WCA - paper based assessment — Scope | Disability forum
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WCA - paper based assessment

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ElsieC1
ElsieC1 Community member Posts: 31 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I called the Health Advisory Service this morning to find out whether they had received some additional evidence I had sent in for the assessment. The customer service agent told me a report / medical opinion had already been sent back to the DWP ESA team - she could not divulge the details of the report. I have not even had an assessment yet - I had been expecting a telephone call at some stage a few months down the line. Do I take it that their report was based on what I stated on the ESA50 and my supporting documents ? Is this common at the moment given the enormous backlogs ? Should I expect an assessment call from the DWP instead ? Can I ask for a copy of the report ?

A little confused by this.

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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    ElsieC1 said:
    ..Do I take it that their report was based on what I stated on the ESA50 and my supporting documents ? 
    Sounds like.
    ElsieC1 said:
    Is this common at the moment given the enormous backlogs ?
    A paper based report will be written if there is sufficient information already available to do a report without am assessment (or if you automatically qualify such as cancer patients having chemotherapy or radiotherapy).
    ElsieC1 said:
    Should I expect an assessment call from the DWP instead ? 
    No - although a DWP Decision Maker occasionally rings if they are unclear about something. It's unlikely.
    ElsieC1 said:
    Can I ask for a copy of the report ?
    You can but, in my opinion, there is little point in getting it.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • ElsieC1
    ElsieC1 Community member Posts: 31 Listener
    edited January 2023
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    Thank you for addressing each question. 

    Will my GP get a copy of the medical report or just the DWP's decision on which group I will be put in  ? I ticked the box giving them permission to share the details of my assessment.

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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,707 Disability Gamechanger
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    ElsieC1 said:

    Will my GP get a copy of the medical report or just the DWP's decision on which group I will be put in  ?

    No, they won't receive a copy of the report. They won't know the decision of the WCA either. Sometimes they contact them to tell them that no further fit notes are needed but not always.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • ElsieC1
    ElsieC1 Community member Posts: 31 Listener
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    OK -Thank you
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  • ElsieC1
    ElsieC1 Community member Posts: 31 Listener
    edited January 2023
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    Just one more thing ( I sound like Columbo) - how long should it take from receiving the Health Advisory report and their making a decision ? I guess it is like saying how long is a piece of string ?
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,707 Disability Gamechanger
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    ElsieC1 said:
    I guess it is like saying how long is a piece of string ?
    Yes exactly. Timescales for the decision are up to 12 weeks.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    poppy123456 said:..Sometimes they contact them to tell them that no further fit notes are needed but not always. 
    They can only do this if claimant has authorised them to do so on the WCA form.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    ElsieC1 said:
    Just one more thing ( I sound like Columbo) 
    Hope you've got a better raincoat.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,707 Disability Gamechanger
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    calcotti said:
    poppy123456 said:..Sometimes they contact them to tell them that no further fit notes are needed but not always. 
    They can only do this if claimant has authorised them to do so on the WCA form.

    Yes, indeed, which i should have advised. As the OP said they did give permission i forgot to add it.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • ElsieC1
    ElsieC1 Community member Posts: 31 Listener
    edited January 2023
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    Yes as I said I ticked the box on the ESA50 authorising this. 

    No raincoat just a love for those classic 70s episodes of Columbo - being virtually housebound I need something to distract from my aches & pains - Peter Falk does the trick

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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    poppy123456 said:..OP said they did give permission i forgot to add it. 
    I missed that!
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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