Sending the work capability questionnaire late

Good afternoon scope family, because waiting blood tests, waiting for GP to give appointments and now the bank holiday, I will sending my work capability questionnaire for esa late.

Has anyone got any information what I can do.

Thank you.

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Posts: 6,369 Championing

    Hi,

    If you can phone them today, you can ask for an extension.

    If you can't phone them then there isn't anything you can do. Just include an apology note in the paperwork when you are able to send it.

  • Barrie786
    Barrie786 Posts: 21 Connected

    Thank you

    I will send an apology letter with the form, as I had been trying to call and I was on the call for an hour and nobody picked it up.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 9,343 Online Community Team

    As OverlyAnxious mentioned, perhaps pop a note in with the forms and send as soon as you can. You could also try ringing again after the Bank Holiday just to let them know what's happened. Hopefully they'll be understanding about it all ☺️

    Fingers crossed it all works out okay for you.

  • flour
    flour Posts: 153 Empowering
    edited August 30

    Hello

    Based on what you've said, you will not be sending it in late, you will be sending it in on time.

    In practice there isn't an allowance for an extension for the WCA50 form. You cannot request extra time like you can with PIP.

    If you only have a physical disability then you will need to return it on time. It can only be late if you have a good reason, e.g. bereavement, in hospital or an emergency at home. Waiting for evidence due to appt delays is not a good reason. Write on the extra information section on the form that you have evidence you wish to include but it is not ready and you will be sending the evidence later by post or email. See more -

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form-esa/form-is-late/

    However if you are mentally ill and they are aware of this then they should proceed without the form, which, in effect, allows the mentally ill to return it late. Its not that they were given an extension but rather by way of being mentally ill they were exempt from returning the form at all - of course some do return the form in the gap between the deadline and the assessment appointment and it is then used in the usual way.