IB to ESA Support Group with No Medical

ESA50 Sent 22 August decision received 21 September, less than 4 weeks.

Thank you so much for the very useful guides. I am positive that using the guides to fully explain my partner’s mental health issues together with the supporting letter from his GP has got us through this enormously stressful time. To receive a decision into Support Group with no medical is such a relief.

The line in the letter ‘the amounts apply to the 29th November 2013’ gave us a little concern but doing a google search bought me back to the site where someone else had asked the question and it is because of the Christmas bonus all letters state this date.

I do have a question.
We regard to finding out the review date and the support group deciding descriptor is it best to write and ask for the ESA85A and LT54 or send a SAR? I am wondering if the SAR may make sure everything is covered.

Thank you again for a great website

Hello

I have prepared a letter to send as do not think the DWP will give me info on my partner over the phone.

Are things OK with regard to the DWP sending the LT54’s as from reading posts it appears there have been difficulties in past getting them?

Do I definitely need to mention SAR under The Data Protection Act 1998 in the letter?

Which is the document that gives the deciding descriptor that got my partner into the support group?

Thanks for the help.

panaman wrote: Hello

I have prepared a letter to send as do not think the DWP will give me info on my partner over the phone.

Are things OK with regard to the DWP sending the LT54’s as from reading posts it appears there have been difficulties in past getting them?

Do I definitely need to mention SAR under The Data Protection Act 1998 in the letter?

Which is the document that gives the deciding descriptor that got my partner into the support group?

Thanks for the help.

Hi p,

Firstly, if you are requesting personal information for your partner, I would do so in the first person, as if you were your partner.

If you telephone, they may give you the recommended length of the award before reassessment (the prognosis) but I doubt that they will provide further information.

Your partner would have to be available to give verbal authorisation and there would be some security questions.

You are perfectly within your rights to request The LT54, as there will definitely be one.

It may be advisable to give written notice that you are making the written request as a DPA 1998 SAR to avoid any confusion and to make it official.

This is the problem, the qualifying descriptors may be included in The ESA85A Medical Report, an/or The LT54, but there are no guarantees, as content within theses documents can be most vague.

I would request the ESA85A and the LT54 by name, and then request all other documentation that was used in coming to the SG decision of xx/xx/xx [insert date of decision].

To ensure that you receive information regarding the qualifying descriptors applied and the prognosis of the award, you could also pose the particular questions.

1. Which Descriptor/s were applied in making the SG award of xx/xx/xx.

2. Please provide the length of the prognosis of the SG award of xx/xx/xx, and the recommended date for my next reassessment.

It may help to write DPA1998 SAR on top, front, left of envelope, and address it : FAO the Data Controller, at the address of the Benefits Office dealing with your partner's ESA.

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

Once the DWP have received the SAR, they have 40 calendar days to comply.

bro58

Thank you so much for the comprehensive reply, you guys are brilliant.