Do I still attend Tribunal if DWP sent me letters saying they've re-assessed my case and paying ESA?

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dillon

Hi,

As per title, I 'failed' assessment @ Croydon in February last year, tried to appeal but that was turned down too, so it has gone to tribunal.

I got notified last July that I was on waiting list and it'd be approx 7 months, last month I finally got tribunal hearing date of next week (21/2).

Despite being helped by Citizens Advice, the DWP representatives on the phone told me something different each time I phoned them (re non payment as my benefits were stopped). Eventually I got a backdated sick note from my GP from the time I "failed" - that was in September.  I have also been getting same sick notes from GP from then each month.

Last year, I got notification from DWP about when my sick note was finished and I needed a new one, but in December the letters from DWP changed.

I got a letter in Decemebr saying they "have looked at my claim again following a recent change. From 2018 your Employment and Support allowance will be £73.10 a week". Since then I had no requests for sick notes and also no payments from the DWP(?).

I got further sick notes from my GP and sent them off and received payments, I got another letter which said my benefit would be £71.10 from April 2019, then another letter on 6/2/2019 saying the same as above ("have looked at my claim again following a recent change. From 8/1/2019 your Employment and Support allowance will be £73.10 a week".

I have received and forwarded to DWP my sick notes from my GP that covers me until April of this year, but I am totally confused.

1) Do I still have to attend Tribunal hearing next week?

2) If so, why(?) have I recevied letters from DWP saying they have looked at my case agian?

Background:

Have been pateint of local Community Mental Healthcare for past 30 years, in 2007 I was diagnosed with rare learning disability and registered as special needs, put on higher rate (£100pw) benefit - no contact with local Jobcebtre / DWP needed, benefit paid every week for years no problem..

This remained the same until 2012, when new regime of assessments started, each 'assessment' I failed, but 'won' every one upon first appeal. Never had to attend tribunal.

Higher rate of £100 pw week continuously paid.

Many thanks for any help anyone can give.

Kind regards

Andy

wilko

Hello @ Dillon, I would phone the tribunal service.of you have their number on any letters for an update regarding your need to attend and phone the DWP for clarification on the matter also. For anyone to say yes or no would be a folly so phone and get the answers you need.