ESA50 - When Is It Posted To Me?

Xign

I've been on the ESA assessment rate since January 23'rd. When roughly, is the ESA50 sent to me?

I have obtained medical evidence, and have support letters from my GP and Consultant confirming my limited capability for work.

I'm all ready for the battle that lays ahead. So just wondering when I can expect the ESA50 to land on my doormat.

Horseunderwater

Can be anytime from 6 weeks onwards - when I got mine last year I had been on assessment rate for well over 13 weeks and I sent mine back within a couple of days of getting it. Then I did not get my medical until July 24th - but it had been cancelled by them twice before that.

Xign

Fair enough. Well I guess I just gotta wait.

nannytone_2

i received mine at the same time i received the ESA claim form.

mazza111

week 10 for the dd

nannytone_2

seems like you get it when they can be bothered to send it!

epitome

You can get it from week 1.
Then they send you a reminder letter to send it back, usually only arriving with only 1 - 4 days left till deadline (very helpful)
Then you get sent a letter saying your claim is closed, and you can respond by giving your reasons why it was not returned.

Non return of the ESA50 by the deadline WILL result in claim closure...that's a fact for 95% of claimants.

However, saying you did not receive it is generally accepted as good cause and the claim gets re-opened.

However, if you did not contact ESA after the reminder letter
and worse still do not phone after the Failure to return ESA50 letter, but instead you only phone after you notice your benefit has stopped. Then they look very dimly on your claim not to have received 3 out of 3 letters (and yes, it DOES happen), and they may not re-open the claim. Leaving you with no ESA for up to 6 months.


My advice,
Do not be complacent about the missing ESA50. Take action now.

• Phone ATOS 0800 2888777 option 3 to ask when it was sent & what the deadline is.
• Go to the Jobcentre to get an ESA50, complete it now so you have one ready to return.
• photocopy it
• When you know from ATOS that they are expecting one, post it recorded delivery (£1) either in the ATOS envelope or if you don't have this, to your ESA BDC.
• Phone ATOS to confirm receipt.
• Don't take any casual advice over the phone "oh don't worry about it, it will arrive eventually, don't worry about returning it late just fill in pg17" they are not the ones who will lose benefit for 6 months. YOU WILL, so take responsibility and make sure you know exactly what is happening.

If you don't do this, you risk losing all ESA payments for 6 months and will have to (try to) claim JSA.

Xign

epitome wrote: »

You can get it from week 1.
Then they send you a reminder letter to send it back, usually only arriving with only 1 - 4 days left till deadline (very helpful)
Then you get sent a letter saying your claim is closed, and you can respond by giving your reasons why it was not returned.

Non return of the ESA50 by the deadline WILL result in claim closure...that's a fact for 95% of claimants.

However, saying you did not receive it is generally accepted as good cause and the claim gets re-opened.

However, if you did not contact ESA after the reminder letter
and worse still do not phone after the Failure to return ESA50 letter, but instead you only phone after you notice your benefit has stopped. Then they look very dimly on your claim not to have received 3 out of 3 letters (and yes, it DOES happen), and they may not re-open the claim. Leaving you with no ESA for up to 6 months.


My advice,
Do not be complacent about the missing ESA50. Take action now.

• Phone ATOS 0800 2888777 option 3 to ask when it was sent & what the deadline is.
• Go to the Jobcentre to get an ESA50, complete it now so you have one ready to return.
• photocopy it
• When you know from ATOS that they are expecting one, post it recorded delivery (£1) either in the ATOS envelope or if you don't have this, to your ESA BDC.
• Phone ATOS to confirm receipt.

If you don't do this, you risk losing all ESA payments for 6 months and will have to (try to) claim JSA.

Cheers for the advice!

If I don't hear anything on Mondays post I will follow the above guidelines.

Xign

Just rung ATOS. They have no information on my NI so I just have to wait for the benefit office to send my details over. She said Basildon have a backlog. Oh well more time to prepare I guess.

epitome

That's ok then, but I would get an ESA50 from jobcentre and do it in advance, then send it to ATOS when theirs arrives in your post.
And I would phone ATOS every 3 weeks for an update and to confirm receipt.

Xign

epitome wrote: »

That's ok then, but I would get an ESA50 from jobcentre and do it in advance, then send it to ATOS when theirs arrives in your post.
And I would phone ATOS every 3 weeks for an update and to confirm receipt.

Yea I'm going to pop up the job centre to get the ESA50 on Monday. Seems silly to not have a draft copy.