ESA medical report - UC claim

Jonnyc

Will my ESA medical report prognosis - 'work unlikely in the longer term' - be carried over automatically when my claim for UC is complete or will I have to point it out to Job Centre staff ?

I am a UC newbie having just got New Style ESA.

Thank you

calcotti

What group are in on your ESA claim or are you waiting for a decision?

Jonnyc

I am in the Support Group - already claiming. The medical report states I have severe functional disability.

calcotti

What is carried across to UC is your Support Group status as LCWRA in UC.

Jonnyc

So the reference to 'no further assessment' and 'work unlikely in the longer term' will not apply under UC ? As far I can tell I was recommended for the severe condition category - though admittedly the Support Group award letter makes no mention of it ?  Maybe this category does not exist under LCWRA.

poppy123456

Jonnyc said:

So the reference to 'no further assessment' and 'work unlikely in the longer term' will not apply under UC ? As far I can tell I was recommended for the severe condition category - though admittedly the Support Group award letter makes no mention of it ?  Maybe this category does not exist under LCWRA.

Yes it will be because it's the same for LCWRA as they are exactly the same process. However, i would have expected your decision letter to advise you of this so you should check with ESA that no further assessments are needed. The report is a recommendation only.

Jonnyc

The decision letter only talks about the payments and that I meet the Support Group eligibility criteria.

Do these letters normally give a reasoning from the DM ? 

Jonnyc

I will check with ESA as requesting the ESA85a has misled me, perhaps.

poppy123456

Jonnyc said:

Do these letters normally give a reasoning from the DM ? 

No but with the severe conditions group i've heard the decisions letters specifically state no further reviews needed.

Jonnyc

ESA85A states 'The client's condition is unlikely to improve and is consistent with a severe condition as defined. As per departmental policy no further assessment applies'.

Couldn't be clearer but given what you say I should be prepared for the Job Centre to send out a UC50 at some stage in years to come. I think I will get through the UC claim process before getting back to ESA.

Thank you for your input 

poppy123456

Jonnyc said:

but given what you say I should be prepared for the Job Centre to send out a UC50 at some stage in years to come.

That’s actually not what I said. If the severe conditions group applies then the same will apply when you claim UC. 

However, the ESA85a is the assessment report with a recommendation only. Only a decision maker can make that decision. 

Jonnyc

Not what you said - what I naturally inferred from your response. Hoping the DM went with the recommendation - otherwise why have a WCA ?

Meanwhile I must now focus on the UC claim.

Best wishes 

calcotti

Jonnyc said:

Not what you said - what I naturally inferred from your response. Hoping the DM went with the recommendation - otherwise why have a WCA ?

The DM is expected to take into account all the information available in connection with the claim. The WCA report is part of that information.

poppy123456

Jonnyc said:

Not what you said - what I naturally inferred from your response. Hoping the DM went with the recommendation - otherwise why have a WCA ?

Meanwhile I must now focus on the UC claim.

Best wishes 

The WCA is to gather more information to support your claim. Mostly they go with the report but it has been known for them to go against it.