Ésa assessment

Schildpad

My name is schildpad

New in this chat

I had an assessment a few days ago. Still waiting . This message is for something that happened a few days ago in the assessment and never before.. normaly on this assessments the person can not bother to read hospital letter etc. But this person read the letters and at the end of the session photocopied them. Also took notes on the medication etc.. she was listening and typing.. issue here is the person never asked me to do tasks. I have mental and physical issues so do not know why?. I do not know what to expect but my experience with assessments is that I fail and then have to fight to get it back.. I am worried sick that the person will be telling lies like I was able to bend etc. I was sitting down for the whole session.

I feel I will have to fight again and I have no strength anymore. If I fail will have to go again through the process of asking for a mandatory reconsideration as I believe it had not change.. I hope I pass but I might not have passed and now it is all over again like the last time.

Thanks.

poppy123456

It's a good thing that they read the letters. They don't always ask you to do tasks at the assessment. I've had quite a few WCAs over the years and never been asked to do any.

The majority of people are found to have LCWRA and that's a good thing. I would try not to speculate anything at this stage.

Once the assessment report is returned a decision can take up to 12 weeks. If it's Universal Credit you're claiming and you have access to a journal then the letter will be uploaded onto there.

Schildpad

Thank you for your reply. I am in Esa and I would love to be still in the esa.. i have been in Esa for a long time. They do an assessment, I fail ,I fight back and so on . I had to do tasks before like bending etc.. I guess it depends on the assessor. But I am also scared about the moving me to universal credit. Really scared I heard people losing money . Thanks for letting me know about 12 weeks. That is so far away. I hope it take less time. But not sure about this outcome really only that this assessor has been different.

..I

poppy123456

Those that migrate across to UC through managed migration will not be any worse off when they claim. If it's Income Related ESA you're claiming then you will eventually be migrated across.

Assuming your assessment was face to face because you mention tasks, like I said they don't always ask you to do those. If it was video or telephone then they don't ask you at all.

Schildpad

I know it will eventually happen. And it will be a five week wait with no money. I guess I will survive as long as I will not be worse off. Because I heard some people will be worse off. Anyway right now I have to pass this i can't go through the mandatory reconsideration again. And I have decided not to apply for job seekers as it will not be jobs seekers any more. I had to apply for.job seekers in the pass while fighting to get the esa back. But know I have decided that it brings more anxiety to the mix. So I will survive with pip and housing benefit until my ESA is back.. last time I had to apply for jobs I couldn't do and it is not worth it. So If I fail I will try to keep my housing benefit because they cut it i do not report that I still need it. But I might pass. But will take a while to know..

Schildpad

Thanks poppy for your help. I just hope the outcome will be one I deserve.

Schildpad

Still figuring out how the chat works etc.. but I will learn.. thanks.

poppy123456

You’re welcome.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @Schildpad, do you have anyone that could help you through the process at all? Or have you tried reaching out to local organisations to see if there are any benefits advisers available? I just ask because you mention you don't have the energy to keep fighting, so one solution might be to get some help with it?

I'm lucky in that my partner has always been a great source of support for getting things dealt with when it comes to the DWP.

Schildpad

Thank you. Yes I am on and off with the mental health team and neurologist. But this has no cure so it is becoming more obvious etc . The neurologist now only sees me once every two years. Used to be once a year. But yes I keep trying therapies and medication that does not work. Neither the mental nor the pain related one. In the eyes of the neurologist Nf1 is not at serious as nf2. So I feel ignored. My mum died from the same condition so it is serious enough and had the same type. But anyway. The issue is it has no cure for the time being. That is. I hope I will live to see a cure for it. N problen is NHS gives you some help and then they stop.. a few sessions and then try again another time .. meaning another year..

Kimmy87

When you change to UC it won't be 5 weeks with no money.

After applying you will get an extra 2 weeks of ESA and Housing Benefit, which won't be deducted from your first UC payment.

Schildpad

It's good to know... thank you. I did not know.. thanks. As with everything I hate anything new out of my comfort zone. So that is the reason I always stick with what I know. But thanks. Still I rather wait for them to send me the letter etc..

Also I heard the amount of money allowed in Esa is 6000 max but changes to a lot more in universsal credit. I think id 16000. Whoever is lucky enough to have that money ...

poppy123456

You've heard incorrectly or you have misunderstood the rules on savings/capital for both benefits. All working age means tested benefits have a lower savings limit of £6,000 before your benefits are reduced for every £250 or part thereof over that amount. The maximum amount is £16,000 and this applies to all working age means tested benefits.

With the exception of council tax reduction because some local authorities have a maximum savings limit of £6,000 before entitlement ends.

Schildpad

I did a esa assessment a long time ago. But It pass the 12 weeks about 11th of this month. Is it ok they take that long.. really concerned they might say no and I failed..

Also petrified about the migration to universal credit..

Anyway. I do not want to think too much about it. But I am very very scared about the future...

poppy123456

I can sometimes take longer than 12 weeks for a decision when claiming ESA.

Schildpad

Ok. But this is a reassessment..

Anyway. As long as they keep paying.... And so far they are still paying. But very scared in any case.