Very early ESA assessment

ev8

I had a reassessment last year for ESA. I had the medical in May 2019, the report states referral for reassessment in 24 months. It also says my condition is long term and unlikely to improve.

In the post this morning I have a new form for an ESA reassessment. It's only been 9 months, it just seems so early. Does anyone think it's worth calling up and asking why I'm being reassessed so early.

I've been on ESA for years now, the first time I wasn't contacted for about four years and then over two years every other time.

poppy12345

ev8 said:

I had a reassessment last year for ESA. I had the medical in May 2019, the report states referral for reassessment in 24 months. It also says my condition is long term and unlikely to improve.

In the post this morning I have a new form for an ESA reassessment. It's only been 9 months, it just seems so early. Does anyone think it's worth calling up and asking why I'm being reassessed so early.

I've been on ESA for years now, the first time I wasn't contacted for about four years and then over two years every other time.

Regardless of the timescales advised by the HCP in your previous reassessment, for the WCA they can reassess you anytime from 3 months. The only exception to this is if you're in the Support Group and placed into the severe conditions group and then future reassessments are turned off.

The form you received will need to be filled in and returned again with all your evidence to support your claim.

[Deleted User]

 I'd not heard of this 'severe conditions group' can you explain more? May explain why I've not been called for assessment in 3 years 

ev8

I believed they were trying not to do too many unnecessary reassessments to those with long term conditions unlikely to get better.

calcotti

_shel said:

 I'd not heard of this 'severe conditions group' can you explain more? May explain why I've not been called for assessment in 3 years 

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/october/guidance-work-capability-assessment-reassessment-published
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment-from-29-september-2017

This House of Commons briefing paper is also useful
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7820

Spoonie_Turtle

ev8 said:

I had a reassessment last year for ESA. I had the medical in May 2019, the report states referral for reassessment in 24 months. It also says my condition is long term and unlikely to improve.

In the post this morning I have a new form for an ESA reassessment. It's only been 9 months, it just seems so early. Does anyone think it's worth calling up and asking why I'm being reassessed so early.

I've been on ESA for years now, the first time I wasn't contacted for about four years and then over two years every other time.

If I were in your situation, I would phone up to try to find out*, but at the same time be prepared to have to fill in the form anyway, just in case. (If everything's still the same as last time you can just write the same again, assuming you took a copy of what you wrote for your previous form.) Given that you've already been on ESA for years without such quick reassessments, it certainly does sound strange for it to only be 9 months this time. 

*I don't know if you will be able to find out, but you have nothing to lose other than the time it takes!

[Deleted User]

calcotti said:

_https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/october/guidance-work-capability-assessment-reassessment-published

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment/employment-and-support-allowance-and-universal-credit-changes-to-the-work-capability-assessment-from-29-september-2017

This House of Commons briefing paper is also useful
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7820

So I had heard of, my memory, but I thought it applied to pip and pensioners only. Thank you x 

poppy12345

_shel said:

 I'd not heard of this 'severe conditions group' can you explain more? May explain why I've not been called for assessment in 3 years 

It's unlikely that you are in this group because the rules for this didn't apply until September 2017. If they do apply to anyone they will be awarded it after their next reassessment.

ev8

Spoonie_Turtle said:

ev8 said:

I had a reassessment last year for ESA. I had the medical in May 2019, the report states referral for reassessment in 24 months. It also says my condition is long term and unlikely to improve.

In the post this morning I have a new form for an ESA reassessment. It's only been 9 months, it just seems so early. Does anyone think it's worth calling up and asking why I'm being reassessed so early.

I've been on ESA for years now, the first time I wasn't contacted for about four years and then over two years every other time.

If I were in your situation, I would phone up to try to find out*, but at the same time be prepared to have to fill in the form anyway, just in case. (If everything's still the same as last time you can just write the same again, assuming you took a copy of what you wrote for your previous form.) Given that you've already been on ESA for years without such quick reassessments, it certainly does sound strange for it to only be 9 months this time. 

*I don't know if you will be able to find out, but you have nothing to lose other than the time it takes!

I think I will phone, it just seems so early, especially as it was reassessment referral was set at 24 months, and I've never had such a short period between reassessments.

I wonder if the new government has sent message to reassess more often now or something. 

I think it will be OK to at least phone.

I have my answers typed up on my computer, so I can just look them over and print them out. There's little to no change at all and I still have my lifelong conditions......

ev8

Well, I've done all I can.

I called up the ESA phoneline, straight away when the man asked what was gong on, said I was sent a renewal form and he volunteered that it stated two years on my file, so it was very early to be sent this out. He listened and understood as he had said it unwarranted that it says two years.

Anyway, he wrote an email to the department who sent the forms out and explained it was early. He said they'll be phoning back sometimes today.

I don't know if anything will come of it, I doubt it really, and I suspect I'll have to still do the forms, but he was really so helpful and at least I feel like I've done something and not just taken it. I've done all I can now.

ev8

A second and final update.

Thankfully, I do not have to submit for a reassessment, YAY!!!!!

There was an error when my medical report came through to the department. The date was typed in incorrectly, and it triggered the form going out to me (they input 12 months). She's now changed it and said I won't be bothered until next year.

I'm so relieved I don't have to do this again, it's just so mentally exhausting! I'm also thankful I got lucky on the phone and got someone helpful who sent off the email and not someone who told me to just fill out the form.

Just to add, it may be worth calling up if you feel it's really too early for a reassessment. There's really nothing to lose, if they say it's correct, you're in the same situation you were already in (having to fill out the forms) but clearly there's a chance they could have made an error on your file.