ESA review form received

poppy123456

kami84 said:

Poppie, what would be the disadvantages of calling them? Do you think that if they tell me 'the review is happening, wait for the form, it will come in post' do you think that it will not come? I'm on my own without support and actual evidence of my mental health. Previous years I had psych hospital stays and plenty evidence. But now I don't and I am on contribution based since 2018. Im not sure if I even had any review since then  Social worker advised me to call now. In case review is happening I will know earlier and if I call them late it can lead to mess. Why Poppie you wouldn't recommend calling? 

The reason is because when you ring they will read from a screen and tell you a date but it's not guaranteed that you will receive the form at that time. I've been claiming ESA for 10 years and have never rang them to ask for a date. It happens, when it happens. There's nothing stopping you preparing for the form and you can even use the online form to do that. Save it but don't send it. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capability-for-work-questionnaire

JBS2022

The information I provide is updated when I get new information, not misleading. Regarding the claimant being sent a review, it has been 10 years since that person has been assessed, an extremely long time even by DWP standards and therefore they had to authorise a review in this rare case. Most long time claimants  were reviewed before covid and unfortunately this person was missed, probably due to the old out of date computers they still use. So no it wasn't misleading information. 

itwilbok

Struggling today, feeling overwhelmed with trying to put into words how things are. Been look at the linked advice which is helpful. I have a lot of notes jotted down but just can't seem to get past this point. Maybe I should step a way for a day and see if that helps, not sleeping my mind is on repeat, so that's not really helping me focus.

Hannah_Alumni

@itwilbok That sounds like a good idea. I know many who do the forms over a couple of days because it can feel so stressful. Can I ask, have you spoken to your GP about not sleeping? 

itwilbok

I haven't no, I have tried herbal and over the counter stuff, when my OCD get bad I just really lock myself away.

Hannah_Alumni

@itwilbok I would encourage you to speak to them. I know that getting a GP appointment can still be difficult, so it may also be worth talking to your pharmacist. 

itwilbok

Thank you, will try

kami84

I want to update that I had called DWP against the advice on the forum and was told that my review is going to happen in August 2025

kami84

But I'm not sure if that's true 

bg844

kami84 said:

But I'm not sure if that's true 

I can't see why you even bothered asking then.

kami84

Not your business then 

Votadini

kami84 said:

I want to update that I had called DWP against the advice on the forum and was told that my review is going to happen in August 2025

Thank you for this. It confirms that deferments are still being applied unless under exceptional circumstances which tallies with the information JBS2022 has provided. And while we know these deferred review dates are merely placeholders they still indicate that there's little sign of reassessments starting again at scale any time soon.

poppy123456

kami84 said:

Not your business then 

I think that's quite rude. JBS2022 had already advised that they are still suspended. Yet you accused them of giving misleading information. You rang ESA who confirmed it's been extended (although the award is ongoing anyway) yet you still don't believe them...

kami84

I think it's irresponsible to give people information unsure of the facts and telling them not to call DWP. It's basically information overhead by someone... I think that's irresponsible

kami84

Sorry that you think it's rude... -IT'S NOT. 

poppy123456

Where exactly was the irrespeonsible information you mention? With all due respect you rang them to ask and were given information that your review date has been extended by 2 years, yet you still don't believe them. Therefore, it didn't really help you to ring them.

kami84

I'm so sorry if I had offended anyone. I really am sorry. I'm living in an extremely challenging situation. I didn't mean to offend. I'm sorry. Thank you for giving me some hope. 

poppy123456

kami84 said:

I'm so sorry if I had offended anyone. I really am sorry. I'm living in an extremely challenging situation. I didn't mean to offend. I'm sorry. Thank you for giving me some hope. 

You didn't offend me. I was just trying to advise you that ringing to ask for a referral date, really isn't going to help you. At least now you can try to relax a little more.

Asia23

Hello Everyone,

Just as an observation, I've noticed on other forums that there are a growing number of ESA Support Group claimants who are now receiving ESA50s and having WCAs.  The thing they all seem to have in common is that their claims are very old, and they all seem not to have been reviewed in years, as much as 10 or 11.  They also all seem very surprised to be reviewed at all because they have been left alone for so long, but they also don't appear to have any exemption which would have switched off their reassessments, since the rules changed in 2017.

So, it looks like the DWP (as well as randomly selecting a limited group of UC LCW/LCWRA claimants nationally to reassess regardless of the time since their last review) have decided to target their oldest ESA claims which have perhaps slipped the net over the years just as @JBS2022 has indicated.

I am also not seeing anything on other forums about more recently reviewed ESA claims being reassessed currently.  So, I am hopeful that, as @JBS2022 has previously said, it is very unlikely that I will be contacted for my scheduled review this summer.  It was reassuring to know from @kami84 that their scheduled review in August has been deferred to 2025, so thank you for having the courage to find that out because it also gave me hope that I will similarly be spared. 

I hope that you are coping with completing your form @itwilbok and you have all the help you need with it.  Good luck.

poppy123456

Asia23 said:

Hello Everyone,

Just as an observation, I've noticed on other forums that there are a growing number of ESA Support Group claimants who are now receiving ESA50s and having WCAs.  The thing they all seem to have in common is that their claims are very old, and they all seem not to have been reviewed in years, as much as 10 or 11.  They also all seem very surprised to be reviewed at all because they have been left alone for so long, but they also don't appear to have any exemption which would have switched off their reassessments, since the rules changed in 2017.

They could have been on the list for a referral back in 2020 but reviews were suspended at about the same time as lockdown was announced. 10/11 years without a review is an extremely long time so they really are due that review now.

Some people (myself included) did receive the forms just before lockdown was announced and had a decision on that review.Some people didn't have a decision on that review so will now be called for that assessment at some point (without receiving another form)