Esa questions???

Lucylocket01

I have been on Incapacity Benefit and therefore I am being transferred over to esa.
I had a medical back in December. I received a letter telling me I had been placed in the Wrag of esa.
Today I had a personal interview. The lady said I can clearly see that you are not ready for work. So I will try to make this easier for you and I won't ask you to attend again for another 3 months.
She also told me that following the medical in December that they had said that they wouldn't need to see me again for another 3 years.
What my questions are, as this is where my confusion lies. Am I correct in thinkin that esa wrag stops after 12 months ?
But the goverment may be changing this so that esaa stops after only 6 months?
If thats right then the medical means nothing. How long currently can people stay on esa?
Thanks

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

If people here are fantastic on the Benefits Forums fantastic, brilliant excellent but I am not holding out much hope. Best to lurk and minimally post from a position of strength including social strength here.
Know when to post and hold back. I am now learning to suss out the Thread Titles that give the game away when it comes down to facing up and defeating our Judges Jury and Executioners.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
NOTICE TO ALL CLAIMANTS ON MSE JOIN THIS SITE AND TAKE AUNTIE WOULDBE'S ADVICE.

HB58

Hi Luckylocket, it really is a minefield trying to work this all out isn't it?

There are 2 types of ESA 1) contributory ESA is paid to people who have paid enough NI contributions in the past 2 years 2) income related ESA can be paid to people who do not have enough NI contributions to qualify, if their household income is low enough. Some people get CESA with an income related 'top up' too.

The government plan to limit CESA to 365 days in the WRAG, but people on IRESA will be able to continue and some people on CESA will also have low enough household income (£150 per week) to qualify.

Under these rules, the people who will suffer most are those who have worked in the past and have a working partner...

recoverydust

As you have been on incapacity benefit it is almost inevitable that you are on Income related ESA. This is not time limited and only runs out when you either get a job, or your medical assessment results in you getting too few points to get ESA - in which case you get JSA
You have been told you are not required to attend for interview for 3 years - get this in writing along with the reasons given. Get a copy of your report. Congratulations - what a relief for you!
You should, logically, be put into the support group, which is for people who are not fit enough to engage in wok related activity (like me) in which case your money goes up and you may be entitled to a disability premium.
If you do not get DLA you may want to apply on the grounds that if you are that disabled that you dont need an ESA medical for three years you may have mobility or care needs
sorry this is long

andrea_louise

recoverydust wrote: »

As you have been on incapacity benefit it is almost inevitable that you are on Income related ESA.

I believe this is incorrect, Unless the OP had been on IB for years, back when it wasn't taxable.

Lucylocket01

Thanks for the replies.
From what I now understand, regardless of the medical people at my atos medical saying they don't want to see me for another 3 years I have been placed in the work group.
This means after a year I will have no income at all for myself.

I was on Incapacity Benefit prior to esa. I have worked all my life before being ill. I am on contribution paid esa.
I do not get any other benefits.
My husband works full time and therefore I wouldn't be entitled to a penny.

Thanks again for all the replies.

andrea_louise

If you have care and/or mobility needs have you applied for DLA?

Lucylocket01

andrea_louise wrote: »

If you have care and/or mobility needs have you applied for DLA?

No I don't have mobility needs.

welshgal_2

I am going through the process of a medical at the moment. Requested a home visit due to my illness and being housebound. They refused a home visit even though my own gp did a letter requesting one.
They have asked me to attend a building I cannot access due to mobility issues and even after I wrote a strong letter to them outlining all the facts why I could not attend, they then threatened that they would stop my benefit if I didn't show up.
Hubby rang DWP who were horrified that ATOS has told us that. I didn't attend the medical so had the form to tell them why not, filled in and sent back. Got my local AM (welsh assembly member) involved to try and get a home visit and he wrote a strong letter to them on 9th Jan, after a lot of chasing from his office, he received a reply from ATOS on 7th Feb.
Very apologetic for the way I had been treated and thanking him for bringing this to their attention and, of course I could have a home visit.
The following day had a phone call to say home visit booked for Monday lunchtime.

I am dreading the medical but at least it is at home now. Still think I will be made fit for work as everyone seems to be now but will be appealing definately.

Good luck to all those going through this. If you feel strongly that you cannot attend the medical for any reason, don't back down, keep fighting (I was advised to do this by my gp, disability powys and my local assembly member). They are bullies and will try everything to get you to attend.

Lucylocket01

To be honest. I missed my medical in November, as I was really poorly. They made me another for December which I attended. I was very nervous with all the stories that you hear. They were actually really nice.
The lady who conducted the medical was lovey.
Yesterday I had my first interview in the wrag. Again the lady was really nice. Told me that she could see I wasn't fit to look for work and she would leave it as long as possible before asking me to attend again.
I hope that I can be of some reasurrance to people going through this, that it's not all bad. The atos and jobcentre staff I have met have been very nice.