ESA Home Visit Health Assessment - how long does it take?

Penguin90

Hi folks

I've been in the ESA Support Group since last year. In July I was re-assessed (apparently this happens every year), my situation hasn't changed so I thought it would be a relatively simple procedure.

I didn't have a health assessment when I first applied for ESA last year, so I was a bit surprised when they asked me to attend one in August. I can't leave my house at all so I asked for a home visit instead, got a doctor's note etc and they (eventually) agreed - but that was over three months ago and I've still not been told when this home visit health assessment will take place. Is that normal? How long can it take to arrange?

Tommo1980

I would suggest you ring the assessment provider and find out what is happening. It maybe that your file has been returned to DWP without a f2f.

If this the case ring DWP and find out if a decision on your claim has been made.

Whatever the case you won't lose ESA without a f2f.

Tom

pmlindyloo

Penguin90 wrote: »

Hi folks

I've been in the ESA Support Group since last year. In July I was re-assessed (apparently this happens every year), my situation hasn't changed so I thought it would be a relatively simple procedure.

I didn't have a health assessment when I first applied for ESA last year, so I was a bit surprised when they asked me to attend one in August. I can't leave my house at all so I asked for a home visit instead, got a doctor's note etc and they (eventually) agreed - but that was over three months ago and I've still not been told when this home visit health assessment will take place. Is that normal? How long can it take to arrange?

I wouldn't say this was normal.

It could be that there is no one to do a home visit (short of staff) or it could be that they have decided to do a paper based assessment instead or
it could be that there has been some sort of mix up and no one is dealing with your reassessment.

I am presuming you are continuing to get your payments for the support group as usual?

You need to telephone them and find out what is happening.,

Penguin90

Tommo1980 wrote: »

I would suggest you ring the assessment provider and find out what is happening. It maybe that your file has been returned to DWP without a f2f.

If this the case ring DWP and find out if a decision on your claim has been made.

Whatever the case you won't lose ESA without a f2f.

Tom

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I wouldn't say this was normal.

It could be that there is no one to do a home visit (short of staff) or it could be that they have decided to do a paper based assessment instead or
it could be that there has been some sort of mix up and no one is dealing with your reassessment.

I am presuming you are continuing to get your payments for the support group as usual?

You need to telephone them and find out what is happening.,

Hey, thanks for your speedy replies.

I have phoned them a number of times, most recently this morning. I keep being told the same thing; "we can't comment on time scales" - that is all they say no matter what question I ask. Yes, I am still receiving payments but I'm in the middle of a PIP appeal so I'm very anxious for ESA to be sorted ASAP.

TELLIT01

To be honest, I wouldn't be pushing them to do the assessment. At best you will be no better off than you are now, and there is always a chance that they will decide you shouldn't be in the Support Group. I'm not trying to scare you, simply explaining the possible outcomes.
They have agreed to do the home visit, and you have already attempted to find out how long it will be until it is carried out. There is no onus on you to chase them any further.

Penguin90

Bumping this because I still haven't heard a thing. Is there anything I can do to make the process faster? I just want it to be over, I'm fed up of waiting.

Muttleythefrog

Penguin90 wrote: »

Bumping this because I still haven't heard a thing. Is there anything I can do to make the process faster? I just want it to be over, I'm fed up of waiting.

This does sound excessively long to wait for an assessment although a home based one may go some way to explaining delay. I've mixed opinion... in fact the same as posters above. You can contact the assessment provider (see if they have a customer services email address you can use to get things in 'writing'.. ATOS certainly have a useful one but obviously they don't have the contract now for the WCA)... and ask them if you are still 'in the system' waiting for them to arrange the date of your home visit assessment for ESA. That may at least provoke them to confirm you are still in their 'waiting list' to be called or that they've returned your file to the DWP (unlikely if they've already decided you need a face to face assessment). If they've returned your file to the DWP then contact them for update.

There is the other option of simply waiting... since as pointed out you may gain some peace of mind but nothing else from their causing of delays... you're in the support group and would remain so at very least unless another decision is taken contrary. In terms of periodicity of reassessment... this is variant... usually the DWP set it according to the advice given by the assessment providers and it can range from I believe 6 months to maximum 3 years... it could change after this reassessment to some other period of review depending on when they feel they need to reassess whether your conditions have changed.

If you wanted to start the nuclear options then contact MP or make complaint to DWP... but to be honest it seems premature and of limited value. The system seems to be creaking.. on another active thread tonight a poster has been waiting since November 2015 for his new application to be progressed... there's been 3 cancelled appointments albeit in part due to the request for audio recording... take out his 3 months assessment phase and he's still been waiting over a year for assessment. I'd try to focus on your PIP appeal if that is still due to be heard.

Penguin90

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

This does sound excessively long to wait for an assessment although a home based one may go some way to explaining delay. I've mixed opinion... in fact the same as posters above. You can contact the assessment provider (see if they have a customer services email address you can use to get things in 'writing'.. ATOS certainly have a useful one but obviously they don't have the contract now for the WCA)... and ask them if you are still 'in the system' waiting for them to arrange the date of your home visit assessment for ESA. That may at least provoke them to confirm you are still in their 'waiting list' to be called or that they've returned your file to the DWP (unlikely if they've already decided you need a face to face assessment). If they've returned your file to the DWP then contact them for update.

There is the other option of simply waiting... since as pointed out you may gain some peace of mind but nothing else from their causing of delays... you're in the support group and would remain so at very least unless another decision is taken contrary. In terms of periodicity of reassessment... this is variant... usually the DWP set it according to the advice given by the assessment providers and it can range from I believe 6 months to maximum 3 years... it could change after this reassessment to some other period of review depending on when they feel they need to reassess whether your conditions have changed.

If you wanted to start the nuclear options then contact MP or make complaint to DWP... but to be honest it seems premature and of limited value. The system seems to be creaking.. on another active thread tonight a poster has been waiting since November 2015 for his new application to be progressed... there's been 3 cancelled appointments albeit in part due to the request for audio recording... take out his 3 months assessment phase and he's still been waiting over a year for assessment. I'd try to focus on your PIP appeal if that is still due to be heard.

Thank you for the reply. I know it makes sense to just sit tight and wait, but I find it very stressful, not least because the PIP appeal is taking an excessively long time as well. HMCTS have had my bundle of documents for nearly 5 months and I still haven't been given a date for a hearing.

My worry is that I will soon get another ESA re-assessment letter before the first re-assessment has even taken place.

poppy12345

Penguin90 wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I know it makes sense to just sit tight and wait, but I find it very stressful, not least because the PIP appeal is taking an excessively long time as well. HMCTS have had my bundle of documents for nearly 5 months and I still haven't been given a date for a hearing.

My worry is that I will soon get another ESA re-assessment letter before the first re-assessment has even taken place.

I agree with the others that the longer you're waiting the more time you're gauranteed in the Support Group. I know that doesn't help you. You can't get another ESA50 form or re-assessment letter because you're still waiting for this one. That would be impossible. You could always contact your local MP to see if he/she can hurry things along if you're that worried. Personally i'd leave it well alone because right now you're in the Support Group and still recieving your money. You could lose that once you're re-assessed.

Bananas123

hello,

i am pretty sure it will be because they usually send "more professional" HCP's to do the home assessments (AND they don't have enough professionals to accurately do the assessments (i know factually capita don't anyway...)

(you can check figures, i think it's mostly a doctor or occupational therapist (not guaranteed though)
whereas if you go see them you see a random person > they pick claimants cases like "the argos summer sale" catalogue advert from some years ago, no workload allocated within, just random pounding of cases by random people, basically.

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there is NO "waiting longer means better outcome" in my experience.

but i would guess, the evidence you have submitted in your claim vs. trying to obtain a suitable professional to "assess you", they are basically taking to long, because you have sent them a thing called "WORK" to do (match claimant to descriptor), and the people they have to do said thing, can't do it...

i think they are supposed to see you within 3 months... as a guideline (within, not after) i think but the dwp obviously don't correlate with their own guidelines etc.

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hopefully it will not be too much longer, good luck