ESA medical, near retirement

JJ7

Hi,
I've been in the support group of ESA. I filled in a recent work capability form and have been called in for a medical. Do they call in everybody now?

I honestly don't know how I will manage due to compex medical problems and my family want me to request a home visit but I'm thinking this will hold things up even longer.

I reach retirement age in November so by the time they assess me and reach a decision I'll probably be at or very near retirement.

Why, would they need to see me at my age? Is this usual? I'm not complaining, just curious as it seems like a waste of resources to me.

Londonsu

Are you male or female I ask this because at the moment its still age 65 for men but for women its more complicated for instance my sister and her friend were born in the same year my sister got her pension this year because she was born in March her friend wont get hers until next year because she was born in July, so if you are female its possible that the DWP would not be aware that you reach pension age this year but should if you are male (hope this makes sense) I suppose there is some justification that whilst you are of working age you have to abide by working age rules, I do know someone who was told she had to go on a mandatory course or lose her JSA the week before she actually reached her state pension age, when she explained this to her advisor the advisor hadn't a flipping clue about pension ages for women thought it was 65 like men but still told her she had to go

JJ7

Thank you for your reply. I'm female so maybe they don't realise I'm reaching retirement age (and maybe they won't care). As I said, I'm not complaining if this is the norm, it just seems odd to me.

How strange that they should send someone on a course the week before reaching pension age.

Murphybear

Hi

I was in the same boat. From the point of view of ESA assessment being near retirement age doesn't make any difference.

I was put into the WRAG and had to go for some of the meetings but because of my age they weren't bothered about getting me ready to look for work in future so we had long chats over mince pies and on one occasion a Tarot session with other people on WRAG:D

I was called up for a second WCA when I was 6 months from retirement. I told them I was too ill to attend. Someone from DWP called me and after a brief chat they decided I didn't need to attend any more WCAs and I could stay on ESA until I retired.

After my 2 years with the work group I was called for a final chat at the Job Centre. This was 8 days before I retired. I spoke to them and asked if this were necessary and they said yes otherwise I would lose my final ESA payment. So I attended for a few minutes and all that happened was they wished me well in my retirement. It made for a seamless transition from ESA to SRP without me having to do anything

Hope this helps

TELLIT01

A suggestion was made a long time ago that there shouldn't be any reassessment of people within 6 months of retirement but it was, I believe, rejected.
When you say you have been called in for a medical, do you mean you have received an ESA50 to complete or that you have been given a date for the assessment? If it's just the ESA50 it's very likely that you are right that you will have retired before you are called.
As Murphybear has done, you could phone ESA and ask if there is any point in the reassessment. They may well decide not to proceed with it anyway.

Bananas123

i think they call in everybody > if any doubt about grouping / not exempt with terminal illness etc.

i got sent to college, 60+ y/o's on the course etc too, enrolled by JC etc.

...learning new trades for retirement (?)

---

pretty harsh to be sent to seminars / cv work / whatever (would deem these things redundant for someone close to retirement > think the advisors at the job centre should also really....

more so would hope / expect to offer volunteering / interest / more suitable or something can help other people with.

...can't pick your job centre advisor though

JJ7

Thank you so much for all your replies. I filled in the ESA50 a couple of months ago and this is the first time I've been called for a medical assessment - having read your replies it seems I'm not on my own! Could I just ask how long after assessment does it take to get decision?


Thank you again.

KxMx

Workloads and other factors vary from area to area and even between decision makers within the same office. So no one can answer that question I'm afraid.

Other posters experience are not necessarily going to represent what will happen for you.

Best guess weeks to months which isn't going to be helpful.

JJ7

Oh my goodness! At least I now Know what to expect. Thank you.

Bananas123

hello,

yes it can be weeks and weeks! ; i have in my head from recently reading "5-14 weeks" although that's picked out from nowhere legitimate (just peoples anecdotes), you hear of some people having to wait 1yr +, but also some can get called in within a month or so (i would expect that to be the earliest)

> can i ask how long you had to wait from sending off your letter to your assessment please ? (~9 weeks and counting for me so far..........)

thanks!!

KxMx

Bananas123 wrote: »

hello,

yes it can be weeks and weeks! ; i have in my head from recently reading "5-14 weeks" although that's picked out from nowhere legitimate (just peoples anecdotes), you hear of some people having to wait 1yr +, but also some can get called in within a month or so (i would expect that to be the earliest)
Pretty sure that's not waits following a medical, which was OPs question, those sound like waits for the medical


> can i ask how long you had to wait from sending off your letter to your assessment please ? (~9 weeks and counting for me so far..........)

thanks!!

Comments in bold.