Question re Support group, no assessment

Hi,

I have just been placed in the support group with no assessment (IS to ESA migration, new ESA50). I found the guides here very useful - thank you, and thank you to all the moderators for the hard work you put into the forum.

I sent a copy of my completed ESA50 to my local BDC at the same time as returning the ESA50 to Atos.

It would be very helpful for me to know on what grounds I was put into the support group, and, more importantly, when the review date is for reassessment.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this decision would have been made via Atos (I don't know if this happens without an assessment), or if it would have bypassed Atos and been made directly by the DWP decision maker. If I write to my local BDC would I ask for a 'statement of reasons' and would this include the review date?

Thank you for your help.

Laika

Hello Laika

I am in more or less the same position as you. I think it is distressing that people who do not go through a face to face assesment do not get told in their award notification when their ESA claim will be reviewed.

In my case I sent a letter to the manager of my JCP and asked them to provide me with all the documents which related to the decision they made on my application for ESA. I posted it last week but haven't heard back yet. I explained in the letter that the reason I was asking was in order to get some idea about when I would be forced to fill-in another ESA50.

I suggest you do the same.

Oh and by the way, I forgot to ask, did you have a "from" and "to" date at the end of your award letter? If so, was the "to" date in December 2011? Because mine was and I was worried that this would be then the time they would review.

And secondly, I didn't read the B&W guide and I didn't send a copy my ESA50 to the decision maker, I believe that no ESA50 application by-passes ATOS.

Hi Kate32,

Thank you for your replies. I will write as you have done requesting further info from the DWP.

I had no 'to' date in my letter, only a 'from' date. I don't know about this but wondered too if a 'to' date could refer to when the amount someone receives might change for some reason, rather than a review.

I hope you hear back soon.

Laika wrote:

Hi,

I have just been placed in the support group with no assessment (IS to ESA migration, new ESA50). I found the guides here very useful - thank you, and thank you to all the moderators for the hard work you put into the forum.

I sent a copy of my completed ESA50 to my local BDC at the same time as returning the ESA50 to Atos.

It would be very helpful for me to know on what grounds I was put into the support group, and, more importantly, when the review date is for reassessment.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this decision would have been made via Atos (I don't know if this happens without an assessment), or if it would have bypassed Atos and been made directly by the DWP decision maker. If I write to my local BDC would I ask for a 'statement of reasons' and would this include the review date?

Thank you for your help.

Laika

Hi Laika

I believe it is possible for the DWP to make a decision based on medical certification but generally Atos advises the decision maker.

If you have been awarded ESA without a medical you won't have an ESA85 report but you may have an ESA85A that would consist of the advice the decision maker was given from Atos, which usually includes a reassessment date.

But as Kate suggested it's a good idea to ask for all of the documents regarding the decision as you never know what else they have said about you.

Regards

Derek

Kate32 wrote:

Oh and by the way, I forgot to ask, did you have a "from" and "to" date at the end of your award letter? If so, was the "to" date in December 2011? Because mine was and I was worried that this would be then the time they would review.

And secondly, I didn't read the B&W guide and I didn't send a copy my ESA50 to the decision maker, I believe that no ESA50 application by-passes ATOS.

Hi Kate

If you are referring to the part of the letter that gives a breakdown of the payments, I wouldn't worry too much about the 'to' date.

I think they are just standard letters and many people are being told what they will be paid until December 2011, but I don't think anything particularly dramatic will happen in December. Perhaps their computer system can't think any further ahead.

I think you are right that all ESA50s go to Medical Services at Atos.

Regards

Derek