What happens if I cant participate in a ESA F2F?

blackcloud

Hello all

I get ESA CB Support group and recently sent back my ESA50 renewal or is it a reassesment?

I am worried that if I am asked to attend or even if I manage to get a F2F at my home and due to my Bowel issues I am unable to attend or even if its at my house and I am stuck in the bathroom and I am unable to answer the door and he or she leaves.

Now what happens then? and can I appeal if they remove me from ESA? and what would be the process of appealing? I have heard some people say if that happens even if you will a F2F will still be outstanding and needed so it would be pointless if this happens.

OK well if that doesnt happen what if I was being assesed and was unable to continue after even a few seconds, would the assesor class that as non attendance? or how would that work? and how would I appeal if this happened and I was removed from ESA? what would be the process?

Thanks all in advance"

Muttleythefrog

It's a reassessment but you may not have to have a face to face assessment. Key I would suggest at these reassessments if you are in support group... unless things have changed... is to reassert that you still qualify for support group for the reason (descriptor) they say you do and any additional reasons you think apply. In essence I'd say put pressure on them to simply accept nothing has changed in your health (unless this is not true) and affirm previous assessment outcomes. I would try not to think any further ahead at this point as it is clearly creating a cycle of anxiety and possibly unnecessarily so. Make sure any supporting evidence you have gets into the process.

blackcloud

Thanks for the reply. Im just worried as I got a missed call on my phone and it could only have been them as they are the only ones with that new number,
It would help my anxiety knowing the answers to the below questions?

I am worried that if I am asked to attend or even if I manage to get a F2F at my home and due to my Bowel issues I am unable to attend or even if its at my house and I am stuck in the bathroom and I am unable to answer the door and he or she leaves.

Now what happens then? I know they will send me a letter and asks me for good reason I did not attend, but then what if the same thing happens again if they make a new appointment? and again? Will they eventually end my ESA claim? and then would I have to appeal to have my ESA reinstated? and if I win my appeal to have my ESA reinstated would I immediately be requested to attend another ESA assessment?

OK well if that doesnt happen what if I was being assessed and was unable to continue after even a few seconds, would the assessor class that as non attendance? or how would that work? and how would I appeal if this happened and I was removed from ESA? what would be the process?

poppy12345

blackcloud wrote: »

Hello all

I get ESA CB Support group and recently sent back my ESA50 renewal or is it a reassesment?

I am worried that if I am asked to attend or even if I manage to get a F2F at my home and due to my Bowel issues I am unable to attend or even if its at my house and I am stuck in the bathroom and I am unable to answer the door and he or she leaves.

Now what happens then? and can I appeal if they remove me from ESA? and what would be the process of appealing? I have heard some people say if that happens even if you will a F2F will still be outstanding and needed so it would be pointless if this happens.

OK well if that doesnt happen what if I was being assesed and was unable to continue after even a few seconds, would the assesor class that as non attendance? or how would that work? and how would I appeal if this happened and I was removed from ESA? what would be the process?

Thanks all in advance"

If another assessment is needed and you don't attend your ESA will stop. If on the morning of that assessment you can't attend then ring them and tell them why but you'll need to do this as early as possible. If you have a home assessment then you could make sure you have someone with you who could answer the door. If an assessment was unable to continue it wouldn't be classed as non attendance.
I'm in the Support Group and had another ESA50 form last year, i had a paper based decision for mine and was kept in the support group. Make sure you send in plenty of evidence to support your claim and you may not have to have another assessment.

blackcloud

Thanks, just that I had a missed call from them late friday afternoon and have been worried all weekend what they may have been calling about? what could they have been calling about does anyone think? what have they called people about before after someones send in a reassesment ESA50?

Muttleythefrog

blackcloud wrote: »

Thanks, just that I had a missed call from them late friday afternoon and have been worried all weekend what they may have been calling about? what could they have been calling about does anyone think? what have they called people about before after someones send in a reassesment ESA50?

It's unclear whether you think it was DWP or the private medical contractor (responsible for providing advice to DWP/carrying out face to face assessments) that called. It's obviously causing you some distress that you aren't quite sure what it is about. I think therefore if you can, contact DWP on Monday and if they can shed no light on matter then the private medical contractor (which will be ATOS or Capita depending on where you live) may be able to... not least if they're trying to arrange some appointment. I think though you need to try not to worry (easier said than done) as thus far you haven't been invited for face to face regarding this reassessment and may not need to be. I am not sure why 'they' would call you at this juncture but whatever it is won't be fatal to your claim in missing the call... and that even assumes it was related to it... it may not be. If you do call DWP on Monday make sure they've received your ESA50... put your mind at rest.

TELLIT01

If either DWP or the medical assessment side can't get hold of you by phone they will write to you so there is absolutely nothing to worry about. You can try calling them on Monday to put your own mind at rest.

blackcloud

Thanks, I contacted ESA today and they said no record of anyone calling me. So not sure if another department of ESA called me and didnt leave a note on the system?

Muttleythefrog

blackcloud wrote: »

Thanks, I contacted ESA today and they said no record of anyone calling me. So not sure if another department of ESA called me and didnt leave a note on the system?

Then forget the matter if you can. I get panicked when I miss calls.. convinced it is something important... usually probably it is someone masquerading as 'IT technical support at Windows'.

There is a decent chance, as I say, that you won't need a face to face assessment so I would try to avoid worrying about it until or unless you are contacted about such... and as above.. that'll be in writing at very least. I had a face to face around beginning 2010 and got put into support group... not had another since (for ESA)... despite several 'reassessments'.

TELLIT01

blackcloud wrote: »

Thanks, I contacted ESA today and they said no record of anyone calling me. So not sure if another department of ESA called me and didnt leave a note on the system?

It might have been the WCA assessment people who called, but as Muttley said, don't worry about it. If any government body needs to contact you, and can't get hold of you by phone, they will write to you.

Oddly enough I had one of those 'Microsoft Tech Support' calls earlier today. I did suggest they might want to go away, just not quite that politely. :rotfl:

blackcloud

When you say

It might have been the WCA assessment people who called,

Do you still think it might have been them even though when I called ESA they said there was no record of anyone calling me?