ESA Assessment completed, am I over thinking things?

Spoonie_Turtle

KxMx said:

You can't be found fit for work or downgraded to WRAG based on a telephone re assessment.

If they cannot award SG again your file will be put back into the system for when Face to Face re-assessments start again.

Payments will continue as normal should that happen. 

If SG is awarded again it is more likely than not to be a 6 month award. 

Incidentally I came across the guidance relating to everything you've said here this evening. It was interesting to say the least, although it was from June so I don't know if there have been any updates. 

Just to clarify OP, the WCA decision is ongoing until such time as it's changed from an assessment, so timescales are just a guide - and right now who knows what the situation will be in 6 months' time, whether they can start looking at the 'needing F2F' cases from initial claims let alone reassessing anyone from this time around.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

KxMx said:

You can't be found fit for work or downgraded to WRAG based on a telephone re assessment.

If they cannot award SG again your file will be put back into the system for when Face to Face re-assessments start again.

Payments will continue as normal should that happen. 

If SG is awarded again it is more likely than not to be a 6 month award. 

right now who knows what the situation will be in 6 months' time

I would agree with that. It's now been 6 months since i had my last decision on my ESA review. I highly doubt they will send another WCA form anytime soon.

weavedribbon

poppy12345 said:

ShaunOfTheDead78 said:

• also received a new housing benefit award letter today for change of circumstances in relation to ESA,
  

Not sure what you mean by this. Having been in the Support Group myself since 2012/13 i've never had a letter relating to housing benefit after any ESA review. Has your housing benefit amount changed?

To be fair I also always receive very similar letters re housing benefit any time a benefit is reassessed or changed, even if it doesn't alter the actual HB amount. They send them whenever they've done a recalculation based on info from DWP. It must vary from council to council whether they send them.

ShaunOfTheDead78

weavedribbon said:

poppy12345 said:

ShaunOfTheDead78 said:

• also received a new housing benefit award letter today for change of circumstances in relation to ESA,
  

Not sure what you mean by this. Having been in the Support Group myself since 2012/13 i've never had a letter relating to housing benefit after any ESA review. Has your housing benefit amount changed?

To be fair I also always receive very similar letters re housing benefit any time a benefit is reassessed or changed, even if it doesn't alter the actual HB amount. They send them whenever they've done a recalculation based on info from DWP. It must vary from council to council whether they send them.

Yeah got another one in the post this morning stating the same as the last one but dated today so I do indeed believe this is clarification of my reassessment as I've indicated no other change of circumstances to the council.

wakeupalarm

KxMx said:

You can't be found fit for work or downgraded to WRAG based on a telephone re assessment.

If they cannot award SG again your file will be put back into the system for when Face to Face re-assessments start again.

Payments will continue as normal should that happen. 

If SG is awarded again it is more likely than not to be a 6 month award. 

Can you clarify your last sentence.  Are they only awarding 6 months atm, even if awarded SG?

poppy12345

wakeupalarm said:

KxMx said:

You can't be found fit for work or downgraded to WRAG based on a telephone re assessment.

If they cannot award SG again your file will be put back into the system for when Face to Face re-assessments start again.

Payments will continue as normal should that happen. 

If SG is awarded again it is more likely than not to be a 6 month award. 

Can you clarify your last sentence.  Are they only awarding 6 months atm, even if awarded SG?

No, Support Group is an ongoing award unless either found fit for work or placed into the WRAG.

calcotti

wakeupalarm said:

KxMx said: If SG is awarded again it is more likely than not to be a 6 month award. 

Can you clarify your last sentence.  Are they only awarding 6 months atm, even if awarded SG?

I have no idea why KxMx said that.

KxMx

A reputable poster on another forum posted (in September) quotes from CHDA guidance around telephone ESA re assessments.

https://www.youreable.com/forums/showthread.php?32147-WCA-telephone-assessment-internal-guidance

The full guide is in the link should anyone wish to download and read it for themselves. 

calcotti

KxMx said:

A reputable poster on another forum posted (in September) quotes from CHDA guidance around telephone ESA re assessments.

https://www.youreable.com/forums/showthread.php?32147-WCA-telephone-assessment-internal-guidance

The full guide is in the link should anyone wish to download and read it for themselves. 

Thanks KxMx. Had not seen that. Interestingly if they do only set 6 month reviews now taken with the ones they decide they can't currently assess now plus the new claims I can't see how they will ever catch up.

i do note however that there is a later version of the guidance which has changed the emphasis.

The May guidance you have referenced says:

4.3 Prognosis or re-referral advice
Although we give advice on the balance of probability, in most cases the normal full body of evidence will not be available (observations, examination findings, further evidence), and therefore a 6 month prognosis should be given in most cases; unless there is strong evidence that a longer prognosis should apply, for example, previous report confirmed a chronic deteriorating condition and all evidence gathered in the telephone assessment continue to suggest ongoing deterioration. This applies to conditions that have not improved as well as those that have deteriorated.

August guidance here https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/695375/response/1655946/attach/4/COVID%20WCA%20LCWRA%20Telephone%20Assessments%20Guidance%20for%20HCPs%20v%201k%20draft.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 has been revised to say

4.3 Prognosis or re-referral advice

Although we give advice on the balance of probability, in most cases the normal full body of evidence will not be available (observations, examination findings, further evidence) and therefore a 6 month prognosis should be given in cases where evidence is felt to be lacking. If however; there is strong evidence that a longer prognosis should apply, for example, previous report confirmed a chronic deteriorating condition and all evidence gathered in the telephone assessment continue to suggest ongoing deterioration, prognosis advice should be given in line with the evidence. This applies to conditions that have not improved as well as those that have deteriorated.

KxMx

I wasn't aware of the updated guidance but I did say
"more likely than not" which covers the eventualities in your links.

I suppose it is more my opinion but it is a fact that 6 month prognosis is encouraged unless there is other compelling evidence. And I feel (again my opinion) that CHDA will err on the side of caution with a 6 month prognosis without a F2F for most. 

I didn't say "only 6 months will be awarded" etc etc as some have unfortunately taken it to mean.