Who decides?

I am being migrated from IB to ESA (I was exempt from the PCA). I received the letter, a week or so later the phone call, then a week or so later the form. I filled it out and sent it off on the same day it arrived along with a new medical report I that my doctor had written.

I have read all the guides. But what exactly will happens to my form now? Will it just be assessed by a computer or input clerk, then passed onto a non-medical DWP decision maker? Does anyone with medical expertise look at it or the medical report from my doctor (I have a severe form of a rare illness).

Is it only the people for whom there is no clear or obvious claim (in accordance with the ESA criteria) that are summoned to be interviewed? How long can I expect to wait for a verdict? Thank you.

Kate32 wrote:

I am being migrated from IB to ESA (I was exempt from the PCA). I received the letter, a week or so later the phone call, then a week or so later the form. I filled it out and sent it off on the same day it arrived along with a new medical report I that my doctor had written.

I have read all the guides. But what exactly will happens to my form now? Will it just be assessed by a computer or input clerk, then passed onto a non-medical DWP decision maker? Does anyone with medical expertise look at it or the medical report from my doctor (I have a severe form of a rare illness).

Is it only the people for whom there is no clear or obvious claim (in accordance with the ESA criteria) that are summoned to be interviewed? How long can I expect to wait for a verdict? Thank you.

Hi,


The form you completed sounds like an ESA50 form which is where you answer questions relating to your illness/disability.

That form should be read by the person (be it a Doctor or a nurse) who carries out your Work Capability Assessment (medical). It should be read before they carry out the medical although as you may have read on the forum how quickly they have 'scan read it' leaves a lot to be desired.

If you made a copy of your ESA50 form it is a good idea to take it to the medical as an 'aide memoire' so nothing is missed out during the medical.

Once the medical has been carried out, the computer report from the medical, together with your ESA50 and any other medical reports etc you have submitted are read by a Decision Maker (not medically trained but they can refer queires to medico's) who makes the decision as to whether or not to award you ESA, what group (Support Group or Work Related Activity Group) you are placed into and for how long before your next review.

Pete

Thank you for replying. So even though there is primae facie evidence and a clear and an unambigious statement from my doctor that sets out the physical problems I have (which clearly and without any doubt meet their criteria for having 15 or more points), will I still definitely or very most likely be forced to go for an interview?

Kate32 wrote:

Thank you for replying. So even though there is primae facie evidence and a clear and an unambigious statement from my doctor that sets out the physical problems I have (which clearly and without any doubt meet their criteria for having 15 or more points), will I still definitely or very most likely be forced to go for an interview?

Hi,

It is possible that they can decide to place you into the Support Group or WRAG without a medical, based on the evidence submitted, however in general that only occurs in a small number of cases. Most claimants are called in for a medical.

Sadly if you are called in for a medical you do have to attend (it maybe deferred for a short while if you are too ill or away etc) but that is only a deferral and you will still have to attend the medical if called.

In determining your claim, the Decision Maker can choose which evidence to give primacy to and make a decision based on that.

Pete

Thank you so much for replying, Pete. It's all very stressful and worrying, but I will try and put it out of my mind until I hear from them again.