Incapacity Benefit migration to ESA

de1amo

that sounds logical but you would think with the workload they have on they wouldnt re-test the op so quickly or are they different departments?!

OneHubbyOneSon4Debts

de1amo wrote: »

that sounds logical but you would think with the workload they have on they wouldnt re-test the op so quickly or are they different departments?!

Its a farce! Don't think the right hand knows what the left hand is doing!

de1amo

i can only imagine the meltdown when the accumlation of appeals gets up steam! its seems like a re-run of the csa in the making!

pinklady21

I contacted the Benefit Enquiry Line yesterday to try and get an answer to my question of why I am being reassessed now and not at my normal review date.

The lady said that "everyone" was being notified of the change to ESA and that 1.5 million letters had gone out, but that this does not mean that I would be reviewed for ESA now, it should take place on the review date ie 2014.
Reviews are being done in date order of the date of review, so I should be one of the last people to be re assessed.
She then backtracked by saying that the date of review will depend on 'how quickly they get through the claims'.
She also added that this is 'new to them too'.
So I am not convinced that the information she gave me is correct.

I did suggest that it should be fed back that if this letter is going out to everyone whether their review is imminent or not is likely is likely to cause severe and rather unneccessary levels of anxiety to claimants.
She agreed to do so (ie feedback), although I doubt it will happen!

After the call I re read their letter to me of 7th April and on page 3 it appears to contradict the information I was given by the Benefits Enquiry Line:

"DOES THIS CHANGE AFFECT EVERYONE?
Yes, but at different times. Customers will be considered and assessed for ESA between 2010 and 2014. We are writing to you because you are affected now."

So I am really no further forward - definitely a case of right and left hands not knowing what they are doing.....

pinklady21

Meant to ask - where did this info come from?

OneHubbyOneSon4Debts wrote: »

Just found this bit of info..........................


In general, you will begin the conversion process on the scheduled review date for your personal capability assessment. This means that most claimants will already know the date they should be converted to ESA. However the new regulations give the DWP the right to call anyone for transfer at anytime, so there will be no legal grounds for challenging a decision to convert you earlier. The DWP states that some adjustments to conversion dates may need to be made in order to ensure a steady supply of claimants to conversion.

OneHubbyOneSon4Debts

pinklady21 wrote: »

Meant to ask - where did this info come from?

Found that on mduk.org in the Transfer of Incapacity Benefit to ESA section.

de1amo

Pink i am confused as to whether you have an actual appointment date or just a 'threat of reassessment in the future?

pinklady21

Apparently according to someone from the DWP today - "I have been selected for reassessment of my IB to ESA".
Lucky me.

If I do not participate, ie fill in huge forms, go along for a medical if requested etc, my benefit will be withdrawn.

I did make the point that having been assessed 10 weeks ago as unfit for work and not likely to become fit for at least three years, there is really not a lot I could add that the DWP do not already know!

I found this wee interesting nugget too today in guidance published by the DWP designed to go out to Medical Practitioners:

When will someone be reassessed?
[FONT=Arial,Arial]National Reassessment of incapacity benefits claimants is due to take place between Spring 2011 and 2014. There will be a phased start from October 2010 in two sites, Aberdeen and Burnley. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]Most customers already in receipt of incapacity benefits are periodically reassessed. The timing of most claimants’ reassessment will be based as near as possible on the date that their Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) review would have been due. This is to ensure that customers are not called for two medical assessments within quick succession. [/FONT]

So their own guidance recognises the nonsense of doing this, yet their systems don't appear to be in synch.

Interestingly, the DWP employee who I spoke to said that I was not the first person she had encountered with this same issue.

What hope is there if they can't get a simple thing right like calling someone for review on the correct date???

de1amo

i think the left hand is doing what right hands arent strictly useful for!!-its bad luck for you because i know how tortuous these reviews sound --i would phone them back up and ask for a supervisor or someone(in control) to write to you and explain how it is happening?--by the sounds of the review system you need all the evidence you can muster to prove your case!

charley11

Hi,

Exact same thing happened to me.I was assessed in November 2010 and given a review date of November 2013.Just been contacted by the ESA to inform me that i will be getting the ESA50 sent to me and that i have to fill it in or i will lose my benefit.Goverment Guidlines indicate that people will be assessed for transfer to ESA on or as close their review date so people wont be going for medicals close together.When i spoke to the girl from the ESA and asked her if they have that information she explained that it was the people from the Incapacity benefit who have told them to contact me.Either they dont have my reveiw date, or it does not really matter.I asked to be contacted be the IB to verify if this is correct or not, i will be getting a phone call on Monday but it looks as if it is going to be a waste of time.The girl at the ESA sounds as if she is reading from a letter and you cannot interupt her...If they cant get it right at the start what chance do we have.