Income based ESA after 1 year?

Muttleythefrog

Bob_Bee wrote: »

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?

Dear me... what happened to data protection... they've mislaid your records? That's a disgrace.... but not surprise regarding DWP. It's yet another reminder to claimants to get a copy of any documents like medical reports as and when they get produced. Perhaps a complaint is necessary... copying in MP... explaining that at very least you demand a serious apology as sensitive information about you, your medical circumstances and claim circumstances now can't be accounted for by an organisation trusted to keep such safe.

But you situation now seems to be a simple one after much dramas. You're in the support group right... you were placed in it for 12 months and that time is almost up. You needn't do anything... you will likely be assessed again shortly... the first you will know of that is receipt of an ESA50 form from ATOS HC to complete and return. My strong advice is fill that in comprehensively and supply and supporting evidence you can. Sicknotes are not required when you are on the main phase of ESA.. i.e. in WRAG or Support group.... and you'll remain in Support group until DWP determine otherwise.

Oh and regarding the A-Z of med conditions... that relates to DLA rather than ESA awards. Typically claimants are reassessed between 3 and 36 months.... with most typically 6-12 months probably.

Bob_Bee

Many Thanks for your prompt reply.
I have had very little correspondence at all from DWP.
If they have a query instead of writing to me they just stop the payments.
I am worried that come the 21st of September my money will just stop.
I will ring to see why & they will turn around & say your claim has run out & you will have to start all over again!
Apart from sending me the ESA50 to complete I haven't had much else from them apart from the letter telling me I was in the support group for 12 months.
My other worry is my new GP…..
I did inform my old GP & the new surgery before I actually moved house.
When last at the GP's surgery they still hadn't got my medical notes from my old surgery & I moved here over 3 months ago!
They don’t seem to be very competent!
I don’t even know if new GP knows my medical history.
Every month they have even got my repeat prescriptions wrong.
They forget a couple of items or reduce my dose by half & they even changed one drug for a cheaper version without discussing it with me!
They seem to think I have nothing better to do than keep going back & forth to sort out & collect prescriptions!
I think there is a conspiracy against me.
Rant over!!

Muttleythefrog

Bob_Bee wrote: »

Many Thanks for your prompt reply.
I have had very little correspondence at all from DWP.
If they have a query instead of writing to me they just stop the payments.
I am worried that come the 21st of September my money will just stop.
I will ring to see why & they will turn around & say your claim has run out & you will have to start all over again!
Apart from sending me the ESA50 to complete I haven't had much else from them apart from the letter telling me I was in the support group for 12 months.
My other worry is my new GP…..
I did inform my old GP & the new surgery before I actually moved house.
When last at the GP's surgery they still hadn't got my medical notes from my old surgery & I moved here over 3 months ago!
They don’t seem to be very competent!
I don’t even know if new GP knows my medical history.
Every month they have even got my repeat prescriptions wrong.
They forget a couple of items or reduce my dose by half & they even changed one drug for a cheaper version without discussing it with me!
They seem to think I have nothing better to do than keep going back & forth to sort out & collect prescriptions!
I think there is a conspiracy against me.
Rant over!!

chuckle... it seems when one wheel falls off then everything goes haywire. Regarding DWP communications.. you've probably not done too badly..lol.. getting a letter of award isn't guaranteed when you pass your WCA. You'd probably get a lot more contact if you were in WRAG... where they could ask you to take part in Work related activity.. in Support group you're left until reassessment.

What I would advise though given your GP situation is taking a precuationary measure of perhaps creating a simple single page document giving your diagnoses, medications and problems relevant to benefit claims and asking the new GP or surgery to scan it onto your medical records for their use and reference if ever required.

HB58

Unlike DWP, ESA is an open-ended benefit which cannot be discontinued without a further assessment. The 1 year that you were told is only advisory, the DWP can actually reassess at any tme they like.

Records not getting to your new GP will be the fault of your old GP and/or the PCT(s) involved rather than of the new surgery (unless they have actually arrived and are sitting in a pile awaiting attention!).

Bob_Bee

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

chuckle... it seems when one wheel falls off then everything goes haywire. Regarding DWP communications.. you've probably not done too badly..lol.. getting a letter of award isn't guaranteed when you pass your WCA. You'd probably get a lot more contact if you were in WRAG... where they could ask you to take part in Work related activity.. in Support group you're left until reassessment.
I think I will sit tight then & not "Upset the apple cart" as they say!
I will just keep an eye on by bank account, easy to do as I have online banking!
What I would advise though given your GP situation is taking a precuationary measure of perhaps creating a simple single page document giving your diagnoses, medications and problems relevant to benefit claims and asking the new GP or surgery to scan it onto your medical records for their use and reference if ever required.

As for my GP, I will ring & ask if they have my records yet & go from there
Many Thanks for your help.

Bob_Bee

HB58 wrote: »

Unlike DWP, ESA is an open-ended benefit which cannot be discontinued without a further assessment. The 1 year that you were told is only advisory, the DWP can actually reassess at any tme they like.
Many Thanks for this info, I had not realised it was open ended, I will keep an eye on my bank account!
Records not getting to your new GP will be the fault of your old GP and/or the PCT(s) involved rather than of the new surgery (unless they have actually arrived and are sitting in a pile awaiting attention!).

I would think it is the latter as they cant even manage to print off all my drugs prescriptions, the receptionist actually admitted it! Another case of just keeping my eye on everything!
It will give me something else to worry about apart from my declinung health!
Many Thanks.