ESA Support Group Medical Report

Flowersmith1

Have just received the ESA medical report form and was wondering what the following means exactly  'The Med 3 and medical evidence suggest that due to ... the client's condition is unlikely to improve and is consistent with a severe condition. As per departmental policy the category of no further assessment cannot apply where the outcome is Cancer treatment, Risk LCWRA, Risk pregnancy or LCW '. In my case, the outcome is none of the things listed.

Aren't all Support Group conditions 'severe' by definition ?

poppy123456

Not all health conditions qualify for severe conditions group. Severe conditions group means no further reviews will be needed.

Severe conditions group can’t apply if placed into the Support Group because of substantial risk or because of treatment for cancer. 

As this is only the assessment report you will need to wait for a decision to be made. Mostly they go with it but it has been known for them to go against it but it’s rare. 

Flowersmith1

I have already been placed in the Support Group a few months ago and requested the Medical report for my own records. They went with the assessors report but does that mean I am in the severe conditions group you refer to ? The wording of the report I gave you above would appear to suggest so.

Do I need to bother contacting ESA for clarification or just accept that what's written on the report has been put in the system ?



 

poppy123456

You will need to contact ESA to ask them. 

Flowersmith1

Will the outcome of the ESA Medical report namely 'the client's condition is unlikely to improve and is consistent with a severe condition'  transfer over automatically to Universal Credit so that I get the LCWRA element ? Are their systems interconnected ?  Hope I don't have to chase or explain things to Job Centre staff - too unwell for all that.

Starting the process of claiming UC.

Thank you for your help

bg844

Yes, your Support Group status will transfer over to UC from day 1. This will be called LCWRA on UC.

As for the severe disabilities group, it is my understanding that the length of award (including the severe group) will transfer over to UC, although I can't 100% say the award length will remain the same unfortunately. When you do apply for UC please be aware that they may ask for a fit note, ignore this message and leave a note on your journal that you already have a determined decision and if they could ask for this information off ESA.

Flowersmith1

Thank you. I will let them know I have a determined award in the Journal - it's all new to me.

The Medical report Prognosis says ' I advise that work is unlikely in the longer term '. What length of time is 'in the longer term'  ?  All sounds vague - is it that a common phrase for the Medical report.

bg844

See this link:
https://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0980/117._Severe_Conditions_v2.0.pdf

poppy123456

Flowersmith1 said:

The Medical report Prognosis says ' I advise that work is unlikely in the longer term '. What length of time is 'in the longer term'  ?  All sounds vague - is it that a common phrase for the Medical report.

I’m a little confused with that part, especially as the Severe conditions group was mentioned. 

As I advised above severe conditions Group means no further reviews are needed. 

May I ask which descriptor were you placed into the Support Group for? It should tell you that in the report. 

Flowersmith1

Thank you for that link - v useful

One last thing do ESA Medical reports normally specify a time period for reassessment if the client's condition does not meet the severe category or are they all vague like mine as the award is open ended ?

Flowersmith1

' Client unable to transfer from one seated position to another without assistance from another person ' is the descriptor mentioned in the Medical report.

Flowersmith1

Plus all my other private medical matters.

poppy123456

Flowersmith1 said:

Thank you for that link - v useful

One last thing do ESA Medical reports normally specify a time period for reassessment

No, usually it's advised as short, medium or long term. Support Group is always an ongoing award until a new decision says otherwise.

Flowersmith1

You asked about the descriptor - is it of any  relevance ? Will it affect my moving onto UC ?

Thank you for all your input

poppy123456

Flowersmith1 said:

You asked about the descriptor - is it of any  relevance ? Will it affect my moving onto UC ?

Thank you for all your input

When you migrate to UC then you'll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim, as advised by bg844. The reason i ask which descriptor applied was because i wanted to check that the severe conditions group applied because it can't apply through substantial risk.

You do need to ring ESA though just to check if the severe conditions group was put into place by the decision maker.

Flowersmith1

I will do that. Thanks and best wishes to you.