WCA - no news as of yet

MUMZ2BEE

I sent back the Work Capability Assessment form I filled in recently.

ATOS got it back on the 24th September.

I am currently on long term IB.

Does anyone know how long it would take for me to hear back from them?

I guess I should send them an email to ask for an update; I will do this end of the week as I am fretting, but I suppose no news is good news :cool:

Muttleythefrog

Send an email at the end of the week. There's a good chance that by then they'll have reviewed what you sent. You might never otherwise hear back from them. Atos's reponsiblity is to the DWP to provide advice... they'll only contact you to complete the ESA50 and in relation to any face to face medical. Hence with anxiety in mind and understanding what the processes are I feel your best bet is to regularly contact ATOS by email (every week) until they either invite you for medical or tell you they've closed the file (indicating they've supplied their advice to DWP). If they tell you they've closed their file then ask the DWP for the ESA85A ATOS report. If they invite you for medical then after medical ask the DWP for a copy of the ESA85 ATOS medical report.

No news probably is good news... no news means you've not been invited for a medical yet and may not be. And if you don't get invited for medical then the DWP will not find you fit for work.

MUMZ2BEE

Thanks Muttley.

Does, this mean that if I don't hear from them, and there is no medical, will I just be transferred onto ESA!!??

I'm just confused by the whole thing!!

Muttleythefrog

That question has already been answered effectively. If you get no face to face medical then the DWP cannot fail you on the WCA (work cap. assessment) which determines entitlement to ESA (either you fail and are therefore fit for work or are found to qualify for WRAG or Support group of ESA) unless you fail to comply with requests regarding a medical. It really is all very simple... refer below.

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

What essentially happens is DWP contact ATOS for advice. ATOS send you ESA50 to return to them.. you return that and with supporting evidence if you have it. An HCP at ATOS reviews the ESA50 and any other evidence available and determines one of three things:
1. THere's sufficient information to provide advice to DWP regarding you and the WCA. They send an ESA85A report to DWP and close your file.
2. With confirmation of facts from GP then medical could be avoided. They send form to GP to complete and return. If sufficient information then refer 1.. otherwise refer 3.
3. Insufficient information so medical arranged, medical conducted, ESA85 ATOS medical report sent to DWP.

DWP sit on what is supplied to them for a couple months, spill a bit coffee on some paperwork here and a bit tea there... crunch in some biscuit crumbs and then agree with the ATOS advice and tell you the decision if they can manage to...lol. And as above.. they can't fail you for the WCA without a medical... unless you fail to comply with the requests to attend medical.

MUMZ2BEE

Thanks Muttley.

Here's hoping for no medical, then!!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

MODS: could it be possible to merge this thread with with mumzee's other thread to make it a complete thread that has everything in it from start to finish rather than gaps so that others seeking the same help can gather the info in one thread as supposed to parts of things.

not having a dig at you mumz. its just that others searching about the site for the same info wont get all the facts and results as you post them if you make new threads.

you can go to your own threads by clicking you name then statistics then threads made by you. there you will see these threads and can then post updates to your fisrt thread.

people subscribe to threads and get notifacations when theres a new post, it aids us in keeping uptodate with your progress as you with others, and also you get to keep the advice in one place.

PippaGirl_2

Everytime I complete an ESA50 it is about 3 months later that I am called to a face to face assessment. That's been the case 4/5 times now so seems to be the pattern for me anyway.

MUMZ2BEE

I will be sending them an email tomorrow asking them for an update as it cant hurt ...