ESA new conditions, review far away in 2024

bluefox
bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hello

I have spoken to local Welfare Rights this morning and they were saying I should be telling the DWP about my ADHD diagnosis way before review in 2024. 

How correct is this? Im also suspected autistic too. And have referrals for the autism service in place. 
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Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited January 2023
    If you are already in the ESA Support group you can't get a higher award than you already get and there is no need to tell them. We have discussed the need to report changes (or not) at length in previous threads. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    We've advised you on this many times. You're already in the Support Group so why would you want to report changes that you now have a diagnosis?
    You can't receive a higher award than the Support Group. Reporting changes will very likely start a review of your exisiting award, which to me is completely pointless.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    They’re saying it makes sense to tell the DWP about new conditions apparently. 

    My claim is based on depression, anxiety and non epileptic attack disorder. 

    So I said why would I tell them I have a new condition?

    Why do they need to know I’m in chronic pain for example when if I could sort my mental health out, I could work?

    Has this lady given the wrong advice?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    The person you spoke has clearly given very misleading advice and if it was me i'd be making a complaint, if you know her name.

    As has been advised several times, ESA is not about a dignosis and you're already in the Support Group. Therefore there's absolutely nothing to report.

    I can see why you're so confused by going to other places for advice when you've already had advice from here many times.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Yeah, I do know her name and I rang Welfare Rights because I know you guys have mentioned a few times and I was a bit concerned that my award had been extended. 

    But yeah she’s saying tell them about your new conditions, it will likely trigger a re assessment but you’ll probably get LCWRA again because you’re bad anyway. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    bluefox said:
    I was a bit concerned that my award had been extended. 


    Support Group is an ongoing award so it hasn't been extended. Reviews are also still suspended, as we advised previously. The only assessments that are taking place at the moment are first time claims and change of circumstances.

    bluefox said:
    it will likely trigger a re assessment but you’ll probably get LCWRA again because you’re bad anyway. 
    Exactly so no need to report changes.

  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    edited January 2023
    What I also find confusing is the fact that my ADHD might have absolutely nothing to do with the reason I can’t work. 

    So she wants me to rip up my award for my seizures and mental health based on a new diagnosis which might not even affect my ability to work. 

    It would be like telling the DWP you’ve got a fungal toenail infection. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    bluefox said:


    So she wants me to rip up my award for my seizures and mental health based on a new diagnosis which might not even affect my ability to work. 

    I've never heard of such nonsense.

    bluefox said:
    What I also find confusing is the fact that my ADHD might have absolutely nothing to do with the reason I can’t work. 

    You won't be in the Support Group because of any diagnosis, regardless of what diagnosis you have or how many.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Why are Citizens Advice telling me that I need to tell them?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    edited January 2023
    You said it was Wefare Rights? Whether it was them or CA they are both incorrect. There's nothing more to advise you with because all we do is continue to go round in circles.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    You said it was Wefare Rights? Whether it was them or CA they are both incorrect. There's nothing more to advise you with because all we do is continue to go round in circles.
    I asked them both. 

    Citizens advise you must tell them about new conditions. What the hell?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    What exactly do you think you will acheive by reporting changes? Apart from wasting your time and theirs.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    What exactly do you think you will acheive by reporting changes? Apart from wasting your time and theirs.
    Not sure I’m scared now? 

    Really scared


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    The reason i asked that question is because it's ridiculous that you were even advised to report changes because of a new diagnosis. That's terrible advice and most certainly isn't the correct thing to do.

    As we keep saying, you're already in the Support Group and this is the highest award you can have.`The best that could happen from reporting changes is you remain in the Support Group. The worst that can happen is you're found fit for work so you will need to challenge that decision.

    I don't understand why you would put yourself through this when you already have the highest award you can have.

    The best advice i can give is to stop contacting advice agencies for advice on this and stop reading threads on other forums.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Okay, so you definitely don’t need to report a new diagnosis or new condition?

    Even if it is pain or mental related or even a fungal toenail?

    I don’t want to get in trouble for fraud, of course. 

    I can see the reasoning why you wouldn’t put new conditions, as it wouldn’t necessarily mean a better award etc. 

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    bluefox said:
    Okay, so you definitely don’t need to report a new diagnosis or new condition?

    Even if it is pain or mental related or even a fungal toenail?

    No.
    bluefox said:

    I don’t want to get in trouble for fraud, of course. 


    It has nothing to do with fraud.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    The Universal Credit journal says you must report if you are no longer affected or you have new conditions

    Hmm?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    bluefox said:
    The Universal Credit journal says you must report if you are no longer affected or you have new conditions

    Hmm?

    Nope, not at all, not if you have new conditions. The same rules apply for LCWRA as they do for Support Group. You've already got the highest award you can have for both benefits, therefore there's nothing at all to report. I really don't know how else you would like to me explain it to you, despite trying several ways.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Community member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    bluefox said:
    The Universal Credit journal says you must report if you are no longer affected or you have new conditions

    Hmm?

    Nope, not at all, not if you have new conditions. The same rules apply for LCWRA as they do for Support Group. You've already got the highest award you can have for both benefits, therefore there's nothing at all to report. I really don't know how else you would like to me explain it to you, despite trying several ways.
    https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

    It says on this page. I’m so confused right now. 
  • bg844
    bg844 Community member Posts: 3,883 Championing
    I don’t mean to sound rude but I’m struggling to understand why you keep chasing the same topic which gets the same replies.

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