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ESA50 form

Hi

I received my ESA50 form a week or so ago, and it needs to be sent back by 30 December.

This is (I see it) the renewal one, having previously filled in a form in July of this year.

Last time I kept notes on what I had put on the form, and to be honest, nothing has changed since then.

Therefore I am wondering, could I put the same down as it still applies, or with slight 'tweaks' to the wording? Do they keep copies of what you previously put?

It took so long last time to phrase it correctly without being misinterpreted, and as I say, in the past 3 months, apart from being put with a work programme advisor, who, as I have posted before, has been totally of no use whatsoever, mainly because they are not aware of people on ESA and the reasons for it, nothing has changed in how I feel, 'cope' with things, etc.

Any feedback would be helpful, thanks
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Comments

  • Muttleythefrog
    Muttleythefrog Posts: 20,334 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 December 2011 at 2:52PM
    donnydiva wrote: »
    Hi

    I received my ESA50 form a week or so ago, and it needs to be sent back by 30 December.

    This is (I see it) the renewal one, having previously filled in a form in July of this year.

    Last time I kept notes on what I had put on the form, and to be honest, nothing has changed since then.

    Therefore I am wondering, could I put the same down as it still applies, or with slight 'tweaks' to the wording? Do they keep copies of what you previously put?

    It took so long last time to phrase it correctly without being misinterpreted, and as I say, in the past 3 months, apart from being put with a work programme advisor, who, as I have posted before, has been totally of no use whatsoever, mainly because they are not aware of people on ESA and the reasons for it, nothing has changed in how I feel, 'cope' with things, etc.

    Any feedback would be helpful, thanks

    They probably will still have your last ESA50 form. But if your situation hasn't changed then writing the same things is entirely advisable (especially since I understand the form won't have materially changed since your last one). There are no points for originality ;) in this game.
    "Do not attribute to conspiracy what can adequately be explained by incompetence" - rogerblack
  • Thanks for that Muttley :)

    As far as I can see, the form is identical to the last one they sent out.

    I just didnt know if it would go against me in some way, putting the same things like it would be interpreted as me not thinking about it, you know? But nothing has changed in my situation, etc.

    If I couldnt put the same, it would be putting the same stuff anyway, but having to think how to rephrase it which would be time consuming and bit pointless, since it would result in same answers at end of day.
  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    donnydiva wrote: »
    Thanks for that Muttley :)

    As far as I can see, the form is identical to the last one they sent out.
    The last changes to the form generally issued were the 28th of March, so it is likely it will be entirely identical.
  • thanks for both your replies :)

    So just to reitterate, it shouldnt go against me, putting the same things?
  • I think it would go in your favour if anything - it could strengthen your case that they should reach the same conclusions and decision. I'd be tempted to look to see if an electronic version (current version) is available that can be filled in... just in case in 6 months time you have to do it all again and can save yourself even the writing.
    "Do not attribute to conspiracy what can adequately be explained by incompetence" - rogerblack
  • thanks for that Muttley :) - apologies for lateness in reply, I have to rely mainly on getting into the library to access the internet, and this is the first chance I have had since my last post.

    But appreciate your time in replying back, and what you say makes sense (well to you and me, whether it does to ATOS/DWP is another matter!! ;)
  • Glen_Clark
    Glen_Clark Posts: 4,397 Forumite
    edited 27 December 2011 at 12:40PM
    I think it would go in your favour if anything - it could strengthen your case that they should reach the same conclusions and decision. I'd be tempted to look to see if an electronic version (current version) is available that can be filled in... just in case in 6 months time you have to do it all again and can save yourself even the writing.

    Agreed. Their job is to check your circumstances have not changed, so if thats the case nothing wrong in sending the form the same as before.

    The electronic version is in Adobe format. You can download the free version - Adobe Reader, to read it.
    EDIT: If you download and install the latest free version of Adobe Reader you can safe the text you have filled in - link http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
    “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” --Upton Sinclair
  • Glen_Clark wrote: »
    The electronic version is in Adobe format. You can download the free version - Adobe Reader, to read it. But if you want to type in the answers and save it you apparently need the full version of Adobe, which you have to pay for.

    The free Adobe Reader (and some other PDF reader software) is able to save data in form fields in PDFs, you may need an up-to-date version though.
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    The free Adobe Reader (and some other PDF reader software) is able to save data in form fields in PDFs, you may need an up-to-date version though.

    This did not work for the HMRC websites one, at least for me.
  • Glen_Clark
    Glen_Clark Posts: 4,397 Forumite
    edited 27 December 2011 at 12:41PM
    rogerblack wrote: »
    This did not work for the HMRC websites one, at least for me.
    EDIT: With the latest version of Adobe Reader you can read the form and save the text you have typed in - free download http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
    “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” --Upton Sinclair
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