ESA
seanmartindill
Community member Posts: 2 Listener
I have severe depression and ADHD. I had to make a rapid reclaim for ESA after a short period at work. I am getting my previous amount but had to send more evidence in. This was on 14th July. Six weeks or so more I called and it is still with a decision maker. I know i waited 14 weeks before 18 months ago! Is this a normal wait? Why so long? Plus a friend of a friend has become an assessor for PIP and ESA in Brighton. I don't wabt to bump into him or be assessed by him! Can you ask to go with an advocate out of area
Comments
-
seanmartindill,
When the DWP request more evidence they normally give you a month to provide it, but when it comes to them making a decision, it seems they take much longer! This doesn't sound out of the ordinary, but at this point you could try to push the process along. For example you could say that if you don't hear from them within the next 2 weeks (14 days) you will be making a complaint. If that doesn't work, you may have to start the complaints process formally.
You would then have waited 8 weeks, which I think is (or should be) an unreasonable delay for the consideration of additional evidence. However, if they decide to ask you to an assessment, this can take a lot longer, because of delays with appointments (they can make a decision based on the paperwork alone, and this does sometimes happen).
Regarding where the assessment takes place, there is no harm in asking to be sent to a different centre if you wish, and you are able to travel. However, I don't think you could insist on this. You could insist you are not assessed by this person, but I realise that doesn't entirely avoid the risk of bumping into him. Having said that, the assessment company should have a confidentiality policy (which you could ask to see) - the member of staff is almost certainly under a duty not to mention the names of people coming for assessments outside of his work.
WillThe Benefits Training Co:
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 13.3K Start here and say hello!
- 7K Coffee lounge
- 101 Games lounge
- 483 Cost of living
- 4.6K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 230 Community updates
- 9.6K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 807 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 666 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 374 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 845 Transport and travel
- 32K Talk about money
- 4.6K Benefits and financial support
- 5.2K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.2K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 5K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.4K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 886 Chronic pain and pain management
- 183 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.3K Mental health and wellbeing
- 328 Sensory impairments
- 832 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
Do you need advice on your energy costs?
Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.