ESA Assessment Phase for over a year

Hello

A relative of mine is currently in hospital under a mental health section 3. He has been unwell for about 4 years. So far he has been in hospital for 2 months. Just in case I am confusing anyone, who may have seen another posting, I have two very unwell relatives that I am trying to help.

The DWP have made me an Appointee so that I can manage his affairs. I have discovered he has been on the assessment phase of ESA since May of last year. The doctors have hinted strongly that the person is presenting with Psychitzophrenic symptoms and he is still having the most incredible delusions. This person lives on his own and basically has to pay all of his utilities, council tax and food out of £57 per week.

Can anyone advise me how I can go about getting him moved onto the Main Phase of ESA? Also, can this be back-dated?

FYI, I have started the process for a PIP claim for him.

Terri64 wrote: Hello

A relative of mine is currently in hospital under a mental health section 3. He has been unwell for about 4 years. So far he has been in hospital for 2 months. Just in case I am confusing anyone, who may have seen another posting, I have two very unwell relatives that I am trying to help.

The DWP have made me an Appointee so that I can manage his affairs. I have discovered he has been on the assessment phase of ESA since May of last year. The doctors have hinted strongly that the person is presenting with Psychitzophrenic symptoms and he is still having the most incredible delusions. This person lives on his own and basically has to pay all of his utilities, council tax and food out of £57 per week.

Can anyone advise me how I can go about getting him moved onto the Main Phase of ESA? Also, can this be back-dated?

FYI, I have started the process for a PIP claim for him.

Hi T64,

Unfortunately, this scenario where a claimant has been in the Assessment Phase of ESA for a year or more is not rare.

You could contact ATOS for an update :

Tel : 0800 2888 777 Or 0113 230 9175. Or E-Mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You would need to inform ATOS anyway, if there has been a deterioration/change in your relative's condition since the time of returning their ESA50 Questionnaire.

You need to inform them, and The DWP that the relative has been hospitalised for circa 2 months, as this may result in an award of LCW/WRAG or even LCWRA/SG, especially if you can gain written support from the Consultant that is treating the relative.

If ATOS inform you that they have carried out a "Paper Assessment" on your relative, you would then have to contact the DWP, as the relative's file would now be back with the DWP.

ATOS may refuse to enter discussions with you, and you may have to provide proof that you are The Appointee.

Your relative's M.P. may well be able to expedite an assessment/award, if you don't get any joy from ATOS or DWP :

Contacting your MP

findyourmp.parliament.uk/

Once an award is made, it should be backdated until the start of week 14 of the claim.

I gather from the fact that you state that the relative only receives £57/Week, that they are a Single under 25 Year Old.

You should contact their Council/LA, to see whether they are entitled to any Council Tax Support.

bro58

Thank you for your reply. Yes my relative is young - he is only 19. He has not completed an ESA50 (or should I say, I'd be amazed if he has!). He has never attended any assessments as he has been far too mentally ill to engage with anyone.

I don't know anything about benefits so I am unfamiliar with abbreviations. Everything I now know about benefits is gained from this wonderful site.

What do these abbreviations mean please? LCW/WRAG or even LCWRA/SG.

Many thanks for your help.

Terri64 wrote: Thank you for your reply. Yes my relative is young - he is only 19. He has not completed an ESA50 (or should I say, I'd be amazed if he has!). He has never attended any assessments as he has been far too mentally ill to engage with anyone.

I don't know anything about benefits so I am unfamiliar with abbreviations. Everything I now know about benefits is gained from this wonderful site.

What do these abbreviations mean please? LCW/WRAG or even LCWRA/SG.

Many thanks for your help.

Hi T64,

I would be very surprised if your relative had not received an ESA50 Questionnaire thus far, as they are usually issued for completion within a month or so of making a claim for ESA.

If one had been issued, and your relative had failed to return it by the deadline date that is given with The ESA50, it is highly likely that their ESA payments would have ceased for failure to return The ESA50.

See : How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

From our : ESA FAQ’s

I am sorry, LCW = Limited Capability for Work, which places you into The Work Related Activity Group. (WRAG)

See : Qualifying for the WRAG

LCWRA = Limited Capability for Work Related Activity, and places you into The Support Group. (SG) :

Qualifying for the Support Group

I wrongly assumed that you were up to speed with all the ESA "Jargon".

You do have my sympathy, for "being thrown in at the deep end" in trying to help your relatives.

To give you better understanding of how ESA works, you should read our Guides :

"Understanding Employment and Support Allowance.
Our 42 page introductory guide to ESA."

And our : "Employment and Support Allowance claims for Mental Health and Learning Difficulties: a guide to the limited capability for work assessment.
This is a fully comprehensive guide to the assessment procedure on mental health and learning difficulties grounds."

2nd and 4th links respectively on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

It looks like you really do need to contact ATOS and The DWP to see where your relatives claim is "up to".

You can contact DWP by phone Re : ESA on : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

Does the hospital that they are in have any Welfare Rights Adviser's for patients with Mental Health issues ?

You could contact PALS within the hospital, who may be able to help with this.

Please reply to this topic if you have further queries.

bro58

Thank you. I have been doing lots of reading!

I contacted ATOS via the customer relations email address quoted above. They were really helpful and the end result is that they have recommended my young relative to be placed in the support group. Fingers crossed this will be approved by the DWP.

If it is successful, how much will the ESA payment increase by? I think I read somewhere that it is about £20 per week extra but I can't locate the info now.

Many thanks