Passed IB to ESA without medical!

millymoo wrote:

Just a thought!! If you had gone for a medical etc would you have expected to have been placed into the support group or work related group? I am wondering if DWP are making decisions without medicals and putting people in the work related group and hoping that they are just so grateful to have not required a medical that they accept the decision. It really makes me wonder if this is a cop out to keep the support group numbers to an absolute minimum, or am i being cynical?!!!!

Mm xx

Hi MM,

Statistically, your chances of being put in the Support Group diminish if you are sent for a face to face assessment.

However we have had many members who have been put into the support group,after a face to face.

One member posted such a scenario, after having a face to face that lasted just a few minutes.

As for you your other comments, there does seem to be a trend of putting claimants straight into WRAG, we can only wonder, as to the the motives behind this.

cheers

bro58

bro58 wrote:

Just Me wrote:

On Friday I got the shock of my life when my relsuts to my ESA application form dropped onto my door mate. I couldn't belive that they'd passed me without even having a medical.

I'm so, so grateful to this site in giving me access to the best advide and support out on the net. I don't know what I would have done without this place, I really, really don't.

The only thing is I was so convinced that I would fail that I have no idea what happens now. I do know that I have to attend work focused interviews once a month for 6 months, but my condition means that walking and sitting is very unpleasant for me, and can end up having a bad knock on affect on my pain levels, so Is It possible to ask for these interviews to be conducted over the phone as I remember reading on here somewhere?

Also I have no idea how long this award is for before I have to attend a new medical. I know these days that the longest seems to be a year, but for all I know I'll end up receiving a new form the minute I finish these interviews. How do I go about getting that information?

Thanks again to everybody on this site. Joining this place is the wisest thing that I've done in a long time.

Hi JM,

As Survivor correctly states, you can request that the WFI is done over the phone.

You could also make a request that the WFI's are deferred due to your condition, or sometimes they will come to your home to carry out the WFI.

It would be helpful to back up any such request with a letter of support from your G.P. or other HCP that cares for you.

However, again as Survivor states, they do not have to grant your request.

If you have to attend, may it clear to the interviewer, how painful and distressing that it has been for you to get there.

Draw attention to the fact that you did not have to attend a face to face assessment.

If you really feel that you should have been put into the Support Group, rather than the WRAG, you could appeal the decision, by filling in a GL24 appeals form, and returning it to the DWP office, within a month of you receiving your current decision, preferably by recorded delivery post, keeping copy.

You would automatically receive a reconsideration, before your appeal was sent forward to the Tribunal stage, and your benefit would remain the same, i.e. WRAG rate.

If you wish to consider this option, have a look in the orange MEMBERS ONLY area on the left, at the ESA Resources section, it covers appeals there, and you can download a copy of a GL24 also if needed.

Regarding finding out how long it will be before you are re-assessed, you should make a written request for your ESA85A, to the ESA Decision Maker, based at your local benefits office,at the address on your letter of award.(Keep Copy)

On the ESA85A you will see a "Prognosis" this will give you an idea of your expected review date.

Hope this helps

bro58

Thanks for that. I will ring them and request a report. Maybe send a back up letter too?

Technically going by their own descriptors I might have got into the support group due to my weekly incontinent issues, but colour me a coward but I'm too scared to fight it or rock the boat as I know I might loose what I have got, and as I can't get an appointment with my GP until the 15th of Sept and as the decision was made on the 23rd of last month I think I'll have to leave it.

I suspect they've only given me a few months or so until the whole flaming thing starts up again anyway, and next time I may fight it more. To be honest I think I'm still in shock.

As to the WFI well coming to me is out of the question as the place is a right mess and as I live in small bedsit there's absolutely nowhere to sit.

If they insist I attend a face to face of course I will, but I'll have to make It clear It's probably going to put undue strain on my pelvic area when my pain is at It's worst.

Thing Is as I stated on my form my condition is variable and I do have good days and bad days, but I never know in advance when they're likely to be sadly.

I'm highly suspect of this sudden rush of people like myself getting passed without a medical as well. Maybe It's to make the figures look more 'balanced' in the public eye after all the bad publicity in the press, or maybe they're snowed under and so are letting some through now only to fail them later down the line.

Lets face It they'll have plenty of opportunities to do so with the way the whole things set up. That and they must know that many claimants like myself being contributions based that they don't have long to go till we get thrown off anyway.

Just Me wrote:

bro58 wrote:

Just Me wrote:

On Friday I got the shock of my life when my relsuts to my ESA application form dropped onto my door mate. I couldn't belive that they'd passed me without even having a medical.

I'm so, so grateful to this site in giving me access to the best advide and support out on the net. I don't know what I would have done without this place, I really, really don't.

The only thing is I was so convinced that I would fail that I have no idea what happens now. I do know that I have to attend work focused interviews once a month for 6 months, but my condition means that walking and sitting is very unpleasant for me, and can end up having a bad knock on affect on my pain levels, so Is It possible to ask for these interviews to be conducted over the phone as I remember reading on here somewhere?

Also I have no idea how long this award is for before I have to attend a new medical. I know these days that the longest seems to be a year, but for all I know I'll end up receiving a new form the minute I finish these interviews. How do I go about getting that information?

Thanks again to everybody on this site. Joining this place is the wisest thing that I've done in a long time.

Hi JM,

As Survivor correctly states, you can request that the WFI is done over the phone.

You could also make a request that the WFI's are deferred due to your condition, or sometimes they will come to your home to carry out the WFI.

It would be helpful to back up any such request with a letter of support from your G.P. or other HCP that cares for you.

However, again as Survivor states, they do not have to grant your request.

If you have to attend, may it clear to the interviewer, how painful and distressing that it has been for you to get there.

Draw attention to the fact that you did not have to attend a face to face assessment.

If you really feel that you should have been put into the Support Group, rather than the WRAG, you could appeal the decision, by filling in a GL24 appeals form, and returning it to the DWP office, within a month of you receiving your current decision, preferably by recorded delivery post, keeping copy.

You would automatically receive a reconsideration, before your appeal was sent forward to the Tribunal stage, and your benefit would remain the same, i.e. WRAG rate.

If you wish to consider this option, have a look in the orange MEMBERS ONLY area on the left, at the ESA Resources section, it covers appeals there, and you can download a copy of a GL24 also if needed.

Regarding finding out how long it will be before you are re-assessed, you should make a written request for your ESA85A, to the ESA Decision Maker, based at your local benefits office,at the address on your letter of award.(Keep Copy)

On the ESA85A you will see a "Prognosis" this will give you an idea of your expected review date.

Hope this helps

bro58

Thanks for that. I will ring them and request a report. Maybe send a back up letter too?

Technically going by their own descriptors I might have got into the support group due to my weekly incontinent issues, but colour me a coward but I'm too scared to fight it or rock the boat as I know I might loose what I have got, and as I can't get an appointment with my GP until the 15th of Sept and as the decision was made on the 23rd of last month I think I'll have to leave it.

I suspect they've only given me a few months or so until the whole flaming thing starts up again anyway, and next time I may fight it more. To be honest I think I'm still in shock.

As to the WFI well coming to me is out of the question as the place is a right mess and as I live in small bedsit there's absolutely nowhere to sit.

If they insist I attend a face to face of course I will, but I'll have to make It clear It's probably going to put undue strain on my pelvic area when my pain is at It's worst.

Thing Is as I stated on my form my condition is variable and I do have good days and bad days, but I never know in advance when they're likely to be sadly.

I'm highly suspect of this sudden rush of people like myself getting passed without a medical as well. Maybe It's to make the figures look more 'balanced' in the public eye after all the bad publicity in the press, or maybe they're snowed under and so are letting some through now only to fail them later down the line.

Lets face It they'll have plenty of opportunities to do so with the way the whole things set up. That and they must know that many claimants like myself being contributions based that they don't have long to go till we get thrown off anyway.

Hi JM,

You must of course, do what best suits your situation regarding an appeal.

I hope your situation re : WFI's all works out O.K.

cheers

bro58

Thanks. I hope I get somebody who's understanding of my situation. I suppose I can get a letter from my GP to back what I'm saying about my pain issues and having to attend If need.

If there's anybody else on here who's attend these things I'd love to hear how they've got on, especially If they've been allowed to do them over the phone.

JM,

Please remember, even though they can compel you to have WFI's, and to get involved in Work Related Activity, ( WRA ).

They CANNOT compel you to seek, or take up employment, even though they may well try and exert pressure on you, to do just that.

bro58

bro58 wrote:

JM,

Please remember, even though they can compel you to have WFI's, and to get involved in Work Related Activity, ( WRA ).

They CANNOT compel you to seek, or take up employment, even though they may well try and exert pressure on you, to do just that.

bro58

Oh great, So apart from talking though options with an advisor what kind of work related activities can they make me do then?