Incapacity Benefit migration to ESA

Cpt.Scarlet

septemberblues wrote: »

I think they are calling people alphabetically, my surname starts with B and I have already had a letter and a phone call. im now waiting for the dreaded form!

IB had written to me to say that I was exempt because of my illness, so its anybody and everybody, my daughter who had gone straight into the Support Group because of her illness has already been asked to fill in ESA forms again, when she asked why was she exempt 6 months ago with the exact same illness that she has now, she was told to fill in the forms anyway as no-one is exempt now.

The DWP have always said that those exempt from the PCA would be moved in the first year, but there are bound to be exceptions in order to maintain a steady stream through the doors.

~Chameleon~

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

The DWP have always said that those exempt from the PCA would be moved in the first year, but there are bound to be exceptions in order to maintain a steady stream through the doors.

Where have they always said this? I can't seem to find anything to confirm this.

de1amo

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Where have they always said this? I can't seem to find anything to confirm this.

it has probably been some sound bite from a politician to add to the confusion and disguise the fact that there is no actual policy and they want to worry everyone by the fact 'you wont know your number's up' til the fat lady sings!!

nad1611

Hopefully I can clear up the question about sending evidence. I have only this week been sent an ESA50. My review was meant to be last Jan 2010 and I had been exempt, my surname begins with an M.
Anyway, on the covering letter it states;

"If you have any medical documets that you think will support your claim, send them in with your questionnaire. For example this could be a medical report from your doctor,consultant or support worker"

It goes on to say...
"Please do not send medical statements with your questionnaire. Send them to the Jobcentre PLus office that deals with your claim"
In other words fit notes.And as zzlazydaisy says there's actually a box to tick if you're sending medical evidence.

My consultant has written letters for me in the past so I don't know why someone's Consultant had a problem with it. Don't know about the legalities? As I have said before I have always sent as much info as possible with my cliams and have faired much better than when I didn't.
Hope that helps, wish me luck!!!

Cpt.Scarlet

de1amo wrote: »

it has probably been some sound bite from a politician to add to the confusion and disguise the fact that there is no actual policy and they want to worry everyone by the fact 'you wont know your number's up' til the fat lady sings!!

See the following FOI request.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/questions_regarding_migration_ti#incoming-135353

de1amo

does that confusing link resolve all the unanswered question on here (or be used as evidence) -i dont claim so it really isnt relevant to me but i am sure the others would like to have it explained!

NEH

pinklady21 wrote: »

Hi everyone
To try and get a definitive answer to my original question:
How are IB claimaints being selected for reassessment for ESA?

I posted a Freedom of Information request to the DWP. You can do this fairly easily from their website.

The reply is crystal clear.

"Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.
You asked:- What is the criteria being used to select individual claimants for reassessment?
Customers receiving Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability, currently attend Personal Capability Assessments (PCA) to determine and review their entitlement for benefit. The order in which customers will be selected for IB (IS) reassessment will be based upon the date on which they would otherwise have been called for their next PCA. Customers currently claiming Severe Disablement Allowance will be reassessed at the end of the reassessment process.

This change will not affect customers if they are due to reach State Pension age before 6 April 2014. "

Right - this sounds to me that the review date as advised by the DWP on the decision letter is also the due date for reassessment for ESA.
If we are being called sooner, (and in some cases its years too soon) it sounds like administrative cockup to me.

I will now be writing to the DWP local office that processes my IB claim (enclosing a copy of the reply to my FOI request and a copy of the DWP published guidelines) to ask why I have been called for reassessment now when the policy is perfectly clear, it should be based on the review date.

I will let you know how I get on - in the meantime if anyone else is in this situation I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Pinklady21

You see someone else posted on one of the many benefit threads that severe disablement allowance was now being dealt with with the rest...i wish they'd make their flipping minds up....:rotfl:

Thanks though always good to have the information....;)

pinklady21

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/the-war-against-the-disabled-1.1101511

Seems the revolving door of: claim ESA, be refused due to ATOS assessment, appeal and win, then be called for further ATOS review soon after only to be refused again.....is gathering pace.

Honestly this is bureaucratic madness!!

sunnyone

pinklady21 wrote: »

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/the-war-against-the-disabled-1.1101511

Seems the revolving door of: claim ESA, be refused due to ATOS assessment, appeal and win, then be called for further ATOS review soon after only to be refused again.....is gathering pace.

Honestly this is bureaucratic madness!!

Its a misleading article, ESA is a sickness benefit and not a disability benefit.

MONEYPENNY

Would you like to explain the difference to us less enlightened folk the difference between sickness and disability benefits, and what does the ESA cover exactly, maybe you could give examples!.