ESA Review

Ippy29
Ippy29 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited September 2023 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi all, I have been on PIP and IR-ESA from 2014, and had several reviews. At the end of last year I had a PIP review, completed the form and sent MRI and Medication Summary from GP. A few weeks later I got a letter and was told I would stay on the same level of benefit with no interview or assessment.

In July 23 I got told I needed to do a ESA WCA, filled in the form sent it back with MRI results and Patient Summary from my GP showing I am on high levels of opioid and various pain medication. I got a letter telling me I would have a telephone assessment in 10 days time. The day before the assessment, I got a call confirming I am still ok for the call booked for between 1-4pm today. I've had no call and ive been sat all worked up waiting for a call that never happened. As it's the weekend, do I call ESA and explain that the call never came? I have seen so many people say they tried to say they called.. I don't have an answer machine on my line to give me time to get to the phone and answer it and there's no missed calls?

Any advice on how to deal with this? And will they now move me on to UC?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,859 Championing

    Hey Ippy, 

    I've been waiting for someone to respond to your post and I'm sorry you've been left hanging again. 
    The no-calls and suspense is deliberate so keep chasing ESA because you have an existing award and may need to fight to keep it. I hope you don't have to. 


  • bg844
    bg844 Online Community Member Posts: 3,883 Championing
    Apologies this was missed, we aren't always active. Did you mange to sort the problem before we advise further?
  • Ippy29
    Ippy29 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Called the phone number on the appointment letter and had my WCA call this morning. No real explanation of what happened but the assessment was interesting. 

    The lady was under the impression this was my first assessment as she said I scored no point on my 2017 review, even though I was placed in the support group. But competed the assessment and she said based on my medical evidence and discussion they would recommend that I stay in the support group. 
    However having read all the advice on here, I’ll wait till I get a letter. She also said based on my medical evidence she didn’t see why I would need to have further reviews - but I won’t count my chickens. 
  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    Hopefully the DWP decision maker follows the report. I am also sorry that we missed this, we try to respond to every issue. 

    Let us know how it goes, hoping for a good outcome!
  • Ippy29
    Ippy29 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    I finally got my letter today, I have been placed  (or continue to be) in the support group. There's no end date or review date on the letter. The person who did my assessment said they would recommend I am not reviewed again due to my medical issues but I assume they can reassess me anytime ? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    There’s never any end dates on WCA letters because it’s always an ongoing award. 
    You can ring ESA to ask if you’ve been placed into the severe conditions Group and they will tell if you have. This would mean that no further reviews would be needed. 
  • Ippy29
    Ippy29 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    There’s never any end dates on WCA letters because it’s always an ongoing award. 
    You can ring ESA to ask if you’ve been placed into the severe conditions Group and they will tell if you have. This would mean that no further reviews would be needed. 
    Thanks for the tip, the letter unlike the others doesn't say a great deal, other than about mandatory reconsideration if I am not happy and the breakdown of what I will get. I get the severe disabled premium but I assume that's not the same thing. 
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,650 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    WhatThe said:


    The no-calls and suspense is deliberate...


    Just wanted to point out everyone needs to be careful with talk like this, as it's just personal opinion and not proven fact.  Thanks. :) 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Ippy29 said:
    poppy123456 said:
    There’s never any end dates on WCA letters because it’s always an ongoing award. 
    You can ring ESA to ask if you’ve been placed into the severe conditions Group and they will tell if you have. This would mean that no further reviews would be needed. 
    Thanks for the tip, the letter unlike the others doesn't say a great deal, other than about mandatory reconsideration if I am not happy and the breakdown of what I will get. I get the severe disabled premium but I assume that's not the same thing. 

    That's exactly what the WCA decision letters have always been like. I've claimed ESA for 10 years and i've never known them to be any different.

    The SDP is a disability Premium paid in with your ESA.

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