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ESA made decision without assesssment-what does it mean?

dee100
dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 21 July 2017 pm31 9:43PM in Benefits & tax credits
I went to 1st assessment today, handed in new medical documents :
-GP letter saying she feels I cannot work
- her medical summary listing 14 conditions, 12 physical, OCD and generalised anxiety disorder
- CPN report - she diagnosed me as morbid personality disorder -
- consultant psychiatrist report -he wrote my issues are 'extremely disabling'
After waiting a long time, centre manager asked to see me, said I can leave, no assessment necc due to the documents, she said they sent a report already just now by email.. and w/be forwarding my documents.
Does this mean
1. they recommended me for the support group?
2. Will the amount I get depend on points? As due to poor concerntration and rushing through form, I didnt even mark the mental health section as relevant...Q 15, 16, 17....that was the main area where i would have got points
3. would I have to appeal due to low points as marked at least 7 questions wrong? (I had planned to correct that at assessment).
4. How much do you think i will get?
Please tell me as I cant rest till i have answers to these questions...I've been through so much to get to this stage (week 16 now)...please....

Comments

  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,779 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hopefully for you it will be good news but no one can tell you for sure until that decision has been made. There's nothing you can do either until you have that decision. Good luck and hopefully you're not waiting too long.
  • Alice_Holt
    Alice_Holt Posts: 6,094 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 21 July 2017 pm31 10:05PM
    1) I would fully expect you would be put into the support group on the basis of Regulation 35. Significant risk to health if forced to participate in work focused activities.
    See - http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/making-exception

    And there is also some info here - https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/work-capability-assessment/what-next - which seems to fit your case.

    2) If Reg 35 does apply, then the points don't matter.

    3) If in the support group because of Reg 35 - you won't need to appeal
    Getting the supporting medical evidence has really helped you (even if you don't think you completed the ESA50 form fully).

    4) Income-based ESA c. £125pw in the SG with a disability premium

    I'm sure you don't need to worry. They wouldn't have said there was no need for an assessment if they weren't going to recommend an ESA award.
    It is perfectly possible for the DWP to award ESA on medical evidence without the need for a WCA.

    See: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72872467#Comment_72872467

    Are you in receipt of PIP?
    If not, do consider applying, your local CAB / advice agency should be able to help with the forms.

    Good luck.
    Alice Holt Forest situated some 4 miles south of Farnham forms the most northerly gateway to the South Downs National Park.
  • UKTigerlily
    UKTigerlily Posts: 4,702 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    dee100 wrote: »
    I went to 1st assessment today, handed in new medical documents :
    -GP letter saying she feels I cannot work
    - her medical summary listing 14 conditions, 12 physical, OCD and generalised anxiety disorder
    - CPN report - she diagnosed me as morbid personality disorder -
    - consultant psychiatrist report -he wrote my issues are 'extremely disabling'
    After waiting a long time, centre manager asked to see me, said I can leave, no assessment necc due to the documents, she said they sent a report already just now by email.. and w/be forwarding my documents.
    Does this mean
    1. they recommended me for the support group? They can recommend any of the 3 options, but without a f2f assessment it'd be either support or wrag group but no way to know until you get their decision
    2. Will the amount I get depend on points? As due to poor concerntration and rushing through form, I didnt even mark the mental health section as relevant...Q 15, 16, 17....that was the main area where i would have got points There aren't any points for ESA (can't remember which benefit) so the amount would depend upon which group you were put into
    3. would I have to appeal due to low points as marked at least 7 questions wrong? (I had planned to correct that at assessment). You'd appeal if they put you in the WRAG group & felt you should be in the support group, then do a MR & if it wasn't changed, tribunal I think
    4. How much do you think i will get? No way to know until a decision is made, if PIP you can see the rates online, if ESA it depends on things like DLA/PIP & which group, age, work history etc
    Please tell me as I cant rest till i have answers to these questions...I've been through so much to get to this stage (week 16 now)...please....

    Hopefully it goes well, if you have more evidence I think you can send it in anytime before a decision. If no face to face then it will be one of the two groups as they can't find you fit for work without that
  • dee100
    dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Awesome replies, it all makes sense now. Thank you so much. It does look like article 35 and support group. DWP tends to, i think turn many down hoping they won't appeal...my evidence is quite strong... 3 respectable health professionals. I think I should relax, they said 2-3 weeks for answer.
    Yes, I am sending off the PIP form...did it right this time, spending over 2 hours with a good advisor and taking copies of form. 52 pages I photocopied as I have 32 conditions... and medical letters from doctors etc
  • dee100
    dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Alice, you are a real expert and a boon to this forum.Bless you
    thanks tiger Lilly
  • dee100
    dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 21 July 2017 pm31 11:04PM
    btw it was a waste of time posting and faxing documents to assessment team. They never got the former and did not look at the latter. in my case the only way is to go to assessment centre and deliver by hand which i am doing monday re questions 15, 16, 17 before they send off my file to DWP decision maker.
  • UKTigerlily
    UKTigerlily Posts: 4,702 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    dee100 wrote: »
    btw it was a waste of time posting and faxing documents to assessment team. They never got the former and did not look at the latter. in my case the only way is to go to assessment centre and deliver by hand which i am doing monday re questions 15, 16, 17 before they send off my file to DWP decision maker.


    Good luck! I think with 32 conditions and all that evidence you'd be an obvious support group choice, but then who knows how these people think!
    I got reassessed last year (& am in the process again now), and I didn't send lots in & got put into the Support Group with no f2f so it can happen even with less, let us know how it goes!

    I sent all of my evidence & the ESA50 so am now awaiting the f2f appointment, which last time took 3 months to come so I doubt it'll be soon!
  • dee100
    dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Do get a "GP support letter" and a "medical printout summary" from your GP surgery and send all hospital Doctor's letters...you probably know that already.
    Any other fresh docs, send and take with you in case like me, they lost them or never looked at them. They never even looked at my new docs, when i arrived for assessment, just put in my file. i said to the receptionist to show them to my assessor as it would make a big difference. Only then did she do this...
  • dee100
    dee100 Posts: 73 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    They made a decision in 10 days after assessment day as I received a text stating that "fit note r/d, do not send more fit notes", 4 days later I r/d back payment and today, confirmation letter.
    There was no mention of when I will be assessed again.
    Thanks for all your help, you have been so wonderful.
    My PIP application went to assessor Thursday...6-8 weeks till assessment.
    Next I have to fight to get my local health authority to give me treatment from a psychologist or fund my being seen by one in an OCD specialist hospital. I believe I have to do the former in order to get the latter and all this with carefully worded letters stating my legal rights according to NICE guidelines. They think they can just get rid of me. I wil get an advocate.
    Thanks!
  • epitome
    epitome Posts: 3,199 Forumite
    If no assessment takes place, it means the DWP cannot fail you, you will either be put in WRAG or SG.

    It could have gone either way, but I see you are now in SG, so that's ok.

    If you want to know when your next assessment process will begin, phone ESA enquiry line and ask them to look in screen 791, it will tell them the exact date the process will begin again.
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