ESA assessment How long?

mike+caz

Hi
My hubby has been on assessment phrase esa [contribution] since last April.

I thought the assessment phrase only lasted 28 weeks.

How long is the assessment phrase supposed to be?

Thanks in advance

MrsManda

The assessment phase is only supposed to be ~13 weeks.
Has your husband filled out the medical questionnaire?

The assessment phase can last longer for a variety of reasons, often due to the DWP needing to wait for the claimant's doctors/specialists to complete the report sent to them.

If your husband's not filled out a questionnaire then he needs to contact the DWP and ask about one being sent. If he's filled it in I'd definitely be chasing up the DWP to be finding out what's happening as 9 months in the assessment phase is excessive.

If he's still got the letter which came with the assessment questionnaire it should have the ATOS number on it so it may be worth calling them before the DWP.

mike+caz

MrsManda wrote: »

The assessment phase is only supposed to be ~13 weeks.
Has your husband filled out the medical questionnaire?

The assessment phase can last longer for a variety of reasons, often due to the DWP needing to wait for the claimant's doctors/specialists to complete the report sent to them.

If your husband's not filled out a questionnaire then he needs to contact the DWP and ask about one being sent. If he's filled it in I'd definitely be chasing up the DWP to be finding out what's happening as 9 months in the assessment phase is excessive.

If he's still got the letter which came with the assessment questionnaire it should have the ATOS number on it so it may be worth calling them before the DWP.

Thanks MrsManda

I got the dates wrong. he's actually been on ESA since Feb 2011 so its been almost 12 months. They were very slow giving us any money to begin with we applied in Feb but didnt get the letter saying his claim was successful until July 2011.

Yes well filed out the questionnaire and sent it back March 2011.

We are relatively new to all this so am a little confused.

Will get him to contact DWP today to see whats going on.

Thanks again

steve3123

They completely screwed up with mine, however that was ATOS not DWP.
For two years i was on standard ESA payments. Id sent off the forms completed an ATOS medical etc... my money stayed the same. Last January i had a form requesting how much i was paid, and when i last had a medical from ATOS.. i promptly filled it in and sent it back and thought nothing of it... roughly four days later i had a letter from DWP informing me that just over £4000 had been transfered to my bank account and apologising for the delay.

I rang DWP and questioned it... yes it was true.. after week 13 your money increases, mine didnt cos of the screw ups. I suggest you ring them straight away!

mike+caz

steve3123 wrote: »

They completely screwed up with mine, however that was ATOS not DWP.
For two years i was on standard ESA payments. Id sent off the forms completed an ATOS medical etc... my money stayed the same. Last January i had a form requesting how much i was paid, and when i last had a medical from ATOS.. i promptly filled it in and sent it back and thought nothing of it... roughly four days later i had a letter from DWP informing me that just over £4000 had been transfered to my bank account and apologising for the delay.

I rang DWP and questioned it... yes it was true.. after week 13 your money increases, mine didnt cos of the screw ups. I suggest you ring them straight away!

They really don't know what they are doing do they.

Well after contacting DWP on Monday we received an ATOS letter on Tuesday saying that his medical was next Monday [less than a wks notice] he had to phone them up and immediately rearrange as i'm in hospital next Monday and he has to look after our disabled son it is now on 7th Feb.

Anyone know what to expect? Can I go in with him as if he needs to undress I have to help him?

Thanks

MrsManda

mike+caz wrote: »

Anyone know what to expect? Can I go in with him as if he needs to undress I have to help him?

Thanks

You can go with him if he wants you to. He won't be asked to undress - it's not a medical in the same sense as you'd get if you went to your GP.

I can only tell you what happened with mine but basically my husband came with me, we sat in a room with the ATOS doctor who went down the list of questions on his computer screen. He listened to everything we had to say to each question, was patient and helpful at drawing out information from us. We'd taken some notes because I was very forgetful and the doctor allowed my husband to answer a lot of the questions when I was unsure how to explain.

The only physical examination was the doctor asking me to walk a few steps then close my eyes with my hands out to check my balance and he got me to squeeze his hands to check my grip. He may have checked my reflexes as well but I'm not sure.

My assessment was done by a medical doctor due to the reasons I was applying. I believe that a range of medical professionals are used depending on what aspects are important in determining a claim. As a result the actual content of the assessment may be slightly different depending on what the issues are - for example I wasn't applying due to problems with hearing, sight or muscle/joint problems so these things weren't tested.

mike+caz

MrsManda wrote: »

You can go with him if he wants you to. He won't be asked to undress - it's not a medical in the same sense as you'd get if you went to your GP.

I can only tell you what happened with mine but basically my husband came with me, we sat in a room with the ATOS doctor who went down the list of questions on his computer screen. He listened to everything we had to say to each question, was patient and helpful at drawing out information from us. We'd taken some notes because I was very forgetful and the doctor allowed my husband to answer a lot of the questions when I was unsure how to explain.

The only physical examination was the doctor asking me to walk a few steps then close my eyes with my hands out to check my balance and he got me to squeeze his hands to check my grip. He may have checked my reflexes as well but I'm not sure.

My assessment was done by a medical doctor due to the reasons I was applying. I believe that a range of medical professionals are used depending on what aspects are important in determining a claim. As a result the actual content of the assessment may be slightly different depending on what the issues are - for example I wasn't applying due to problems with hearing, sight or muscle/joint problems so these things weren't tested.

Thanks again MrsManda

We at least know a little of what to expect.

He has a back injury from an RTA 20yrs ago which has gradually been getting worse,[he was told at the time that by the time he was 50 or so that he would have difficulty walking] basically the specialist has said [after he had MRI] that his facet joints in lower back have worn away completely and there is nothing they can do for him. He had accupuncture just before christmas [for pain management] and it did nothing at all to help all it did was make him worse and his back was going out twice as often. Also his knees now have arthritis because of the way he has walked due to his back.

Will wait and see what happens. He's already prepared himself for a fight. You never know he may be lucky and have a sympathic doctor :rotfl:

mike+caz

Hi all

Hubby had his medical on 7th Feb 12 but we still havent heard what the outcome is.

How long do you have to wait for results?

Thanks in advance

rogerblack

mike+caz wrote: »

Hi all

Hubby had his medical on 7th Feb 12 but we still havent heard what the outcome is.

How long do you have to wait for results?

Thanks in advance

Phone them up, and ask.

Even if the decision has not yet been made, I would recommend asking for a copy of the medical report to be sent to you in the phone call.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/ - how to request a copy of your file, if they don't agree promptly.

As others have mentioned, part of the delay will be due to the DWP - other things may be due to delays by your GP or consultant if they have requested information.
Have you got any information you could send them that you have not done?
If so, when you phone up say you're doing this, and ask for the decision to be held off till it's sent.

In addition.
If you've undergone financial problems or extra costs due to this, or other problems.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/ContactJobcentrePlus/DG_186391 - this is the formal complaints procedure, and you can claim compensation for this.

If you don't complain, and possibly request compensation, you're clearly quite happy with the service you've recieved. (from an administrators point of view).

mike+caz

rogerblack wrote: »

Phone them up, and ask.

Even if the decision has not yet been made, I would recommend asking for a copy of the medical report to be sent to you in the phone call.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/ - how to request a copy of your file, if they don't agree promptly.

As others have mentioned, part of the delay will be due to the DWP - other things may be due to delays by your GP or consultant if they have requested information.
Have you got any information you could send them that you have not done?
If so, when you phone up say you're doing this, and ask for the decision to be held off till it's sent.

In addition.
If you've undergone financial problems or extra costs due to this, or other problems.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/ContactJobcentrePlus/DG_186391 - this is the formal complaints procedure, and you can claim compensation for this.

If you don't complain, and possibly request compensation, you're clearly quite happy with the service you've recieved. (from an administrators point of view).

Thank you rogerblack

Hubby going to ring them tomorrow after post has been and he seen GP [he'll ask her if they have contacted her]

Will be making a complaint its been over a year now on assessment phase. Thought it was only supposed to last 28 weeks in total if we have to appeal [and I expect we will] it could take a couple of years at this rate.

mike+caz

Hi

Well after phone call we have now had a decision.
They have put him the WRAG.

We will be appealing this as we feel no one will employ him with his condition. He can sneeze and he puts his back out then taht means 1-2 weeks in bed unable to move and then 6-8 weeks on crutches just about being able to walk around the house. He cant even sit down properly because he is in constant pain. He was made redundant from his last job because of his sick record.

Besides he couldnt even get to a job if I didnt take him because he wont take the car in case his back goes out them he is stuck where he is and I am stuck coz I cant get to him.

Have phoned for appeal and medical record