Work commitment esa

Redgeorgi1

Hi 
I've been on new style esa for a year. 
I was in this due to anxiety. 
I've now developed rhumertide arthritis. My esa finishes in December 2021. I have sent a fit not to dwp. A work coach spoke to me to say there are no commitments to keep esa payments. 
I have just received the commitment letter saying no commitments etc. 
Very strange letter or form. There's nothing to say I need to sign or send back all it says by the signature space is telephone interview. 
Is that it now? Do I have to send bavk the form? Thank you 

vikingqueen

It is ' rheumatoid ' arthritis. Have you had a diagnosis from your rheumy team? 

Redgeorgi1

Yes I have x

vikingqueen

Make sure your GP puts it on your sick note, hope you are getting the right medication it took about 3 years to get mine sorted. 

Redgeorgi1

Yes she has with the anxiety. 
Still early days for me really. My consultant has changed my medication but I'm not really seeing any improvement atm. 
Gosh 3 years that sounds terrible.
The commitment letter I've received, I presume that's just for my records? There's no information to send back etc? 

poppy123456

Have you had a work capability assesment for your current ESA claim? If placed into the Support Group your payments will continue for as long as you remain in that group.

If you've had the work capability assessment and you were placed into the WRAG then yes payments will stop after one year.

Redgeorgi1

I had the work capacity assessment on Monday, not much was said really. He just said do I accept the commitments, which was basically keep updated on any changing health concerns. 
Then the commitment firm came through with just that on and ticked. No info on sending back or what I would be paid, if pay continues. 

Redgeorgi1

I did ask if payments would continue and he said yes. 
I don't know what group I'll be in, there's no info at all. 
I wasn't in support group I was in the 1 year esa 

calcotti

Redgeorgi1 said:

I did ask if payments would continue and he said yes. 
I don't know what group I'll be in, there's no info at all. 
I wasn't in support group I was in the 1 year esa 

It sounds as if you are waiting for the outcome of the assessment and are still in the 'assessment phase'. Your payments will stop after one year unless the assessment decision places you in the Support Group in which case your payments will continue.

poppy123456

Redgeorgi1 said:

I had the work capacity assessment on Monday, not much was said really. He just said do I accept the commitments, which was basically keep updated on any changing health concerns.

That would not have been the work capability assessment. That sounds like you had an appointment with your work coach, they do not do work capability assessments.

Have you filled out the ESA50 form since you claimed ESA? This is the form. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capability-for-work-questionnaire

The work capability assessment is completed by the Health Assessment Advisory Service. https://www.chdauk.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance-esa Once your assessment is completed, the assessment reported is returned to DWP and a decision maker will look at that and all the evidence you sent and make a decision from that. It will either be fit for work, WRAG or Support Group and you will be sent a decision letter in the post.

Redgeorgi1

Yes, sorry work coach. Never had that before. 
So I've been on esa since Dec 2020 I had one medical lady ring me. 
Then a letter to say I can get esa. 
Not heard anything till Nov 2021 to say my esa is finishing.
Then I sent a fit note to say I still have anxiety and also a new condition rhumertide arthritis.
I then had an appointment with work coach to agree to commitments which was just to keep updated with my condition 
Then I received the form  commitment from the work coach.
So do I still have to wait to see if I will still get payments.?
Thanks 

poppy123456

What did the letter say? Did it tell you that you were placed into either the Work related activity group (WRAG) or Support Group? If it's the former then your payments will stop after 1 year. It would help to know which group you've been placed into.

If it was the WRAG i don't know what the rules are for reporting a new condition but i think there's a waiting period before you can receive payments after the 1 year has ended but i'm not 100% sure on that, others may know if they see this.

If you're receiving £74.70 (over 25's) per week then it's likely that you were placed into the WRAG.

Redgeorgi1

Hi. 
Thanks for helping, it's just a basic form saying electronic signature on phone to agree to commitments that's it?? ☹️
No commitments just to report if another illness 

calcotti

poppy123456 said: If it was the WRAG i don't know what the rules are for reporting a new condition but i think there's a waiting period before you can receive payments after the 1 year has ended but i'm not 100% sure on that, others may know if they see this. 

I can't think of any reason why an ESA claimant in WRAG cannot report a deterioration in their health based on a new condition and request a new assessment. When a new assessment is done if a decision is made that the claimant fits the Support Group criteria that should be backdated to when the change was reported.

As always it needs to be remembered that the decision is based on the difficulties experienced, not on any underlying diagnosis.

Redgeorgi1

This is basically it 

poppy123456

calcotti said:

poppy123456 said: If it was the WRAG i don't know what the rules are for reporting a new condition but i think there's a waiting period before you can receive payments after the 1 year has ended but i'm not 100% sure on that, others may know if they see this. 

I can't think of any reason why an ESA claimant in WRAG cannot report a deterioration in their health based on a new condition and request a new assessment. When a new assessment is done if a decision is made that the claimant fits the Support Group criteria that should be backdated to when the change was reported.

As always it needs to be remembered that the decision is based on the difficulties experienced, not on any underlying diagnosis.

Thanks calcotti. The reason i thought that was because of the 1 year time limit if in the WRAG and would payments stop or continue? This was my only thoughts.

OP doesn't seem to know which group they were placed into after the WCA. If in the Support Group, there would have been no need to report any changes.

Redgeorgi1

Thanks everyone x

Redgeorgi1

It's so stressful, I haven't got a clue what's happening. I hate ringing them. I'll just wait and see what happens. X

calcotti

poppy123456 said: Thanks calcotti. The reason i thought that was because of the 1 year time limit if in the WRAG and would payments stop or continue? This was my only thoughts. 

OP doesn't seem to know which group they were placed into after the WCA. If in the Support Group, there would have been no need to report any changes.

If no revised WCA decision has been made by the end of the 12 months in WRAG the ESA payments would stop but if a decision is subsequently made that the claimant is now in Support Group that decision would be backdated to the date the deterioration in health was reported. Payments would then be reinstated with arrears due.

calcotti

Redgeorgi1 said:

It's so stressful, I haven't got a clue what's happening. 

How much ESA do you currently receive?
Did you complete a health questionnaire after you claimed?
Do you recall having an assessment (probably by phone) and then getting a decision?

Redgeorgi1

Hi
I recieve 140 fortnightly. 
Nov 2020 I filled in a long booklet questionnaire and then a lady rang me then I got the esa contribution based till now