ESA Support Group

Primesuspect

My mother was placed in ESA support group after her assessment in Dec 2016 and did not have to attend any work related activity.

In Jan 2018 she was visting her brother abroad who was ill. We notified DWP off this. As I was told by a friend that she was entitled to 28 days holiday however she was going for 6 weeks so i was under the impression that if we notify them her payments will stop for 2 weeks and start again. I rang DWP and spoke to the advisor and asked the same question to which he said yes she will not get paid for 2 weeks.

We went abroad on 10th Jan 2018, my uncle was pretty ill and died early Feb. When we came back on 20th Feb I found a letter lying in the house which stated my mother was not entitled to benefit as she was away for more than 4 weeks. I contacted DWP and told them what I was advised over the phone and asked for referral which was a pain. I had to contact DWP numerous times and was promised callback on 3 occasions but no one called. So I got in touch with them again pretty angry. This time the advisor was a wonderful lady who assured me shes sending this to referral team and will ensure someone rings me and she kept her word. I got a call from DWP but unfortunately I was in a meeting and missed the called. I received a text asking me to call them but I couldn't as it was a friday and by the time i got home it was already 6pm. I couldnt contact them as i work 9-5.

On 10th May I received a letter dated 4th May stating:
You claimed ESA from 7 Feb 2018 but we cannot pay you until 20 Feb 2018.

We recently told you that a decision would be made about a doubt:

If you intend to dispute this decision, you should continue to provide medical evidence.

You will get £0.00 a week.

From 20 Feb 2018 your ESA will be £125.55 a week.

From 12 April 2018 your ESA will be 127.15 a week.

To continue to receive ESA you may need to attend work focus interview with a personal advisor. You will be notified of this separately if you are required to attend.

It has been confirmed you have limited capability for work. The extra money you will get is shown on ESA Award page.

This is what the first page shows, so i assume they have listened to the call or checked the notes and decided to give her ESA and put her in support group.

The award page reads:

Your living expenses £73.10

Extra money because of disability income guarantee £15.90

Limited capability for work addition:

Extra Money because you are in a support group £36.55

Which gives a total income - related amount £125.55

Income and benefits:

No income will be then off your ESA

Your income related amount is £125.55 less total income of £0.00

So your income-related entitlement is £125.55

The amount on this page apply from 22 Feb 2018 to 11 April 2018

So everything was fine and we thought her claim is back to normal as they have looked at the decision again after the referral.

Few days later ESA50 lands on our door dated 7 May. My mother suffers from severe anxiety, depression and lower back issue from an accident. She is panicking alot.

What I really don't understand is when they confirmed in the letter that she has limited capability for work why have they sent the ESA50 after sending the award letter.

Has this happened with anyone else?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

poppy12345

Primesuspect wrote: »

My mother was placed in ESA support group after her assessment in Dec 2016 and did not have to attend any work related activity.

In Jan 2018 she was visting her brother abroad who was ill. We notified DWP off this. As I was told by a friend that she was entitled to 28 days holiday however she was going for 6 weeks so i was under the impression that if we notify them her payments will stop for 2 weeks and start again. I rang DWP and spoke to the advisor and asked the same question to which he said yes she will not get paid for 2 weeks.

We went abroad on 10th Jan 2018, my uncle was pretty ill and died early Feb. When we came back on 20th Feb I found a letter lying in the house which stated my mother was not entitled to benefit as she was away for more than 4 weeks. I contacted DWP and told them what I was advised over the phone and asked for referral which was a pain. I had to contact DWP numerous times and was promised callback on 3 occasions but no one called. So I got in touch with them again pretty angry. This time the advisor was a wonderful lady who assured me shes sending this to referral team and will ensure someone rings me and she kept her word. I got a call from DWP but unfortunately I was in a meeting and missed the called. I received a text asking me to call them but I couldn't as it was a friday and by the time i got home it was already 6pm. I couldnt contact them as i work 9-5.

On 10th May I received a letter dated 4th May stating:
You claimed ESA from 7 Feb 2018 but we cannot pay you until 20 Feb 2018.

We recently told you that a decision would be made about a doubt:

If you intend to dispute this decision, you should continue to provide medical evidence.

You will get £0.00 a week.

From 20 Feb 2018 your ESA will be £125.55 a week.

From 12 April 2018 your ESA will be 127.15 a week.

To continue to receive ESA you may need to attend work focus interview with a personal advisor. You will be notified of this separately if you are required to attend.

It has been confirmed you have limited capability for work. The extra money you will get is shown on ESA Award page.

This is what the first page shows, so i assume they have listened to the call or checked the notes and decided to give her ESA and put her in support group.

The award page reads:

Your living expenses £73.10

Extra money because of disability income guarantee £15.90

Limited capability for work addition:

Extra Money because you are in a support group £36.55

Which gives a total income - related amount £125.55

Income and benefits:

No income will be then off your ESA

Your income related amount is £125.55 less total income of £0.00

So your income-related entitlement is £125.55

The amount on this page apply from 22 Feb 2018 to 11 April 2018

So everything was fine and we thought her claim is back to normal as they have looked at the decision again after the referral.

Few days later ESA50 lands on our door dated 7 May. My mother suffers from severe anxiety, depression and lower back issue from an accident. She is panicking alot.

What I really don't understand is when they confirmed in the letter that she has limited capability for work why have they sent the ESA50 after sending the award letter.

Has this happened with anyone else?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

It seems like to me that when they sent that letter they put her back into the Support Group but she wasn't re-assessed because no ESA50 was sent out. They then decided it was time to be re-assessed so the ESA50 form was sent. Unfortunately she's going to have to fill out that form and return it, with all the relevant evidence within that time frame. From that they will decide if another face 2face assessment is needed.

Ames

I agree with Poppy, after 18 months it's quite likely she was just due for reassessment.

Alice_Holt

Yep, 18 months is about right for reassessment.

Some info here on form completion:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form/

https://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/employment-support-allowance

http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/med2/indexxx.php

Hounded_out

!8 months about right for re-assessment - is it !? What area of the country is that ? In our area most folk I meet on SG have not been re-assessed for well over 5 years.

poppy12345

Hounded_out wrote: »

!8 months about right for re-assessment - is it !? What area of the country is that ? In our area most folk I meet on SG have not been re-assessed for well over 5 years.

It totally depends on the backlogs. They will be re-assessed at some point in the future, i'm sure.

Hounded_out

so how can a member claim that 18 months is about right as having asked friends from many other regions it would appear that 18 months is not ;about right;' ....

Primesuspect

Thank you guys for your advice. I will try and fill in the form as soon as and return it first thing Monday morning. I am just hoping they don't call her for assesment. I remember back in 2014 she was awarded 0 points and moved to ESA work related group and had alot of issues. My mother has limited capability she needs help getting out of bed, suffers from sleeping disorder she's awake most nights and I have to wake up as she has panic attacks. Shes always at home and hardly leaves the house except for her appointments. Been like this since my dad passed away in 2008. Just hoping for the best

poppy12345

Hounded_out wrote: »

so how can a member claim that 18 months is about right as having asked friends from many other regions it would appear that 18 months is not ;about right;' ....

They can re-assess you at anytime. I've heard of people being re-assessed after 6 months.



The OP has been sent the ESA50 form and once they send you that, there's nothing you can do but fill it in and return it.

poppy12345

Primesuspect wrote: »

Thank you guys for your advice. I will try and fill in the form as soon as and return it first thing Monday morning. I am just hoping they don't call her for assesment. I remember back in 2014 she was awarded 0 points and moved to ESA work related group and had alot of issues. My mother has limited capability she needs help getting out of bed, suffers from sleeping disorder she's awake most nights and I have to wake up as she has panic attacks. Shes always at home and hardly leaves the house except for her appointments. Been like this since my dad passed away in 2008. Just hoping for the best

Reg 35 may apply in this case. See here.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/2955-regulation-35-2-b-is-now-the-main-route-into-esa-support-group


Don't forget to send all the relevant evidence to support her claim with the ESA50 form.

Hounded_out

Poppy - does reg 35 still tend to apply ? I ask because I thought say 18 months back the DWP had sought to curb its use (by modifying the regn's , or the related guidance) ) for entry ... or a back door entry .. to the Support Group..

I accept that a claimant can obviously be re-assessed at any time, but the period between based on what I can see is getting longer and longer as time goes on. I sense that the OP's Mum has been unlucky, but will still hopefully keep her award. Just a shame about the stress and inconvenience it may cause.