No ESA decision in 8weeks, invited to apply for PIP as well

eggyf7

Hi all, I was in the support group for ESA and middle rate care DLA low mobility due to Paranoid Schizophrenia and Anxiety/Depression. I received the ESA50 form and was told to have it back for April 12th - 8weeks on and there is still no decision(although at least im still receiving money.)
My major worry is now i have received the dreaded PIP invitation as well. They are in the process of sending out the forms but i have had a look into the questions asked and descriptors and i believe i should receive 13points with enhanced care/no mobility although reading the Forum i am under no illusion that it will be that easy and more than likely go to Tribunal.
Im really stressed out that my whole world may be turned upside down in a matter of months by going from getting by to getting no money at all and being forced back to work when i dont feel up to it.
What happens to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Ememption when these assessments are going on? Do you qualify for Housing Benefit through ESA or PIP?

[Deleted User]

You poor and thing, bad luck getting both at the same time. Try and not stress. Do you have a local CAB or support worker who can help with the PIP form?

My understanding is so long as you are getting income based ESA you will get housing benefit.
You will continue to get DLA whilst they assess your PIP application.

eggyf7

Thanks for the reply, I used my local CAB to help with the ESA50 form and will definitely be seeking their help with the PIP forms as well.
Im trying not to worry but the uncertainty of everything is weighing on my mind

poppy12345

eggyf7 wrote: »

Hi all, I was in the support group for ESA and middle rate care DLA low mobility due to Paranoid Schizophrenia and Anxiety/Depression. I received the ESA50 form and was told to have it back for April 12th - 8weeks on and there is still no decision(although at least im still receiving money.)
My major worry is now i have received the dreaded PIP invitation as well. They are in the process of sending out the forms but i have had a look into the questions asked and descriptors and i believe i should receive 13points with enhanced care/no mobility although reading the Forum i am under no illusion that it will be that easy and more than likely go to Tribunal.
Im really stressed out that my whole world may be turned upside down in a matter of months by going from getting by to getting no money at all and being forced back to work when i dont feel up to it.
What happens to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Ememption when these assessments are going on? Do you qualify for Housing Benefit through ESA or PIP?

Yes you'll still recieve HB and Council Tax benefit whist a decision is being made. However with the transfer to PIP providing they recieve your forms by the date on the top you'll continue to recieve DLA payments until a decision has been made on your PIP. If they don't recieve those forms by that date then your DLA will stop. Good luck

eggyf7

So i have just phoned the ESA line to ask for an update, according to them the fact that it has taken 8 weeks they might be calling me for an assessment and gave me the number of the assessment centre to enquire.
I have phoned the assessment centre who said they are waiting on evidence from my doctor as they had written to him and nothing was sent back to support me. I met with my doctor on 10th May and he told me he had submitted supporting evidence for my claim.
Would my doctors evidence have been sent back to the benefit centre or assessment centre?
Im going to phone the Joint Mental Health Team soon and have a word with my doctor

poppy12345

eggyf7 wrote: »

So i have just phoned the ESA line to ask for an update, according to them the fact that it has taken 8 weeks they might be calling me for an assessment and gave me the number of the assessment centre to enquire.
I have phoned the assessment centre who said they are waiting on evidence from my doctor as they had written to him and nothing was sent back to support me. I met with my doctor on 10th May and he told me he had submitted supporting evidence for my claim.
Would my doctors evidence have been sent back to the benefit centre or assessment centre?
Im going to phone the Joint Mental Health Team soon and have a word with my doctor

Unfortunately we can't answer that, the best thing you can do is to ring your Doctor to ask where the evidence was sent to.

eggyf7

Im so confused right now. I have received a letter dated 28th May from DWP saying "We have looked at your claim again following a recent change. From 9th April 2015 your ESA will be £186.90 a week"
Then it goes on to talk about if you dont agree with the decision you can Mandatory Reconsider etc. On the last page is a breakdown of how the payments are made up......is this referring to my current ESA or has my ESA been renewed and this is from the ESA50 where they said was missing doctors evidence?

eggyf7

UPDATE - After phoning the Benefit Centre again this letter is apparently just an end of financial year letter stating what i get and they still need the doctors evidence

eggyf7

UPDATE - After alot of toing and froing between the ESA line, Assessment Centre and my doctor it turns out his original supporting evidence that he told me he sent before May 10th has miraculously turned up in the hands of the assessment centre on 28th June! (although my Paranoid streak wonders if they are just saying this to close case!)
How long typically are decisions made after the docs evidence is received?

UKTigerlily

All I know is the got my questionnaire back on 15th March and my medical was booked for 1st July. They did request info from my GP, which took a while to come back (and the GP denies having done it, so nobody knows what they have) but they seem to take a while. I postponed the medical until 12th July and then my Dr's both sent in to the DWP asking for a home assessment

Right now, they have written to tell me they are so sorry to have to cancel the 12th on me (i'm not!) and they will write to me soon (I guess to let me know if I need a home, assessment centre or no medical)

They do seem to not know who they write too or where info is!
So for me, from them getting my form until now is almost 4 months and no medical as yet, but that would've been 4 days ago if the first one was taken x