ESA support group to universal credit

Bootyboo1

Hi everyone I'm hoping for some advice in regards to universal credit

In March I was due to go to a ESA medical
The day of the medical my grandma passed away and we was all called to the hospital to say our good byes
I was hoping to get back home so I could make the appointment but I didn't and the medical was the last thing on my mind so my partner rang to reschedule
The lady was very understanding and said we would get a letter we had to fill in with evidence he asked why I couldn't have another appointment and she stated that I'd already missed one
We was not aware of a previous appointment she then stated the letter may of gone to our old address
So we waited for the letter we sent as much as we could proof but we then got a letter 2 weeks later stating I was fit for work
We was then told to sign up for universal credit
Which we did and we have slowly been trying to get by since April
I have been handing fit notes in since I started my uc claim
But my work coach called me last week to say that her and a case manager was attempting to bring my ESA support group LCWRA
Over to my uc claim
I was surprised because I have been at my work coach because I haven't had a medical form nor a medical assessment appointment
Because the loss of my grandma I did not appeal my ESA decision
My work coach was upset to see that I was given no care or support and just threw into the deep dark end of uc
My partner is my full time carer we have 2 children
And I recieve pip high rate care low rate mobility

I guess my question is will my work coach and a case manager be successful in doing this
We didn't expect it so it would be such a relief to know I dont have to do another medical

Thank you in advance for any replies

calcotti

This isn’t clear at all. If you were found fit for work you were not in the ESA Support Group so there is no LCWRA to transfer. If this is the case UC need to organise an assessment for you.

If you were in the ESA Support Group there was no need to transfer to UC.

Was the assessment you missed your first assessment or was it a review assessment? If the latter were you in the Support Group prior to that? If so your case manager may be accepting that you had good reason for missing the appointment and seeking to reverse the decision that you were found fit for work. Whether or not they will succeed only time will tell.

huckster

Does not sound correct. If you had 2 missed appointments on ESA, then your ESA claim would end. You would then claim UC and start a new assessment process to see if you qualified for any limited capability for work and work related activity award.

The only thing I can think if, is that they believe an error may have been made in regard to the first ESA assessment appointment letter being sent to an old address in error. If this is the case, then they may treat missed assessment due to passing of Grandma as the first genuinely missed appointment, accepting good reason. As the ESA claim cannot be re-opened, they might be thinking of adding the LCWRA to the UC claim from the start of UC claim and then arrange for an assessment to be held at some point in near future.

You will have to see what happens. You could ask the assessment company what address the first appointment letter was sent to, if you needed to look into the first missed appointment.

Bootyboo1

Hi sorry I wasn't clear
I have been on ESA in the support group for 8 years
There was proof that the first letter went to the old address
But with losing my grandma fighting the DWP was my last thought
Sorry I wasn't clear
They was doing a reassessment
I have only had 2 medical assessments in regards to my ESA claim over the past 8 years
My work coach said that she was doing this to try prevent me waiting months of waiting for a medical
But it was something I had not considered would or could be done
I was just handing in fit notes
In Hope's i would get a form soon

Bootyboo1

Also my partner was informed if I was to appeal it I wouldn't of been able to stay on ESA I would still have had to transfer over to uc
So because of ESA assuming I was fit for work because of one fault of there own and then the loss of my grandma
I was deemed fit for work which was far from unfair
We sent the evidence but they chose to still deem me fit for work
Even with evidence off my doctor

Csmk

So it sounds like you're getting a delayed referral for a work capability assessment under Universal credit?

Did you receive a letter from ESA titled 'mandatory reconsideration notice'? If you haven't then write a mandatory reconsideration letter (dispute letter) to esa as soon as you can. This will be late but you can still do this. Put all the reasons why you couldn't attend and why you think the decision is wrong.

If you have received the above, appeal the decision by going on gov.uk to either download and print an SSCS1 form to appeal, or do it online. If you appeal the ESA and if you're successful (they might ask you to fill out an ESA50 form and attend an assessment if you haven't done so on UC by then) then you could get the LCWRA from your first payment of UC, rather than waiting another few months for it.

Your partner was informed correctly as esa pending an appeal can't be paid if it's a missed assessment, but it might be worth appealing now. Is your partner getting PIP daily living as well? If you don't mind me asking