ESA - Confused about report

lilyandlogan

Hi

My partner had his form back to review his ESA, which he is currently in the support group. He was issued the original appointment date on the 1st March however they hadn't heard back from the doctor yet but told us to keep phoning back to see if there was any change on the report! This went on until Monday of this week when they said they had received from the doc on 8th of April and that was them just getting to look at it but there was no evidence etc so the appointment for face to face was to go ahead on 3rd June (they rescheduled from the 12th May).

I contacted to gp surgery today to ask for a copy of the letter which was read over the phone by my own gp as it was written by a locum. The letter goes into great detail of how my partner has global learning difficulties which will be life long, he can't read or write very well and basically how he struggles with following tasks and struggles socially with communication etc

I contacted them assessment centre again and explained the whole situation and the girl basically said the only form they would have is one to see whether or not he would need a house visit, but she will ask for the file to be pulled up again to be looked at.

Has anyone ever had this before? I don't want to keep having to phone them as I feel like a nuisance but partner is getting very agitated and frustrated with the situation. I try to explain that it's probably par for the course but this is the first time we have went through this as his original claim for ESA SG was awarded without having medical and our citizens advice guy hasn't been much help and has said oh it's very unusual to ask for face to face which has only added to my partners anxiety!

Sorry for the long winded post yet again but I'm just looking for some advice as just now I feel like a crazy lady 🙈

nannytone_2

what the doctor says is pretty irrelevant unless it specifically applies to the ESA descriptors.

you need to look at the descriptors and see if the doctors report actually supports them

Bananas123

hello,

it sounds like they are just scheduling a face to face assessment, to see if the person corresponds to the evidence they have provided < they should have really told you this i think.

i don't want to be the bearer of bad news, and not psychic etc, but you really can't bank on being put right back in the support group, right away, maybe, maybe not, hopefully so, but please consider the alternate, just incase.

you will have to attend the face to face assessment (you can request this to be done at home (which is what she will be asking)).

then await the ruling of the assessor, then if you are not happy with the desicion, you get it re-assessed, then if still not happy, tribunal, where you see a independant (to the assessors) judge and a doctor.

it is par for the course though as you say, please try to relax, they are not having a go / acting suspicious about him etc > please be reassured here, it's just part of the process.

i wouldn't stress yourself out burning time and money ringing them, my esa has basically been, being summond places by letter, don't generally have to ring them, much, if atall.

sometimes, it takes time for documents to get through the dwp system, so if you send something off, you might get one back if you are running close to deadlines saying they haven't recieved something because they have an automated system, although it is obviously best to check with them if you are unsure, don't want to be unneccesarily sanctioned etc.

good luck and regards

lilyandlogan

Thank you for your replies.

The letter from what I gather over the phone call to go does match the descriptors on the form and also basically what I put down on the review form.

I am just going to try get all the paperwork in order for going to the face to face with my partner as I know everything I have put down on the form and it is accurate so maybe as stated they just want to see for themselves.

Just wish I could reassure my partner that no matter what happens we will be able to deal with any situations that may arise and that he is not being being judged as he gets a bit upset and anxious.

But again thank you for your replies it just puts my mind at ease that I'm not doing the wrong things with the forms etc

Bananas123

no don't worry, hopefully he will just be reinstated, and that will be it untill the process starts again, i think every 2/3 years you can expect it to happen, i just sent another one off 2 years after being put in wrag i think.

sometimes though, unfortunately, tthey wrongly give people 0's and it may take the tribunal to go back into the support group, again, this is nothing personal, but it's a very long process.... there is a high success rate of tribunals if you attend in person, and i would remain very very positive even if you get 0's etc, hopefully that may not happen, but again, i think it is best to consider it, and also understand again, it is just part of the process, the gourvernment (non-political statement) can't handle the workload i don't think and it's just the way things are at the moment.

relax, as best as possible, just use it as a learning experience if you can, try and remain objective, and don't get drawn in to panic

Alice_Holt

Sounds like your GP's report will be very helpful.

Some info here on attending ESa Medical assessmemts:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-medicals
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/esa-medical-assessment/

Before the assessment it would be useful to establish on what basis your partner has been placed in the support group
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forms/forms/formprocessorpro.php

It may help you answer their questions appropriately.