ESA - Prognosis

ElsieC1

I have read that each New Style ESA (Support Group) awarded comes with a 'recommended period' - something they call a Prognosis - before it is reassessed ? If so, why is this recommended period not written on letters from the DWP ? Surely the claimant has a right to know the period. PIP has transparency when it comes to review dates - why the lack of transparency with ESA ? Will they give it to me if I have the patience to wait an hour or so on the phone to speak to someone?

poppy123456

That's because ESA Support Group is an ongoing award until a new decision says otherwise. Even if you ring ESA to ask the timescale they have for a review, this is only ever a guide.

At the moment reviews are currently suspended and have been for coming up to 3 years and it's unlikely they will start back anytime soon. When they do start back there will be huge backlogs so in my opinion it's pointless ringing ESA to ask when you're due to be referred again.

ElsieC1

I see - a notional period only. Thank you for the explanation.

poppy123456

Danny123 said:

Last esa reassessment I had was Nov 2019 I should of had another in Nov 2021 , I transferred over to a Mix of cb esa and uc in July 2022 .... were all reassessments suspendeded Inc uc ? Because I was thinking I still might be waiting a long time until being reassessed as I'm already a year and 3 months over but my claim would be under the form of a uc50 now because as I understand it you don't get seperate forms as in uc50 and esa50 for people who get a Mix like me it's all covered by a uc50 form .... so maybe uc reassessments won't be as backlogged as uc 

All reviews are suspended and this includes UC. UC and ESA WCA are identical and are done by the same company. When claiming both ESA and UC then it will be done through UC.

JBS2022

Yeah reviews have still got massive backlogs not likely to start up until summer 2024 at the earliest, even that's being generous.

ElsieC1

My original question was not about when reviews will restart but why ESA (Support Group) Awards - ongoing as Poppy rightly states - are, nevertheless, given an actual Prognosis period that is not directly disclosed to the claimant ? PIP claimants know the length of their awards - be it a fixed term or a light touch.

Thank you all for your comments - abundantly clear reviews will not be starting any time soon so any prognosis period is of little consequence.

poppy123456

PIP and ESA are 2 completely different benefits. PIP decisions have end dates, ESA decisions don't have end dates, unless you're claiming New style ESA and were placed into the WRAG and then payments stop after 1 year.

JBS2022

There have never been end dates for ESA, it just carries on until you are sent a new ESA50 form.