ESA back payments for assessment decision period?

Anuur93

Hi can anyone help?

I have been recieving the standard ESA payment of £57 per week for 3 months now by sending in GP sick notes. I have now been placed in the support group and I start recieving £125 per week from this week onwards. Somebody that I know got back paid over £1000 after their assessment period was completed but I have heard that you only get back pay if you have been waiting OVER 3 months for a decision to be made on whether you are eligible for the work related group or support group.

Just wandering whether I am likely to receive any form of backpay

Confusing but hope I have explained well enough

Poppie68

That's correct, everyone receives the assessment rate for the first 13 weeks then only those that have not been assessed within that time will be due back pay...

Dan27

I myself have recently put in a claim for esa and have sent back the esa50. I do hope I hear off them soon for a assessment or assess me on what's put down very soon as going forward it will be very hard to get by on no money coming in to wait like upto three months for back pay. My mom has been receiving esa for a year now and isnt aware of any group she is placed in although she has been to the job centre a few times which would suggest shes in the wrag group. I do hope I dont have any waiting tome after the 13 week assessment period.

Anuur93

They seem quite quick at the moment and I didn't need an assessment either I just got a letter through. I guess it depends on the circumstances.. I hope I get back pay for the 3 month waiting period though because I've been living off next to nothing for too long and it doesn't stretch far anybody know about backpay ?

Anuur93

Question solved! Thanks Poppie68

Poppie68

Dan27 wrote: »

I myself have recently put in a claim for esa and have sent back the esa50. I do hope I hear off them soon for a assessment or assess me on what's put down very soon as going forward it will be very hard to get by on no money coming in to wait like upto three months for back pay. My mom has been receiving esa for a year now and isnt aware of any group she is placed in although she has been to the job centre a few times which would suggest shes in the wrag group. I do hope I dont have any waiting tome after the 13 week assessment period.

You won't have to wait 3 months for back pay..if eligible for ESA you will receive the assessment rate until you have been assessed and placed in a group unless you fail the assessment and then you will not receive anything. Back pay is only due for those that have exceeded the 13 weeks and have had to wait sometimes months to be assessed... The OP has done very well by being put into the SG at the 13 week stage.

If your mother is required to attend the job centre it suggests she has been placed already ...did she attend a medical assessment?

rogerblack

Poppie68 wrote: »

You won't have to wait 3 months for back pay..if eligible for ESA you will receive the assessment rate until you have been assessed and placed in a group unless you fail the assessment and then you will not receive anything. Back pay is only due for those that have exceeded the 13 weeks and have had to wait sometimes months to be assessed...

Or for those who request backdating of the initial date of claim - in which case it's paid up front.

[Deleted User]

How long before assessment at the moment?

Dan27

Poppie68 wrote: »

You won't have to wait 3 months for back pay..if eligible for ESA you will receive the assessment rate until you have been assessed and placed in a group unless you fail the assessment and then you will not receive anything. Back pay is only due for those that have exceeded the 13 weeks and have had to wait sometimes months to be assessed... The OP has done very well by being put into the SG at the 13 week stage.

If your mother is required to attend the job centre it suggests she has been placed already ...did she attend a medical assessment?

I know of the above and have received a award letter as standard for this period. Received ES50 which have filled out and sent back. Like writing a book that form. Took me nearly a hour to fill out. I am just worried I won't hear off atos within next 11 weeks for either a assessment or a letter to say they accept my reasoning for being unfit for work at the moment. As regards to my mother, as far as I am aware she has only attended the job centre a few times since claiming esa in the last year. Am not aware of any placement in support group or WRAG. She certainly has not had a medical assessment or even filled out a esa50 as I am aware. She was surprised I had one to fill out. But would think the DWP would need to know more about your condition/health than a simple doctor's note just been sent in every so often. Does not seem to be the case in my mothers claim however. I can vaguely remember my mother receiving a phone call to confirm her state of health about two months after initial claim. Perhaps that was atos doing some kind of telephone interview. Had nothing in writing can confirm that. Still receiving money a year on now.

Poppie68

Dan27 wrote: »

I know of the above and have received a award letter as standard for this period. Received ES50 which have filled out and sent back. Like writing a book that form. Took me nearly a hour to fill out. I am just worried I won't hear off atos within next 11 weeks for either a assessment or a letter to say they accept my reasoning for being unfit for work at the moment. As regards to my mother, as far as I am aware she has only attended the job centre a few times since claiming esa in the last year. Am not aware of any placement in support group or WRAG. She certainly has not had a medical assessment or even filled out a esa50 as I am aware. She was surprised I had one to fill out. But would think the DWP would need to know more about your condition/health than a simple doctor's note just been sent in every so often. Does not seem to be the case in my mothers claim however. I can vaguely remember my mother receiving a phone call to confirm her state of health about two months after initial claim. Perhaps that was atos doing some kind of telephone interview. Had nothing in writing can confirm that. Still receiving money a year on now.

Your mother may of been placed in WRAG without the need of a medical....How much does she recieve.?
Some claimants are placed without the need of a medical, I was placed in the SG at 13 weeks without a medical but I fit more than one descriptor and have extensive medical evidence.
Be prepared for a potential lengthy wait for an assessment and if you get called or placed sooner all the better.

HB58

Claimants can be, and are, obliged to undertake WFIs while still in the assessment phase. It is only those in the Support Group ( or receiving NI credits only) who do not have to attend. However, unless your mother is on income-related ESA, the fact that she is still being paid after 1 year suggests that she has been allocated to the Support Group.