ESA: Getting backdated money after successful mandatory reconsideration

RupertVabear

Hello, I'm looking for a bit of advice; I was on ESA, and had an ATOS assessment a few months ago, and as you already know just from reading those words, it failed. My money stopped instantly, so I called ESA and asked what I'm supposed to do exactly, and they advised me to do a 'mandatory reconsideration', and in the meantime claim JSA which seemed a bit fishy to me, since signing a contract stating that you're fit for work doesn't exactly tally with the fact that you were/want to go on ESA. Anyway, long story short, after phoning them a bunch of times asking why I'm not hearing anything, I had a phone call from a lady who basically gave me the chance to argue my case against the ATOS decision and rant a bit about how rudimentary it was and how they literally lied about what I'd said in the letter explaining their decision, and explain my condition(s) in a lot more depth than the 20 minute ATOS assessment. She phoned back a few hours later saying that there's absolutely no doubt in her mind that I should be on ESA and reinstated me immediately, and that I should now sign off and leave the rest to them. She also said that the ESA I lost out on while I was signing on JSA (ESA was a fair bit more than JSA) will be backdated and "the difference" paid to me. Fair enough, because I was wrongly deprived that money. It's now about 3 weeks since I signed off and while I'm told my first ESA payment has been issued, there's still no word on the backdated "difference" that I lost out of whilst being on JSA. Every conversation I have with them on the phone about it makes me even more suspicious that they're going to try to wriggle out of paying it. The last time I spoke to them, the woman um'ed and ah'ed and said she can't get into my file because it's being 'rebuilt', and that while the regular fortnightly payments are automated, the backdated payments are done by a person. Then the phone went dead. So I phoned back and got another woman who gave me even less information than the first, claiming she couldn't get into my file again, and said not to worry because backdated payments are automated. (?!?) So I'm going to give it a couple more weeks tops, but I thought I'd get in early and ask for advice about who to appeal to here, who to complain to, what to say, etc.

pmlindyloo

Have you provided fit notes to cover the reconsideration period?

You must do this to be paid the difference between the JSA and your ESA.

RupertVabear

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you provided fit notes to cover the reconsideration period?

You must do this to be paid the difference between the JSA and your ESA.

Hi, I haven't been asked yet, or even heard mention of that, but that would be no problem if I'm asked.

help4help2013

phone them on Monday and chase this up backdated payments can tale up to 6 weeks although i know people who have waited 3 months before they got there

keep chasing it up each week you will be surprised how fast they move

bumblebee7175

Hi,

This is my first post on here, im currently on ESA and Habe been through a lot with ESA Hope this helps, regarding ESA and backdated money.

I first ever applied for ESA on the 25th of November 2013, I stayed on the assessment rate money 57.53 for 1 year and half, I never got My assessment within the 13 week period. I was Calling up everyday asking about my assessment and when I will have it and all they kept talking me is that they had a 7 months backlog. I as ggetting very frustrated with the job centre.
Eventually I rang them on the 29/05/2015 3 times regarding My assessment and finally got A date on my medical it was on the Sunday 31/05/2015. I went to my medical as I have personality disorder and bipolar. the medical went well.
I received a letter on the 6/06/2015 stating I passed my medical and I have been into support group. I received another letter on the same day saying I will get a backdated payment from 24/02/2014 till 31/05/2015 amount of £4358.76 but it was not credited to me as they have to check for overpayment. On The 16/06/2015 I received a call saying My backdated money has been issued and will be in my accout tomorrow 19/06/2015 yayyyyyy happy days