IB to ESA transfer - question

TOBRUK

Hi Lady Morticia,

I'm on IS for reason of incapacity and also HRC and HRM and the HRC exempts me from the medicals and I haven't been transferred yet.

I too suffer with M.E and on HRC and HRM and was transfered from IB (and like you on IS for reason of incapacity) to ESA last month and placed on the 'work focused group'!

From the descriptors for the support group I believe I should be in support group and have written to them, correcting the issues that were wrong in their 'medical report' - I am awaiting a reply but I am not holding my breath!

If they don't change their decision I'm afraid I don't feel that I have any fight in me to take them on! I don't want to think what will happen when they start dealing with DLA!!

I wish you luck and hope you are placed in the support group.

Trialia

I haven't enough in me to try for a reassessment at this date. I was hospitalised for a lot of the summer, and I can't handwrite enough to fill out an ESA50 or DLA form, and the CAB refused to help me because the advisor I saw - despite knowing nothing of my illness but the little I'd told her at that point - said she didn't think I'd get into the support group.

This despite the fact that I am currently in WRAG and the advisors at the job centre think I should be in the support group, and my specialist has stated that I will never be fit for full-time work again, as my primary illness is actively degenerative. There's very little I can do. I'm having to type this very carefully and laboriously due to metacarpal subluxations and a strained tendon in my dominant hand (caused by subluxations :P ), even. I'm on LRC and HRM indefinitely from January '09, but who knows how things will go.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

I'm on IB get LRM/MRC & still haven't heard about being transferred to ESA yet either.

Pippin12

I'm on IS, HRC and LRM (diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder) and I heard last week that I'll get my ESA50 in the next two weeks.

zzzLazyDaisy

Originally we were told that people on IB with no renewal date, would be moved over first, and people on IS would be moved last - presumably because people on IS just transfer to income related ESA and their benefits then continue indefinitely as long as they continue to meet the criteria - whereas people on just IB lose their benefits after 12 months, so there are savings to be had there.

But I know of people on IS who have already been moved to ESA, and some like me, on IB only who are still waiting.

I am not complaining, as once I am moved over to ESA, the clock starts ticking and I will lose that income after 12 months, which will be hard as my carers have to be paid and I am struggling as it is.

The uncertainty of it all is stressful - not knowing if I will meet the criteria for the support group, wondering how I will get to the assessments (I can be confined to bed for weeks at a time), and worrying about when all this will happen....

Oh well, I will just sit and wait to hear.

Thanks for the responses x

zzzLazyDaisy

Interesting - well that blows my theory - that they are focussing on younger claimants - out of the water!

Good luck and do let us know what happens

Dx

zzzLazyDaisy

Invalidation wrote: »

Im going to try and Catalogue each step.
The day after the Brown envelope I got started. Collected all my original diagnosis etc together after asking for it from my previous Doctor.

Thanks for coming back to us. I wonder if it might be an idea to start a new thread, as other people may be posting on here about their wait times?

One thing - as far as I know, ATOS/DWP will not take into consideration any medical report that is over 6 months old. So it might be a good idea to get your GP to write an up-to-date letter confirming all your diagnoses.

zzzLazyDaisy

Yes, I know a few people in a similar position. But if ATOS/DWP stick to their guidelines about not allowing medical reports that are more than 6 months old, it is necessary to find a work around. My consultant, for example, has agreed to review my old reports and write an up to date report confirming what is in the old reports, and commenting on changes/deterioration since then. I know how lucky I am to have that level of support, but perhaps your GP could do something similar? For example, if your GP were to write a covering letter saying s/he has reviewed the attached reports and can confirm that the conditions remain the same (or have further degenerated ) since the reports were produced, and attach those reports to the letter - that would then be an up-to-date confirmation of your conditions, written within the past 6 months, albeit referring to older reports.

zzzLazyDaisy

Well the brown envelope arrived today telling me to expect a phone call within the next two weeks. So the ball is rolling.....

Dx

baccyman

Does anyone know how long it takes for the medical after you get the letter saying that you are going to get a phone call,
i got my letter yesterday.