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PIP award triggering ESA reassessment????
JamesGeorge
Member Posts: 29 Courageous
Hello. I'm in a state worrying, didn't sleep last night from worrying as got a text message from DWP yesterday saying 'we need to talk to you about your ESA claim. Please call us straightaway on...' the thought of it has upset me as the text sounds very official and surely anything important would be sent in the post? I've only just been awarded PIP and have been claiming ESA since early 2017. My two thoughts are that, my condition worsened a month after my ESA assessment and I did not let them know re the ESA - didn't see how it would make a difference as my situation is worse and I can not work and I am already in the SG category. The only other thing I did not inform the DWP of in relation to the ESA is a recent 5 night stay in hospital, which the PIP officer said made no difference. I realise in hindsight I ought to have advised of any changes but. I. Now think the DWP are going to use my mistakes against me so they can reassess my ESA in the hope of stopping that and my PIP. The point is, my situation has worsened, I still cannot work, my condition has deteriorated and I now think I'm going to be expected to have to go through the DWP nonsense all over again. I couldn't bear it with my anxiety being worse than ever. I dread hospital and GP appointments and yet we all know a DWP one is hostile 99.9% I believe they are doing this just to. Make things hard for me as I won my appeal at tribunal that I did not appear at in person due to my anxiety. Does this resonate? Any thoughts? Should I ring them or wait for a letter? I'll be all wound up regardless until this is sorted. I'm not well, this is the last thing I need.
Replies
I don't think the change of circumstances you described have any bearing on ESA.
All their texts and letters sound horribly official! From what I can gather, there are a few simple possibilities...
1, now you have been awarded PIP, you may be entitled to premiums related to ESA.
2, if you've had ESA for about a year, they may be reveiwing it. They check on most claims around the year mark I beleive.
As hard as it is, it's best just to call them. Not knowing often makes us think it's going to be awful news but it rarely is that bad
Yes, I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and call them as waiting for that brown envelope will now be just as bad as I'm upset over the text.
Thank you so much for helping. Sometimes, knowing others understand your situation helps even though it's not solved. I don't have anyone I can talk to about it so this forum helps.
Thanks, JUrph
James
I know I always assume the worst until I know otherwise, it's impossible not to. Once you know what it's about, come back and let us know. Whatever it is, you'll get help here ☺
Is it quite usual for successful PIP Tribunals to call people in for ESA Reassessments?
Good luck!
Yes, and it would be good for people to know...
I lost my pip care and I didn't need to tell them, big the award and then taking the premium arrived the same day!
Puzzled though why you were only given ESA for two years. Did they wrote and tell you that. I've never been told this but maybe new claims are different.
and not to the people in the support group
but i am in the support group on neither contribution based or income related. Just there because I can’t work due to disability and I don’t get any disability premium even though I get pip.
i used to work. I finished 4 yrs ago
If you are a couple:
- You and your partner must be getting a qualifying benefit,
However you have just been awarded a qualifying benefit- standard/ enhanced pip care, so you might actually be entitled to this on top. An advisor might see this and help you out.I find forums odd sometimes that it's unfair that someone doesn't get extra money, but someone who has just had that taken off them is fine.
as a few days after my brown envelope from pip, I had another brown letter from ESA saying that there had been changes and I am awarded exactly the same as I’m on now. £110 a week
@CockneyRebel any ideas?
Income related get EDP don't they?
Its always worth bearing in mind that benefit rules are complicated. For example, there is an overarching rule that if one person in a couple works 24 hours or more, there is no entitlement, at all, to income-related ESA. That's an absolute rule. But the same couple could get universal credit (UC), if they live in a full-service UC area, because that is a rule that hasn't been carried forward to the new system.
With both old-style and new-style contributory ESA, payments are only made for a year unless the person is in the support group. That impacts on anyone whose only entitlement is to contributory ESA. This may well seem unfair, and it is the current law. Some people may qualify for income-related ESA when their contributory ESA runs out.
It is almost as if the system has been designed to be impenetrable.
Premiums, which are a facet of income-related "legacy" benefits only, and not including tax credits, are different for each benefit. So what lillybelle is asking isn't straight-forward.
Which is why I think it would be best to take your paperwork to a specialist adviser locally, if you can, and ask them to translate for you!
If that isn't possible, because there isn't a local service that you can use, do feel free to telephone the helpline to discuss your concerns there.
Best wishes
Gill_Scope
Benefits and Finance Information Specialist
Scope Helpline
Tel: 080 800 3333
What happened in the end?
Do you live with a partner that works?
I'm really worrying and it really is making me ill. I had to fill a 'form' which was in fact, a 40 page book!!! To apply for this PIP.
I've been in a wheelchair for 22 yrs with multiple spinal problems. I also have a lot of other conditions.
Everyone tells me not to worry and that they won't stop my DLA going to PIP! But I'm reading different.
I'm terrified they'll stop it and I'll lose my wheelchair! The NHS wheelchair breaks down 9 times out of every 10 I use it, so I got one off motability.
If they take it, I'll be housebound and I'm worried sick about it! They've had the form back a week now, any idea how long it is until they let us know?
I can't sleep for worrying!
Thanks in advance!
I'll read the link now.
Thanks!
My DLA didn't have points you see.
Thanks
Cos I'm maxed out than 12 points in total.
And thank you! Again!
No that's the thing, I'm expecting them to stop it because that's all I'm hearing...
I'm scared they will because my wheelchair will have to go back then I'll become a prisoner again!
This is my greatest fear ..
I'll go to all the links you've sent me!
And thank you again.
But I did give them full permission to pull all my files, scans xrays, contact all my drs and specialists, everything about me is there.
I could have seen my gp but the form said not to delay sending them back through waiting for proof to send them.
But I'll fight it, regardless, if they refuse me.
I did that form you linked me too, on the first part I scoredscored 62 points.
On the 2nd part I scored 22 points.
But hearing all that I've heard, they won't care anyway and throw me off! But yeah, I'll fight it.
Thanks again for your help.
I am not sure what i wrong with you but that seems like a very large amount of points to claim. I used to support a guy who was totally paralyzed and used a ventilator to breethe and he probably had about that many points?
Im affraid i agree with poppy i dont think you understand PIP very well. To back up the points you think you can make you will need to send in evidence. You really needed to have sent evidence with your form. They really really rarely contact anyone for info... the certainly will not look at your xrays or scans. You can try and take evidence to you face to face assessment but I had extra evidence that came available after i applied to go with the stuff i sent when i applied and i took it to the assessment but she wouldnt take it. Did you not get any advice before applying?
If they don't check it out whywhy do they ask for dress and specialists contact information?
Well, I'm not worrying about it, it's making me ill.
If they take my wheelchair we'll just have find a way of replacing it.
Thanks forfor all your input though. Appreciate it.
I'm lying here in pure agony at the moment because my back feels like its snapped at the base. It's one of those, 'scared to move moments'.
I'm terrified ill kiss me powerchair you know. That will be what finishes me. Because if I lost that, I may as well give up, cos I'll never get out.
They'll be confining me to the 4 walls of my home.
I've had an NHS powerchair for 22 years now, but almost every single time I use it, it breaks down. I got scared to go out in it. My poor hubby has to then push me in it. And it's heavy! And I'm heavy!
So I won't get out. I just won't. And though I don't go out very much and I'm home for weeks on end, at least I know its there when I can.
So if they take it, that'll be me finished.
But I'll let know.
I did respond to your last post explaining some of my conditions, but I can't see it here?
Kat
If you do have medical evidence (consultants' letters etc) I would send those in. Make sure it's all headed up as relating to your PIP2 form, & put your NI number on it as well as your name & date of birth - just helps to keep everything together.
If you need to have your face to face assessment at home, you should say so. As Poppy says, whilst the assessment company can write to professionals for more evidence, they don't do this very often. And the more evidence you can provide, the better.
I hope everything goes better than you're hoping - I do understand your fears, but see what happens. If you do not get the rate of benefit you think you should, then don't hesitate to seek advice about challenging that decision. There's lots of experience on this forum.
Will
So it's OK to send them evidence and they'll tag it onto my form?
All I have are appointment letters, but I am seeing my Dr on Wednesday, should I ask her for a letter too? She'll do one for me, I've no doubt about that.
Again though, thank you, and I will update on what happens next
Kat
I think it's worthwhile asking her for a letter even if there's a charge. Can't lose anything by it but could gain by keeping my wheelchair.
I totally understand why they're doing it, well, one reason I'm told, is to remove people who are faking disability. Which is sad. But it just makes it harder on genuine ones.
As I say, I will update you, but knowing whatwhat I've been told on herehere, I'm expecting to have to appeal.
Kat