Support Group success.

Hi,

Thought I would let you all know of my progress in the ESA Appeal procedure,
Initially awarded 24 points, mobilising, dexterity and sitting and standing at workstation etc.. Had my assessment in Feb and placed in WRAG . Went for the WFI and the adviser admitted that this was a complete waste of time and said after the second visit, “I will ring if I want to see you again” No call to date. Decent bloke though, I would ring him and get an update from him if letters I had sent had been noted on my file at DWP. Submitted an appeal immediately. Anyway, after 26 weeks had elapsed since submission of my appeal documents, I decided to ring the ESA Appeals and try to get information on what was happening. Eventually got through to an Appeals Writer, he was polite, intelligent, articulate and knew what he was talking about. In a phone call lasting an hour I explained to him the contradictions, mistakes and inconsistencies in the assessment versus my own notes and submitted evidence, at the conclusion of the call he said he would pass these notes on to a DM at the reconsideration stage.

Received a letter yesterday and I have now been placed in the Support Group with the next assessment in Feb 2014.

Many thanks to BW for the guides and assistance in these matters and all I would say to anybody going through the same process is never give up hope and try to use any evidence you can to best illustrate the mistakes, incompetence etc.. that happened in your assessments.

Will still keep looking at the BW site to increase my knowledge on ESA.

One for the mods, Should I write and ask for a copy of the amended decision to keep for my records.

Cheers

Sunbeam

sunbeam75 wrote:

Hi,

Thought I would let you all know of my progress in the ESA Appeal procedure,
Initially awarded 24 points, mobilising, dexterity and sitting and standing at workstation etc.. Had my assessment in Feb and placed in WRAG . Went for the WFI and the adviser admitted that this was a complete waste of time and said after the second visit, “I will ring if I want to see you again” No call to date. Decent bloke though, I would ring him and get an update from him if letters I had sent had been noted on my file at DWP. Submitted an appeal immediately. Anyway, after 26 weeks had elapsed since submission of my appeal documents, I decided to ring the ESA Appeals and try to get information on what was happening. Eventually got through to an Appeals Writer, he was polite, intelligent, articulate and knew what he was talking about. In a phone call lasting an hour I explained to him the contradictions, mistakes and inconsistencies in the assessment versus my own notes and submitted evidence, at the conclusion of the call he said he would pass these notes on to a DM at the reconsideration stage.

Received a letter yesterday and I have now been placed in the Support Group with the next assessment in Feb 2014.

Many thanks to BW for the guides and assistance in these matters and all I would say to anybody going through the same process is never give up hope and try to use any evidence you can to best illustrate the mistakes, incompetence etc.. that happened in your assessments.

Will still keep looking at the BW site to increase my knowledge on ESA.

One for the mods, Should I write and ask for a copy of the amended decision to keep for my records.

Cheers

Sunbeam

Hi sb75,

Well done on putting your case across so well, and gaining entry to the SG !!!

You could request copy of the reconsideration decision, there should be an LT54, as seen here, :

ESA Forms

There may also be an : ESA72 Form

You could request these over the phone, it is always best to back up any verbal request in writing though, as you suggest.

Thanks for letting us know, and thank you for your kind comments.

bro58

MOD EDIT : Ditto Gordon.

Gordon and Bro,

Thanks for the comments and advice, will chase up the other bits of paperwork as you suggest.

Thanks again.

Sunbeam

Hi sb75,

A bit off topic, but as you mentioned " sitting and standing at workstation" , there has been a recent UT Ruling on the "either" "or" aspect of this, as seen on rightnet, here :

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/3924/

Unfortunately, it is not very positive for claimants.

bro58