Paper Based ESA assessment

Cab87 · July 2018

Hello. I have a question regarding an ESA claim. Any help would be appreciated.

In January 2017 I made a joint claim for ESA.
In January 2018 I received an appointment for a medical assessment. I was keen for a home visit as I do not leave my home and was advised to get a doctors letter to support this. The letter apparently was not good enough and I was given more time to get more information or attend the next appointment. I managed to get a second doctors letter and had that faxed to support a home visit along with a complaint made by my partner due to the long wait. On the 11th of July I received a letter from the medical assessment centre advising me that I no longer need to attend an appointment. We phoned and they said they had enough information and I don't require an assessment. I believe they are now doing a paper based assessment. Does anybody know what this means? Is this good or bad? I've been in the assessment phrase since January 2017. We've phoned dwp and they say no information on file.

Thank you.

Ripples · July 2018

@Cab87 This means that your claim will be assessed on the evidence they already have, it also means they are unlikely to find you fit for work. When a decision is made any monies you are due as back payment will be credited to your account. If your file has gone back to the DWP for the DM to make a decision then you should hear within the next month. No information on file just means that the decision hasn't been made or is unrecorded as yet on your file.

Cab87 · July 2018

Thank you for the information, very helpful.

Does this mean I would be placed into the support group? I have read elsewhere that they cannot place you into the WRAG without a face to face assessment. Is this true?

Ripples · July 2018

@Cab87 My understanding is they cannot find you fit for work without a face to face assessment . Is this a first claim for ESA? I wouldn't wish to pre-empt whatever decision they are going to make especially as I do not know your circumstances but I would guess that if you are unable to leave your home because of physical and or mental issues then you probably meet the conditions to be placed in the support group.

mikehughescq · July 2018

It is correct that you can’t be found fit on a paper based assessment. However, they can consider SG or WRAG.

Liam_Alumni · July 2018

Hi @BenefitsTrainingCo, do you have any information or advice about paper-based assessments?

[Deleted User] · July 2018

As @BenefitsTrainingCo haven't been able to post as yet, I agree with mikehughescq; you can't be found fit for work on a paper based assessment, but you can be placed in either the support group or the work-related activity group.

Gill_Scope
Benefits and Finance Information Specialist
Scope Helpline
Tel: 0808 800 3333

littleruthie123 · September 2018

Hi I'm also being forced too an assessment which o. Able too travel too. P.i.p saw me at home. And I got both higher rates .feel like I'm be I g bullied and I by them.trying too speak too them on the phone is ridiculous .can I push for a paper assessment. Ive been I support group since 2014 .do they even do home visits.

poppy123456 · September 2018

Hi,

Yes, they do home assessments for ESA as well as PIP but you will need a letter from your GP stating the reasons why. They will only do a paper based assessment if they have enough evidence to do one, if they haven't then a face 2 face assessment is needed. If you need to speak to them regarding this then it's the health assessment providers you need to ring and not DWP. Number is on the top of your appointment letter. Good luck.

littleruthie123 · September 2018

Thanks poppy .here I go again .🙄

littleruthie123 · September 2018

Ive messaged my m.p already as they were great before .Also my mental health doctor .will ask g.p again tommorow hate too keep asking them

mikehughescq · September 2018

Home assessments currently running at 29% for PIP. Won’t be far off for ESA.

littleruthie123 · September 2018

At the worst if I can't get a home asses.ent could it effect my p.i.p.awatd thanks .

poppy123456 · September 2018

No, they're different benefits.

littleruthie123 · September 2018

Thanks poppy my anxietys on overtime. Thank you again x

poppy123456 · September 2018

You're welcome. Yes i can tell that. We all get anxious with ESA renewals because we never know when the form is going to come through the door. Speaking from experience i try to put it to the back of my mind, if i don't i'll go crazy thinking about it and that doesn't do any favours for our health. Try and think of something else, if possible. x

littleruthie123 · September 2018

Thanks your so right. Your very kind poppy .

Crystal2323 · January 2020

Hello I hope someone will answer me. I recently filled in esa50 this was sent before christmas and received end of December. I phoned health assessment people they told me they had enough evidence and done a paper based and sent off DWP for out come. I was not required for F2f, however I have heard nothing back and just wondering what this means as never had paper base before and I am currently in the support group.

poppy123456 · January 2020

Crystal2323 said:

Hello I hope someone will answer me. I recently filled in esa50 this was sent before christmas and received end of December. I phoned health assessment people they told me they had enough evidence and done a paper based and sent off DWP for out come. I was not required for F2f, however I have heard nothing back and just wondering what this means as never had paper base before and I am currently in the support group.

Hi,

A paper based assessment means that you can't be found fit for work but you can be placed into either of the groups. There's no timescales for any decision but you can request a copy of the assessment report to be sent to you, this will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report.

Hopefully not too long but your money will continue until a decision's been made.

Crystal2323 · January 2020

Thank you, I do hope I hear soon but at least my money hasn’t stopped at the minute which would of been worrying. I think it is demeaning to make people wait it is as if your life is in their hands by there DM decision

poppy123456 · January 2020

Crystal2323 said:

Thank you, I do hope I hear soon but at least my money hasn’t stopped at the minute which would of been worrying. I think it is demeaning to make people wait it is as if your life is in their hands by there DM decision

No problem, like i said, you can't be found fit for work without a face to face assessment and because you've had a paper based assessed, i wouldn't worry too much.

Paper Based ESA assessment

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