ESA Appeal rate shambles

jasonwatkins

I was on Incapacity Benefit for around 12 years and, not unsurprisingly, I was failed on my ESA Assessment a few months back. I appealed the decision and submitted all of the required paperwork, along with a medical certificate from my GP.

I was told that my Incapacity Benefit would end on November the 21st, which it did. I was also told that once all the paperwork had been received then i'd be moved on to the appeal rate ESA.

So now, after repeated phonecalls to the DWP offices and repeated callbacks from, I think, the 'assessment team' in Scotland, here I sit with no ESA Appeal rate benefit and no sign of anything coming at all.

I've just been told that they apparently phone ME on Friday to advise me that a payment would be made "within 5 working days". Funny that, since it was ME who rang THEM. And NO actual confirmation as to what will happen "within 5 working days".

I don't know if I will physically receive a payment to my account "within 5 working days" or that they will make a payment "within 5 working days". If it's the latter, then I would guess that it could take up to 10 working days to clear - my Incapacity benefit was usually sent out on a Monday and reached my account the following Friday.

So, taking that as how it might be, if a payment is sent out on the 12th of December, I would expect to receive it on the 23rd of December.

The problem I have with that is that as it stands at the moment, all the cash I have in the world amounts to 50 pence. Quite literally. I have one solitary 50 pence piece sitting in front of me.

I've got enough food in the cupboard and freezer to last me about a week, but i'm now officially in rent arrears as well as I haven't got anything to pay my rent with. I've also had to cancel all of my direct debits for my contractual commitments - phone, internet e.t.c...

To add a lovely, ripe cherry on top of this cake, when these payments are eventually established, my outgoings are actually more than my income so I will have no disposable income. So that means I can't ask for a crisis loan as I won't have the means to repay it. I can't ask any of my family for a loan as they don't really have a lot of money as it is, and, again, i won't have the means to pay it back.

So I'm currently waiting for another callback from the "assessment team" or whatever they're called to try and establish what's happening "in 5 working days".

I'm just really ranting to get it off my chest really, not really sure if i'm asking for actual advice but if anyone has any clever ideas that don't involve selling my body to medical science i'd be grateful

jobbingmusician

Contact your MP. That's what we did, and we have had a phone call from the head of the DWP reinstating the benefit, expressing fury at the way we had been treated, and promising an investigation.

We have a good MP, and I have my fingers crossed that you might as well.

jasonwatkins

Thanks. I'll have to see if i can contact them by phone as I guess I don't really have time to send a letter - i'm not sure i could justify spending my last 50p on a stamp

(I smile because I think i'd scream otherwise ..)

jasonwatkins

Well i've just had the callback and it's good news thankfully

They confirmed that the payment has been released today and should be in my account by Friday. Also confirmed that this is now established as the regular two week cycle and will be paid every other monday from this point.

Still means i've going to have some rent arrears to address but at least it should also mean i can pay my contractual commitments only a day late.

nannytone_2

if the ESA is your only household income, you will qualify for full hb/lha.
with all the troubles you have had with DWP, i'm sure you would have a case for it being backdated from the date that your incapacity benefit stopped.

Mupette

now would be a good time to do an SOA and look at what contracts with for example, electric/gas/mobile phone and internet can be knocked down.

jasonwatkins

nannytone wrote: »

if the ESA is your only household income, you will qualify for full hb/lha.
with all the troubles you have had with DWP, i'm sure you would have a case for it being backdated from the date that your incapacity benefit stopped.

That's interesting - thankyou. I've already spoken to the council and they've told me they can't do anything until i've got actual proof of my lower income which is fair enough.

Once I get a bank statement on friday i'll go into the office to get the paperwork underway and i'll certainly mention that i'd be looking to get any claims backdated until November the 21st.

amus

If you sent in medical evidence from the 21/11/11 your claim will be backdated from the day your IB/IS was disallowed.