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Should I contact DWP?

MarieBarl

I had my work capacity assrssmment on 6th June. I have heard nothing since and I turn 66 in less than 2 weeks.

I have had a text telling me that I need to send another fit note by the 30th August, but my current one runs out on the 26th, which is my birthday.

I am so confused and distressed because this should all be fairly straightforward after that, but I have now been told to keep detailed tax records as dwp will not tell hmrc how much I actually get paid in this year.

That's not as scary for me as it sounds, but not knowing what is going on and knowing that the government departments don't seem to know what is going on is driving me past my limit.

I am also waiting a mandatory reconsideration for PIP so I'm thinking I probably just have to wait. I don't want to end up having to pay them loads back because they haven't got their act together.

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Comments

poppy123456

Timescales for decisions once the assessment report is returned is anything up to 12 weeks. You're well within that timescale at the moment. If the report was chosen for audit then it can delay the decision so that may also be why it's taking quite sometime.

You can of course ring ESA to ask if there's any updates on the WCA decision. As you know your ESA will end once you reach state pension age. If the decision is to place you into the Support Group then you'll be owed money from the 14th week of your claim, up until your ESA ended.

MarieBarl

Is it normal to get your P45 before you have had your final decision through? I'm guessing these are computer generated.

I have had a heap of unnecessary reminders about fit notes, etc and would now have to go a month on a couple of hundred pounds before I get my first full month's pension if I had not sat down a while back with a calendar and plotted all this out.

Sorry if I seem 'needy' but I'm still stuck in my room and playing an ever lengthening waiting game.

I have no idea how others cope.

poppy123456

Sounds perfectly normal to me because ESA is a working age benefit and can't be claimed once you reach state pension age. Your ESA will end the day before you reach state pension age.

MarieBarl

Yes my ESA ended but my assessment was never settled. So I wasnt sure they could issue a P45 as there may be an amendment. Probably I will not get any extra the way things are going,

It's all such a mire.

poppy123456

There are delays in some areas with the work capability assessment. When did you start claiming ESA exactly?

MarieBarl

I am now going to assume they feel I'm not disabked enough for any extra as I am significantly worse than I was when I was awarded POP but when I rang them today they advised me that my mandatory review was done in july, but nobody had told me about it. They checked and no letter was issued. So although I cannot get out of my room by myself, or leave my house or even fully dress myself any more, I qualify for only the minimum mobility and no daily living.

As they read each other's reports before deciding - I was told this by the 'manager', I am assuming I will be getting no extra ESA for that period and going to try to just get on. I know they are under pressure, but they are not the ones trying to cope with all the pressures and bills.

Thanks for trying to help me @poppy123456.

Hannah_Alumni

I'm sorry to hear that it has been such a struggle @MarieBarl.

You could go to Tribunal. Citizen's Advice has an information page that you may find helpful to read.

MarieBarl

This might sound strange but the money doesn't matter as much as the fact that I would not know anything if I had not chased it.

I have had no letter from the ESA people either, so I will be contacting them next week when I have calmed down a little.

I find myself wondering how disabled you need to be to actually qualify for help.

Today I don't feel emotionally strong enough to deal with any of it.

Albus_Alumni

I'm sorry to hear you've been having such a bad time with this all @MarieBarl, hopefully you'll be able to get some decent answers next week from the DWP.
I understand very well how it can all get on top of you, so be gentle with yourself this weekend please. We're all here to support each other.

MarieBarl

I got the letter this morning. They decided I could walk 20 to 50 metres when I clearly said I could not walk unaided and even with the walker can only manage 10 feet.

Apparently I can dress myself - I need a lot of help with my lower half now, and I don't need help with my treatments - lower legs my husband has to do them, wash, moisturise, leg bandages and compression.

This was all pointed out in my letter.

Where was the point? I am now stuck on the minimum mobility because someone somewhere can't do a decent job of reassessment.

I don't qualify for most things as my husband is younger and working full time. Ive never had to negotiate the dwp and its badly flawed system before. How on earth is this fair for anyone? They have completely ignored any further evidence despite saying they read my esa application and assessment. It's obvious they did not.

I cannot even leave my room without a lot of assistance.

Sorry for pouring this out here. I don't want to burden my friends yet again.

I have really had enough. I was so optimistic in March, but that has all gone. I don't have the emotional resistance any more to fight. Its not at all fair on any of us.

Albus_Alumni

Oh @MarieBarl I'm so sorry, that's rubbish news! But please do not apologise for sharing here, it's what the community is for. We're all here to support each other, through good or bad.

I know it feels like you're at your wits end, but if you can manage it, please at least think about fighting that result.

chiarieds

Hi @MarieBarl - I really am so sorry that (I presume) your MR decision hasn't changed anything. I know it's easier for me to say just consider a MR the first stage that has to be gone through (which it is) in order to appeal. It's sad to say that the success rate, where an award is changed in the claimant's favour, with MRs is only currently about 23%. So, altho you feel you've done as much as you can, remember if you decide to appeal the tribunal will then see everything you've sent the DWP, including your MR.

I'd try not to think about it for a few days, then as Albus says, I also hope you consider appealing to a tribunal, who are completely separate from the DWP, & where the success rate is over 70%.

I hope you know everyone here will support you, as well as advise where they can, so you're not alone.

MarieBarl

I know I am not alone.

It is hard enough dealing with my issues which are not the ones I was anticipating at this age, I have worked really hard to maintain what I had and it has been taken away in a horrible mishmush of accident, misjudgement, neglect and denial from various sources and I have hit a point I haven't been to in years. Even when I was bullied at work I had more resilience than I have now.

I have worked all my life thinking I would have something in my retirement and it is just gone. I don't enjoy anything as what I can do is so restricted.

Today I don't even want to get out of bed.

Albus_Alumni

@MarieBarl it's ok to just sit with things for a day or two.

It's a horrible and dehumanising system and we're made to jump through so many hoops, that I feel they want us to give up. BUT appealing and going to a tribunal is worth fighting for, when you have the energy.

We're all here to be your cheerleaders when you need us.

MarieBarl

I went back to the letter this morning to see what I needed to do to appeal.

They have backdated the letter to the day it should have gone out so I am outside the timeframe.

I am not just angry and upset any more I cannot believe how devalued and dishonest this makes the whole system.

It's like trying to swim througjh a jelly.

poppy123456

You have 13 months to request the MR and not just 1 month as the letter advises.

If you’re outside the 1 month then you will need to tell them why you’re late requesting it. If they refuse you just proceed to Tribunal.

Albus_Alumni

They certainly don't make things easy do they @MarieBarl? That's very sneaky of them! Honestly, I'd still try and appeal if you feel up to it.

poppy123456

Albus_Scope said:

They certainly don't make things easy do they @MarieBarl? That's very sneaky of them! Honestly, I'd still try and appeal if you feel up to it.

It’s irrelevant anyway because of the 13 month timeframe.

MarieBarl

I am struggling with a lot at the moment. My father (88) has been rushed into hospital this week and has been very poorly.

I am trying to think of ways to get by without more hassle with 'the system' because I feel that its wasted breath.

Adult social services practically ordered me to apply for a couple of benefits I don't qualify for. One because I get PIP, the other because I have a tiny supplementary pension. They are so badly informed it is shameful.

I will fight back, but it's hard at the moment. This year has been truly dreadful.

I still haven't heard from ESA. I am going to write to them. I really just need time for me first. If that takes me out of the 'zone' so be it now.

poppy123456

I'm sorry to hear about your dad and i hope he recovers soon. I wouldn't expect adult social services to have any benefits knowledge to be honest because they are not benefits advisors.

I note from a previous comment that you live with your husband. This means that although you are state pension age you don't qualify for pension credit because you're what's known as a mixed aged couple.

Any benefits entitlement will be through Universal Credit and as it's means tested you'll need to claim as a couple. Your state pension and private pension will be deducted in full. As your husband works full time there maybe no entitlement but i'd advise you to use a benefits calculator just to check. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

Did you ever have the decision of your work capability assessment? Did you request the MR for your PIP? May i ask what PIP award you have?