic here.

My partner has been on the assesment phase of ESA for a while and I've been waiting to hear when his assesment will be.

He is terrible at keeping up with post/paperwork and I do my best to stay on top of it myself. However, I work fairly long hours so cannot be with him 24 hours a day.

This morning, we checked the post and he has a letter stating that he failed to go to his assesment. This is the first I knew of it.

It asks him to give a valid reason as to why he didn't go. I don't know why he didn't. He's out at the moment.

If we can't come up with a valid reason it says they will stop his benefit. We're struggling financially as it is.

Help!

NASA_2

'cant come up with' a valid reason?

There either is a valid reason or there isnt. Tell the truth.

amber1979

I have no idea why he didn't go, nor will he I'd imagine. If I did, I'd have said why. I need help here.

He suffers from severe depression to the point that he doesn't know what day it is most of the time, I missed one bit of post, just one. Now this happens. He probably opened the letter, couldn't cope with it and stuffed it somewhere. I'm bloody terrified now.

NASA_2

What kind of help are you expecting though?

A reason to state to the DWP that they will accept no questions asked?

The only help I will, or can, give is to tell the truth on the form. If he says he forgot then put that down, if he says he was scared of the medical then put that down, neither are likely to be acceptable though.

If the claim is closed then a claim to JSA can be made and will be paid at the same rate as ESA. Or he can claim ESA again - but will probably need to attend the WCA before the claim will go into payment.

amber1979

Some kind of advice, can I appeal? Is there any independent body who can help? Are the CAB any good with this? Would the letter have been recorded delivery? If not, why the hell not?

Is there any other benefit we could claim? Will this affect DLA/HB? Could I get carers allowence instead to cover the difference?

Something other than the implication that I am lying. Am in tears here and you come over all moral. What is this? The daily mail??

I work all hours to keep us afloat - this is despite being an arthritic mess myself - I wear heated banadages at work and still hurts. How dare you cast asperations on the veracity of what I have said!

I guarantee if he goes on JSA it'll all fall to bits.

amber1979

So in other words, if a persons illness prevents them from attending the assesment, the reasoning is, to put them on JSA?

That's hilarious.

NASA_2

amber1979 wrote: »

So in other words, if a persons illness prevents them from attending the assesment, the reasoning is, to put them on JSA?

That's hilarious.

If his illness lead to him failing to attend then that might be good cause - especially if he can prove it with some sort of evidence.

You have stated you dont know why he didnt attend though so cant, at the minute, attribute it to anything.

Oldernotwiser

amber1979 wrote: »

Some kind of advice, can I appeal? Is there any independent body who can help? Are the CAB any good with this? Would the letter have been recorded delivery? If not, why the hell not?

Is there any other benefit we could claim? Will this affect DLA/HB? Could I get carers allowence instead to cover the difference?

Something other than the implication that I am lying. Am in tears here and you come over all moral. What is this? The daily mail??

I work all hours to keep us afloat - this is despite being an arthritic mess myself - I wear heated banadages at work and still hurts. How dare you cast asperations on the veracity of what I have said!

I guarantee if he goes on JSA it'll all fall to bits.

It won't affect any of your other benefits so you don't need to worry about that, although you cannot claim CA because of your own income.

Perhaps you could come to an agreement with your partner that he doesn't open any post in future?

amber1979

I'm not likely to find out either.

So, what kind of evidence would they accept?

amber1979

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It won't affect any of your other benefits so you don't need to worry about that, although you cannot claim CA because of your own income.

Perhaps you could come to an agreement with your partner that he doesn't open any post in future?

Yep, I'm going to ask him for his key to our letter box. I can't cope with any more surprises!

I thought as much about CA, but did wonder if now he will have no ESA (JSA is just a joke of an idea right now) I might be able to get it as our income has now dropped by £65 a week. Doubt it thought.

healy

amber1979 wrote: »

Some kind of advice, can I appeal? Is there any independent body who can help? Are the CAB any good with this? Would the letter have been recorded delivery? If not, why the hell not?

Is there any other benefit we could claim? Will this affect DLA/HB? Could I get carers allowence instead to cover the difference?

Something other than the implication that I am lying. Am in tears here and you come over all moral. What is this? The daily mail??

I work all hours to keep us afloat - this is despite being an arthritic mess myself - I wear heated banadages at work and still hurts. How dare you cast asperations on the veracity of what I have said!

I guarantee if he goes on JSA it'll all fall to bits.

The letter would not have been recorded delivery, I cannot see any reason why it would be.