ESA PHONE CALL DO NOT UNDERSTAND

I have sent my ESA form in two weeks ago as I have to be assessed to see if I will still get benefits. I am on DLA and incapacity benefit at moment. Got phone call yesterday from benefits office to say I am being transferred. My money is the same amount and I will get a call to go to job centre. I do not understand if this is a good thing. What do they want me at the job centre for, please can someone explain. I am so frightened.

Note by mod - please do not post in capitals as these are "shouted" by screenreaders (used by blind people). I have retyped this for you. Survivor.

The job centre appointment sounds like a work-focussed interview. This is to discuss options for a future return to work. You must participate fully or you may lose your benefit.

Hi, Barbara

It's all very bewildering and the DWP are rubbish at communicating so you're not alone in finding it frightening. There"s lots of info on this site, so you've come to the right place.

Go to the members area here: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

There is a 22 page guide: "Being transferred from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance". That's a good place to start. There are also other guides explaining ESA in greater detail. Once you've had a good read, you can post questions on anything that's still not clear.

Best wishes,
Andy

barbara laing wrote:

I have sent my ESA form in two weeks ago as I have to be assessed to see if I will still get benefits. I am on DLA and incapacity benefit at moment. Got phone call yesterday from benefits office to say I am being transferred. My money is the same amount and I will get a call to go to job centre. I do not understand if this is a good thing. What do they want me at the job centre for, please can someone explain. I am so frightened.

Note by mod - please do not post in capitals as these are "shouted" by screenreaders (used by blind people). I have retyped this for you. Survivor.

BL,

I am a bit confused here, have you been put into the Work Related Activity Group, just on your ESA50 submission, and without the need for a face to face assessment by ATOS?.

It sounds like you have by the fact that your benefit money has not changed.

As Survivor says sounds like a Work Focussed Interview.

IMO I would want written confirmation of my assessment (Which Group).

I would further request an ESA65 (Written Statement of Reasons), an ESA85, (Copy of medical assessment report), if you had a face to face assessment. Or an ESA85a if you did not actually have a face to face assessment.

These documents which you are entitled to, will give you information of how you were assessed, giving reasons, and a prognosis, which would be the expected date for a review.

These docs may help you grasp things more, as you seem to have suffered a lack of information from the DWP. I would definately contact them to clarify the position.

Please get back to us if you gain some clarity on the issue.

hope this helps

bro58.

Hi Barbara

It looks like Professor Harrington's brilliant idea of JCP informing and explaining to claimants over the phone about what's going on does not appear to be working, and if anything is causing more confusion.

It's quite possible that a decision has not yet been made and they are simply telling you that you are being assessed. The word transfer is totally inappropriate as nobody is really transferred but reassessed.

The JCP interview could be anything but they should write to you to give an appointment even if it's arranged over the phone, and the letter should give a, probably brief, explanation of what the interview is for.

Good luck

Derek

Thanks for your reply, it has helped