ESA medical letter but no ESA50 form

This morning a white envelope arrived asking me to go to a medical. The date of the medical is 2 weeks yesterday. But there was no ESA50 form or any mention of one at all. I'm sure I had a lot more notice time for my last medical. I'm planning to start filling the pdf ESA50 out but this usually takes me more than two weeks to do.

I'm feeling paranoid that they're trying really hard this time to catch me out by shrinking the time frame. I don't think I can even get an appointment with my dr within two weeks although I will try. She gets very booked up and I have to wait to get someone to phone for me.

I've looked through the forum know this seems to be how things are being done now but would it be worth me sending the completed form to the assessment centre if I manage to complete it soonish as well as taking one with me?

I don't know if you're keeping some kind of record of numbers of members who have not been given an ESA50 but I know you're interested to hear when it happens.

Sorry for the waffle.

MammaT wrote: This morning a white envelope arrived asking me to go to a medical. The date of the medical is 2 weeks yesterday. But there was no ESA50 form or any mention of one at all. I'm sure I had a lot more notice time for my last medical. I'm planning to start filling the pdf ESA50 out but this usually takes me more than two weeks to do.

I'm feeling paranoid that they're trying really hard this time to catch me out by shrinking the time frame. I don't think I can even get an appointment with my dr within two weeks although I will try. She gets very booked up and I have to wait to get someone to phone for me.

I've looked through the forum know this seems to be how things are being done now but would it be worth me sending the completed form to the assessment centre if I manage to complete it soonish as well as taking one with me?

I don't know if you're keeping some kind of record of numbers of members who have not been given an ESA50 but I know you're interested to hear when it happens.

Sorry for the waffle.

Hi MT,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

We have heard from several members who have received a letter of appointment for an ESA Face to Face with Maximus (CHDA) without first having the opportunity to fill in an ESA50.

As a result B&W challenged Maximus on this issue :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3067-ever...-form-claims-maximus

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3083-maxi...to-date-esa-evidence

One of our members recently successfully challenged Maximus regarding this :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3097-bene...-on-maximus-and-wins

You are allowed to rearrange a "medical" appointment once !

You could contact : The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15, to rearrange to give you more time.

You could also challenge them regarding not providing an ESA50 prior to your "medical", citing our News Articles and their responses.

In the mean time you could start filling in the Pdf ESA50 :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the guides on this page :

ESA Claims Guides. (3rd and 4th links down)

See also :

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or Maximus

Please keep us updated.

bro58

Thank you Bro.

I'm just letting it all sink in and then will start filling the pdf form out. I did not realise I could ask for more time. Part of me would just prefer it to be over and done with. I get really ill in the run up to any kind of appointment including medicals so the shorter time frame may be better for me. I actually fainted and vomited in the Work Programme providers offices!

I'm going to take a short time to think it over as I have to arrange for someone to do the phoning for me anyway. If I feel I can't complete the form on time I'll ask for more time.

I have read the bits you highlighted and also the bit where Maximus said if you have mental health problems that might be why you don't get a form (I may have jumbled that up a bit). I do have mental health problems but, personally, this way of doing it doesn't make me feel any better than the other way.

I am due my ESA assessment this summer. I am a complicated case and have been in support group since 2009. My concerns is that I often see on the forum that a ESA50 needs to be filled in as if it is the first as the DWP do not always keep older
Information on you. Surely if you receive no ESA50 and have an appt in 2 weeks this puts a customer at a disadvantage.

MammaT wrote: Thank you Bro.

I'm just letting it all sink in and then will start filling the pdf form out. I did not realise I could ask for more time. Part of me would just prefer it to be over and done with. I get really ill in the run up to any kind of appointment including medicals so the shorter time frame may be better for me. I actually fainted and vomited in the Work Programme providers offices!

I'm going to take a short time to think it over as I have to arrange for someone to do the phoning for me anyway. If I feel I can't complete the form on time I'll ask for more time.

I have read the bits you highlighted and also the bit where Maximus said if you have mental health problems that might be why you don't get a form (I may have jumbled that up a bit). I do have mental health problems but, personally, this way of doing it doesn't make me feel any better than the other way.

Hi MT,

They do not have to give you more time as such.

However, rearranging a fresh appointment should give you more time.

If you do rearrange, you would have to ensure that you attended, or your benefit payments may cease if you could not show "good cause" for none attendance.

If you feel that your medical conditions and resulting limitations preclude you from attending an Assessment Centre you could request a Home Assessment, but Maximus would insist that your G.P. provided a letter supporting this which would need to be Faxed to them by your G.P.

You don't have to phone Maximus, you can email them, in fact, that would be advisable as you would then have a "paper trail" :

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There is a direct e-mail link on the Maximus page that I provided the blue link to in my previous post.

Maximus (CHDA) "should" send ESA50's out in "All" cases, it is just that they should make allowances for claimants with mental health issues regarding late or none return of the ESA50.

Please let us know how things pan out !

bro58

I have been up half the night!!! I have now emailed the customer services to ask why I hadn't had a form. I couldn't find anywhere on their site how long it takes them to get back to you though. I also have looked at the appointment letter and the date it was issued is 17th MAy even though I received it on 27th May. The front of the envelope is totally printed showing only 1st class - there is no dated postmark so I cannot tell when it was actually posted out to me.

I will continue with the pdf form.