esa reassesment?

I first claimed ESA in 2009, had my medical, got put in the support group. Wasn't expecting a renewal till 2011. I moved house in July 10 and told them of this.

Rolling on to last month i realised all my benefits had been stopped. I rang to enquire why and they said it was because they'd had returned mail and my address was wrong. I updated them with my new details and was told i'd get a backpayment soon. The backpayment didn't appear so i rang again and was told that I'd missed a medical last september. I told them i knew nothing of it (due to them having the wrong address) and she said it would be refered to a DM to decide if that was good cause. But then they paid the backdated ESA.

I've just received an ESA2 form which confused me as i was expecting an ES50 form. Does this mean I've got to start again from scratch? I did ring up and the women said its standard procedure after a change of circumstances and to complete it and send it back. I've heard nothing else from them, and don't know if this means I'm back on the assessment rate or not?

Can anyone tell me if this is usual procedure for ESA claims?

just to add I just rang up again and apparently they're under the impression i'm a relationship with my flatmate! (I'm not obv). I was told they'd send someone around to check, what should i expect (i have MH problemns and get really panicky about these things)?

It shouldn't be a problem. They'll see that you each have your own rooms with your stuff separate. You could also show them the paperwork relating to your living together. For example, if you both rent from the same landlord, there will be separate tenancy agreements, or if one of you is the other's lodger, there will be the rent book/tenancy agreement.

My friend lost his benefits two days before Xmas 04 (before I had CFS and was working)
He lived with me for a short time as he had nowhere else to live, so he used my spare room. I went to the Job Center with him and explained to the person who interviewed both of us. His claim for Job Seekers Alowance was allowed and all was well for about six months then he lost his benefit beause he was living with his partner who worked full time. Job Center Staff refused to speak to me re this and my friend was told the decission had been made and to appeal against it. Anyhoo June 05 he won and got all his backdated money. The DWP did not attend but had said their reason his benefit was stopped was because most people would assume we were a couple as we lived in the same house shared aminities and left by the same door. Tribunal threw their (DWP) case out as I had gone with him to explain circumtances and invited them to visit whenever they wanted without notice and they never did.
Anyhoo what I am trying to say is if the DWP want to make a claim seem not what it is they will.
Hope all goes well with you.

will the fact i have a joint tencency agreement go against me? i've always had the same kind of tenecy agreement that everyone signs in all the places ive rented and we each have a copy of it?

xXMessedUpXx
Rebecca Bryan wrote:

will the fact i have a joint tencency agreement go against me? i've always had the same kind of tenecy agreement that everyone signs in all the places ive rented and we each have a copy of it?

It just means that you'll have to find other ways of establishing that you're not a couple. For example, how are the rest of your finances organised?

Or what about what relationships you have with others? Does either of you date others?

Are you both of the same orientation? (E.g. opposite sex and both hetero?)If not, that may help.

Do you keep your stuff separate in the fridge? In the bathroom? In the airing cupboard? On the bookshelves?

Do you have rotas for anything like which day you use the washing machine so as not to get your clothes mixed up?

Are you registered with different doctors?

What about your council tax?

Who's liable for what bills such as fuel, water, telephone? How do you arrange that? Are there payments from one's account to the other's paying half these bills?

If you're not a couple, it will show in your living arrangements.

(These are rhetorical questions - I'm not asking you to tell me the answers!)