Esa help

stargazer59

Hi guys,

I am a bit Brain Foggy at the moment so please bear with me if my question is stupid.

I was put into WRAG just over a year ago after a medical.

I received a new claim form to fill out in June, had to be back by July 13th.

I had heard nothing until today when i received a letter saying they have looked at my claim again following a recent change, and as from _16 April 2011 your ESA will be £xxx.

Does this mean i have been assessed as still being in the WRAG?

Or is it just one of those occasional letters? lol

I am confused, it is made worse by the inclusion of a leaflet called Jobseekers allowance,disagreeing with a decision!

Im sorry if it is a stupid question but my brain just wont work today... matching my body:rotfl:

KxMx

Does your letter say anything else?

Muttleythefrog

DWP admin regarding ESA is dreadful.

To be honest I think it best you call them and ask if they've completed your re-assessment of entitlement following returning your ESA50 in June/July.

The only letters I've ever had regarding ESA that didn't leave me with panic or confusion were the ones relating to cold weather payments.

stargazer59

Hi yes it gives the payment breakdown on the back which is the same as it was before i sent the form back!

I will phone tomorrow when hopefully my brain is less fuzzy!

Thanks for your help both of you:T

stargazer59

Just to let you know i phoned the Benefit Delivery number on the letter and yes i have indeed stayed in the WRAG for another 6 months.

I told the woman i spoke to that it was very confusing and she agreed the paperwork doesn't seem to make sense!

So i guess i am one of the lucky ones and don't have to drag myself to a medical this time.

Muttleythefrog

Very confusing you're not kidding. Your WCA didn't start until June/July and they inform you that you passed and were awarded WRAG by saying 'they have looked at my claim again following a recent change, and as from _16 April 2011 your ESA will be £xxx'.

The date makes no sense, there was no recent change. It's a disgrace... they include a leaflet on what to do if disagreeing with a decision but they fail to communicate a decision with which you could disagree.

But thankfully you're all sorted now... well done!

stargazer59

Thanks for that! It is a relief , but i dont understand why they can't just send a letter saying after the WCA we have decided you can continue to be in the WRAG for 6 months/12 months or whatever, the whole system is crazy.

I know i am lucky not to have to go through a medical again so i really shouldn't complain, but why do they make it so complicated? I still don't understand the logic of the dates either!!!

Chorlie

100% something happened to me, form to fill in received in June, had to be back mid July; so filled it in sent it straight back. 3 weeks later got a letter giving me all the details of my ESA, everything the same....but just thought it was a bit quick, so phoned them up and they confirmed that I had got it again, all stays the same and will get another form to fill in 6/12 months down the line....

2 weeks later I get a phone call to arrange a Work Focused Interview and she asked if I had received the letter which was sent out yesterday (I hadn't), anyway I agreed to her time for the interview. The next day 2 letters arrive, the first the same as the one from 2 weeks before and the second a tick box letter stating they had reviewed my claim and I've been placed in the WRAG and the next review was April 2013.....

Anyway, I went to the Work Focused Interview, it was the same as the one last year, told him nothing had changed, he advised that since I'm on Contribution Based ESA I didn't have to attend the Work Programme unless I wanted to, but if I did I couldn't come off it and it may last 2yrs....(I passed on that offer).

So, I would expect another letter (or 2) yet and maybe a trip to the Job Centre....


Note: I've just sent off the Appeal Form, I'm appeal being placed in the WRAG and not the Support Group. I'm not sure what will happen, or if i've made the right decision in appealing, but it's to late to worry now, I just have to wait and see what happens.

NASA_2

The letter being dated from 16th April is probably something to do with annual uprating.

stargazer59

NASA wrote: »

The letter being dated from 16th April is probably something to do with annual uprating.

Im sorry i don't understand , can you explain?

NASA_2

stargazer59 wrote: »

Im sorry i don't understand , can you explain?

Every April benefits are increased. The system usually issues a letter automatically at that time of year.

If someone accesses a claim and 'runs through' it then even though a letter was already issued previously the system can issue another one.

For that to be the case you would likely have to be a Friday payday ie. having a national insurance number ending in the range from 80-99.