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ESA suspension and told to call compliance officer

Georgia36

Please help I received a letter this morning dated from 2 weeks ago saying my esa been suspended because I missed a compliance call but only got the letter about the call this morning which was also dated two weeks ago. I have been given given direct number for compliance office and been told to call them and ever since 8am this morning I have called them 235 times only for line to be busy. This is making me really sick and dizzy as I have no other income and need food to take all my meds and mental health is through the roof. Please help I don't know what to do

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poppy123456

You can try ringing ESA. Which number it is will depend which ESA you're claiming. If it's the old Income Related ESA then it will be this.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm

If it's New style ESA then the number will be..

Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Georgia36

@poppy123456 I called that number this morning and they told me to call 0300 0462977 which I have been doing since 8am this morning 335 times to be exact and it keeps saying line is busy. I'm really struggling because my ESA was due this morning and it's still not gone in and they saying I have to contact Matthew on the above number to get suspension lifted. I feel physically sick,my mental health is getting worse and I have no money for food gas or electric so without food my medication won't work...I don't know what to do the line been busy for 3.5 hours now constantly its like they doing it on purpose to not let me have my money...Im sat here crying my eyes out with fear and worry and my health will just get worse as I can't take my tabs if I don't have any food or any electric to cook with...

ShirleyW

Do you have a friend or family member who can help you with this?
Have you told anyone about it?

I feel you need some physical support at the moment to get you some food to eat and take your medications while you continue to try phoning them.

janer1967

I would try and get some food from a food bank

You may have to get some vouchers yo do this

Ring your local job centre see if they can advise or your gp about not being able to take your meds

Georgia36

@ShirleyW no I don't have anyone as I lost my dad to cancer two years ago and I don't speak to my mum or sister due to them taking me to court 15yr ago to take my older kids off me when they were small...

Georgia36

@janer1967 I already tried that but food bank said they couldn't help me. I have no money to get to my hospital appointment tomorrow either. ESA tried to find another number for me but it rang once then cut off....I really worried because if I don't take my tabs then I will just spiral out of control... its made me sick several times already and I feel dizzy...😭 why can't ESA just get in touch with the compliance officer and tell them I tried 335 times since 8am to get through to get the suspension lifted but its like they are enjoying not picking the phone up to me so in their eyes they see it like I not bothered but in fact all I want to do is get my money back up and running and then my MH and other illnesses won't have to suffer...

poppy123456

I hope by now you've managed to contact them. If you haven't then i'm very surprised that you were refused help from a food bank. I've never used one but i beleive you need a referral to be able to use them. There's some information here in this link. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/using-a-food-bank/

janer1967

Like I advised contact your gp if you can't take your meds they may have knowledge of community support to help you in an emergency

Georgia36

They called me back finally telling me that my esa been stopped and I now have to claim UC but I got to wait for a call from them in 2-3days to confirm identity and then it won't be 5 weeks til I get a payment. Don't know what they expect me to do now. As I have no money for shopping,gas,electric or hospital tomorrow now and I been physically sick and Dizziness is kicking in....Its an absolute joke and although I had first half of cost of living payment I'm now worried incase I don't get second half now too...😭😭😔everything is going wrong I can't cope with this its ripping me apart.

poppy123456

Your ESA shouldn't have stopped completely, it should have just been suspended. Are you 100% sure you were told it's ended?

When you claim UC your first payment will be 1 month and 6 days later. You can request an advance payment once you've claimed but this needs to be repaid back and your future payments will be reduced to pay it back.

If you claim for help with any rent through housing benefit this will continue to 2 weeks and then stop. Your rent will be included in your UC maximum entitlement.

If your ESA has been cancelled and your claim has definitely ended with it being a short gap between benefit claims it shouldn't really affect the next CoL payment, though the criteria hasn't been announced yet.

janer1967

Why has your esa ended ?

Was it new style esa and you have been claiming for a year or is it for another reason

Tori_Scope

I've sent you an email from community@scope.org.uk about this @Georgia36, so please do keep an eye out for that

I'm sorry to hear about everything you're going through at the moment. I pointed you towards this in my email to you, but we have a page on getting free and cheap food, which you might find helpful to read.

poppy123456

janer1967 said:

Was it new style esa and you have been claiming for a year or is it for another reason

I couldn't have been New style because the OP mentioned receiving the first part of the cost of living payment.

Georgia36 said:

I had first half of cost of living payment

Georgia36

It was old style esa and I had been claiming it for last 4 years...

janer1967

@poppy123456 I realised that after I posted doh
What are the reasons why it could be stopped

So why has it stopped ? Did they give you a reason

Georgia36

@janer1967 they said because I apparently missed a call from them but I had no missed calls or anything and I only received letter about it yesterday saying I had the appointment 2 weeks ago. They told me that I would have to apply for UC now instead which I did this morning but for them to verify my identity and request advance payment I would have to wait 2-3days till they call me and it's bank holiday this weekend so it may be longer. I can't even get a payday loan either. My electric on emergency,we have virtually no food at all and there no point in me taking my meds with no food as they won't work

poppy123456

I don’t understand why your ESA just ended because you missed the appointment. As I advised it should have just been suspended. Who told you they closed your claim?

Did you even find out what the compliance call was regarding?

Georgia36

The woman on the phone who did the compliance call...She said its because I missed the call appointment but how can I miss an appointment I didn't have a letter for til 2 weeks past the actual date and they said if I don't reply they stop my claim. They said it's not only happened to me but others disabled and vulnerable claimants in my situation. I think its a sick way to make me suffer. I haven't eaten all day because of the stress and physical upset and worry...Im practically living off fresh air right now and they don't care...

janer1967

I understand your situation but not reasons why it stopped rather than suspended

Try and contact welfare rights or cab for advice and food bank vouchers

And as earlier contact your gp about support for taking meds

See if there are any community support out in your area try local council they have lists or organisations

Also see if your local mp could help

Tori_Scope

Do you think you could manage to eat something tonight @Georgia36? I know it can be really difficult when you're feeling stressed and anxious, but it's important to try and eat something if you can.