Income based ESA after 1 year?

Bob_Bee

Sorry to ask another question about ESA, I have gone through the boards & I cant see an answer to my question.
I was awarded income based ESA for 1 year & placed in the support group.
My condition / health will not improve & I cant see my circumstances changing so what happens to me after 1 year.
Do I go on income support or do I have to go through the whole process of claiming ESA again?

mynameistallulah

You will carry on as normal, there are no changes for those on IB ESA and/ or those in the Support Group after one year.

Anubis_2

Consider though you will be reassessed for ESA at various times to ensure you still fit the criteria.

Ellejmorgan

Income related has no time limit wether in the WRAG or SG..

Bob_Bee

Many Thanks to all your prompt replies & advice.
That has taken a weight off my mind!:T

Muttleythefrog

Yep.. income related not time limited. You'll continue to get ESA while you continue to pass reassessments. Timing of reassessments is usually determined by ATOS HC prognosis given in last ESA85 or ESA85A report... the former is the full face to face medical report and the latter is a simpler report giving advice to DWP where face to face medical wasn't conducted. You can get a copy by contacting DWP. Presumably the current prognosis is a year and hence the award notification of that nature.

Bob_Bee

I did not have to have the face to face medical.
When I got the award in February I did ask for a copy of the ESA 85A.
It didnt arrive, so I have just put my request in writing - it will be interesting to see what it says.

Muttleythefrog

Bob_Bee wrote: »

I did not have to have the face to face medical.
When I got the award in February I did ask for a copy of the ESA 85A.
It didnt arrive, so I have just put my request in writing - it will be interesting to see what it says.

Yeah they can be frustratingly inefficient regarding these things. I got mine very swiftly.. however an ESA113 (GP factual report requested by ATOS) that would have been supplied to DWP along with ESA85A took 4 or 5 calls and several threats of legal action to get a copy of. If you see reference to 113 on the ESA85A when you do get it then I'd advise requesting copy of that too... sometimes ATOS HC will request ESA113 completion by GP if face to face medical determined to not be necessary.

rogerblack

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

that would have been supplied to DWP along with ESA85A took 4 or 5 calls and several threats of legal action to get a copy of.

I've found data protection requests to be most useful for this.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/
You simply request a complete copy of your file.

This will contain all the other documents.
This has the benefit that it's a separate department that deals only with these requests, and has actual deadlines which they must respond by.

(Unfortunately, as this may take up to 40 days, it may not be very useful if you're waiting for an appeal deadline.)

I would recommend doing this at least yearly, as they destroy old documentation.

Bob_Bee

I have asked for copies of all the computer & clerical records they hold on me since my claim for ESA.
Many thanks for all the advice.:)

Bob_Bee

I finally had a reply back from DWP about computer & clerical records they hold on me since my claim for ESA.
They sent me a copy of my original ESA50 & a letter to say that they have mislaid all computer records held on me!!

I have had very little contact from DWP during the year.
When I applied my GP gave me a sick / fit note for 1 year but after 6 months my money stopped.
I phoned DWP & was told I needed to supply another sick / fit note as the 1st one was only valid for 6 months even though it was dated for 1 year. They said I should have been told this but I was not. I went to my GP & got another note for 6 months & my money was paid again.
I then moved to a new area, I wrote & informed them of my new address & then after a month my money stopped again!
I phoned them & was told they had lost my details, they knew I had moved & my paperwork had been transferred from Wolverhampton to the Wrexham DWP but they wanted bank statements to see if I had savings over £8000, which I did not have.
Now my worry is that the initial 12 months is almost up.
I was awarded ESA for 12 months & put into the support group.
My circumstances have not changed and my health has not improved, according to DWP A-Z of medical conditions “The disease is regarded as being progressive & in all cases - Indefinite award”
Will DWP get in touch or should I go to my GP for a new sick / fit note?