Placed in ESA Support group without assessment

Happy but confused today as received an unexpected payment from ESA as my regular payment was only last week, so I called the ESA helpline to query as didn't want to spend the money if it was an error,

anyway I am at the moment in the assessment stage of the my application and sent completed ESA50 forms with the help of the guides on here which was approx 8 weeks ago so was awaiting contact re medical assessment to see if I qualify for ESA

Well I spoke to a very helpful lady who advised me that the payment was indeed mine and it was arrears owed to me from an increase in benefit from mid September, she then confirmed that it was my ESA and the application had been processed, was successful and that I had been placed in the Support group and it was from mid September and for 36 mths,

To say that I am over the moon is an understatement but am still shocked and confused as to how this has happened without me having to go to a medical assessment, but who am I to argue, has anyone else experienced this?

Next step now is to get my DLA reviewed and changed to PIP, i don't know wether to ring them and get the ball rolling or leave them contact me as i don't want to count my chickens as feel very fortunate to have had a some what stress free ESA application as I know others are not so fortunate,

Not bragging just passing on some positive news that it does appear that if you are genuinely entitled and complete the forms fully and most importantly use the guides on this site you should have a relatively straight forward application process but please don't quote me on that, I may live to regret saying that when it comes to my DLA to PIP saga, I will keep you posted.

If you are confident of an award when transferring from DLA to PIP i would suggest you start the process as i believe if you are awarded PIP it will be backdated from the date you applied. If you wait till they invite you to apply you dont get any backdated money. My first payment of PIP (now higher for both previously indefinate mobility only) was 2 months after they informed me of my award. Wish I had of known this before hand.

They will not backdate the PIP if you are recieving DLA already as you have not missed out on any benefits since you are still receiving the DLA whilst the PIP is going thru, backdating to the date of the PIP application would result in being paid the 2 benefits at the same time which they would never do.

I just transferred from dla to pip. My mine only started on the 28/10/2018 because i was getting my dla up till then.not backdated.i thought the same as you.can be confusing.but i realy wish i has transferred before now as got enhanced on both from low rate on both.never mind its done now.