what is this letter?

nannytone_2

I have been on ESA for a year now, and a few weeks ago i received an ESA50
i filled it in and returned it and last week i phoned ATOS to make sure that they had received it.
the person i spoke to said they had the ESA50 and it was with a decision maker and i would hear within the next 2 weeks.
this confused me a little as i was unclear whether she meant ATOS were deciding id i needed a medical or that it had already been passed back to DWP for a decision without a medical.

today i got a letter from DWP.
it says ...

we have reassessed your claim for ESA due to a change in circumstances. from 14 april 2012 tou will receive £xxx .....

it makes no mention of the ESA50 or ATOS.

does this letter mean that they have rebewed ,y claim without a medical or is it something else?

i have reported no change of circumstances, so i'm really not sure what the letter is actually about.

thanks in advance.

Muttleythefrog

Oh right.... this could well by their response to the reassessment result. I received the 'we are changing the amount we are paying you' type letter at my reassessment.. when I queried when I'd get the result letter they stated they'd sent it on date x.. when I looked at the letter it corresponded.... it actually appeared to be a letter highlighting changes to standard rates in April to me (rather than confirmation I was remaining in Support Gp) but sadly this is the standard of letter coming from the ESA case management system. I therefore think it highly likely they have taken a decision at DWP and this is their dodgy way of communicating it... on the back page presumably is break down of what they're paying you and therefore whether Support or WRAG component is included. Otherwise the letter may be an erroneous one... they're commonplace... commonplace enough for staff to report sometimes deliberately turning off the letter generation features of the software.

I'd advise contacting DWP and asking if decision has been made and if this letter is effectively telling you the result. I'd also request a copy of the ESA85A (ATOS HC advice to DWP regarding WCA) and if an ESA113 (GP factual report) exists (the agent on the phone probably will not know if such exists so request it anyway perhaps - ATOS HC will sometimes get this form completed by GP if they feel a face to face medical could be unnecessary) while you are on the phone if the DWP have received such from ATOS HC (and if they've taken decision they certainly should have).

nannytone_2

thats exactly what this letter appears to be .... the one you get every year telling you what the benefit changes are. there is a page that breaks all the figures dowen,,,, just the normal yearly update.... but at the wrong time of year.

its odd that these confusing letters alwats seem to frop through the door on a daturday, when you cant query anything!

Muttleythefrog

nannytone wrote: »

thats exactly what this letter appears to be .... the one you get every year telling you what the benefit changes are. there is a page that breaks all the figures dowen,,,, just the normal yearly update.... but at the wrong time of year.

its odd that these confusing letters alwats seem to frop through the door on a daturday, when you cant query anything!

You'd think in the modern era with thousands of staff and millions of pounds an organisation could create a letter that says "We have recently reassessed your entitlement to ESA and we have decided to put you in the x group. This decision applies from date y."... and reliably send it out appropriately. It doesn't seem a lot to ask... but it sounds like beaurocracy rules.

nannytone_2

rgat'd be wasy too simple! lol

missapril75

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

You'd think in the modern era with thousands of staff and millions of pounds an organisation could create a letter that says "We have recently reassessed your entitlement to ESA and we have decided to put you in the x group. This decision applies from date y."... and reliably send it out appropriately.

Probably members of staff suggested it, being aware, as they would be, of confusion caused. But the powers that be are notorious for ignoring sound advice from their "inferiors."

nannytone_2

both my kids are line managers for DWP and things get changed almosr weekly, despite staff telling then that the 'initiatives' wont work in practice.
it makes their lives difficult for a few months and then things get changed back because they 'dont work'.
a waste of time and money .... and severly stressed staff.

Cpt.Scarlet

Knowing government IT systems it would probably take 6 months and £50,000 to create a new letter

nannytone_2

just an update ....

rang DWP this morning, and the letter IS about my ESA renewel (even though there was no mention of it at all).
Ive been renewed without the need for a medical for another 2 years. and am going to be sent the report that the decision was based on.

tthanks to everyone that replied.

missapril75

nannytone wrote: »

Ive been renewed

And all without bathing in milk or walking into flames.

Or drinking the blood of virgins.

:rotfl:

nannytone_2

missapril75 wrote: »

And all without bathing in milk or walking into flames.

Or drinking the blood of virgins.

:rotfl:

hahahahaha

my condition can be accurately measure, and it is impossible for it to EVER improve, so they really cant dispute it, but i am quite suprised that i didnt have to have a medical.