15 months and still waiting - ESA

Thanks for your help. I just want to ask some questions if that is okay, sorry if I ask a lot.

1. You mentioned I can contact ATOS and ask why this time I need a F2F due to being in the support group without a medical, is there a specific person I need to talk to ? Will they have my info on their file/screen ? Can it be done via email or just phone ?

2. Has anyone ever, in your knowledge, had a medical stopped by ringing ATOS and asking the above ? Is there anything specific I should ask them ? My last ESA50 was 15 months ago, if I mention this will it likely change anything ?

3. I never got to see the ESA85 (is that the right name ?) from my last renewal to see what the nurse or doctor said, DWP just rang me up and said I was in the support group for another year. Should I get that form prior to the medical ? If so how long do they usually take to send them ? I am just wondering if it might help explain why they put me in the support group then but not this time.

4. I haven't been to a ATOS medical since about 2009. I hear things have changed since the Tory government ? Have they changed a lot ?

5. I don't get PIP, if I was to go for it, would I likely need a medical for that too ? If so are most home visits ?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help.

Benson wrote: Thanks for your help. I just want to ask some questions if that is okay, sorry if I ask a lot.

1. You mentioned I can contact ATOS and ask why this time I need a F2F due to being in the support group without a medical, is there a specific person I need to talk to ? Will they have my info on their file/screen ? Can it be done via email or just phone ?

2. Has anyone ever, in your knowledge, had a medical stopped by ringing ATOS and asking the above ? Is there anything specific I should ask them ? My last ESA50 was 15 months ago, if I mention this will it likely change anything ?

3. I never got to see the ESA85 (is that the right name ?) from my last renewal to see what the nurse or doctor said, DWP just rang me up and said I was in the support group for another year. Should I get that form prior to the medical ? If so how long do they usually take to send them ? I am just wondering if it might help explain why they put me in the support group then but not this time.

4. I haven't been to a ATOS medical since about 2009. I hear things have changed since the Tory government ? Have they changed a lot ?

5. I don't get PIP, if I was to go for it, would I likely need a medical for that too ? If so are most home visits ?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help.

Hi B,

1. You mentioned I can contact ATOS and ask why this time I need a F2F due to being in the support group without a medical, is there a specific person I need to talk to ? Will they have my info on their file/screen ? Can it be done via email or just phone ?

You do not have to address your e-mail to a particular person. Yes, it can be done by e-mail, and they should have your details as long as you provide your Name, NI Number, DOB, etc.

You could ring ATOS, but the reason that I advise e-mail is so that you have a paper trail of your correspondence.

ATOS Tel : 0800 2888 777 Or 0113 230 9175.

Further information on how ATOS deal with ESA claimants can be found on their website :

www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants

2. Has anyone ever, in your knowledge, had a medical stopped by ringing ATOS and asking the above ? Is there anything specific I should ask them ? My last ESA50 was 15 months ago, if I mention this will it likely change anything ?

We are aware of members having their F2F cancelled where they have provided fresh evidence, or where they have requested a Home Assessment and provided written support from their G.P.
Re : the ESA50 being 15 months old, they may state that this is the reason for arranging a F2F to gain a current assessment of your limitations.

If you receive an adverse decision, you could challenge the validity of the information in the ESA50, as it is not current, especially if your condition has changed or deteriorated since that time. This however, may be helpfully in any challenge after the decision rather than before it.


The reason that I suggested that you query with them whether the ESA50 has been read, is that it is not beyond the realms that it hasn't or it may have even be lost after all this time. They are allowed to carry out a face to face without an ESA50, however, again this would leave any adverse decision open to challenge.

3. I never got to see the ESA85 (is that the right name ?) from my last renewal to see what the nurse or doctor said, DWP just rang me up and said I was in the support group for another year. Should I get that form prior to the medical ? If so how long do they usually take to send them ? I am just wondering if it might help explain why they put me in the support group then but not this time.

It is the ESA85A medical report that is used when there is no face to face. You could request it using a SAR :

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?

SAR Form Download

From this page :

DWP Data Protection Policy

However, as the DWP have 40 calendar days to comply with a SAR, you may not receive it before The F2F.

You could try requesting it over the phone :

ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

4. I haven't been to a ATOS medical since about 2009. I hear things have changed since the Tory government ? Have they changed a lot ?

If you look at the pages mentioned on the FAQ that I provided :

ESA Medical – What to expect

and Section 3. of The WCA Handbook, it gives advice on what to expect, and questions that you are liable to be asked.

How you travel to and return from the assessment will be taken into account as part of the assessment. Observations may be made approaching the assessment centre, whilst inside and on leaving. Assumptions may be made from such observations.

The best way to treat it, is as the assessment starting from when you leave home, and ending when you return. Remember, you are allowed to be accompanied, and the companion can take notes.

5. I don't get PIP, if I was to go for it, would I likely need a medical for that too ? If so are most home visits ?

As you know PIP is a totally different allowance. Much as with ESA though, if they think that you have provided enough medical evidence, they may not necessarily insist on a F2F assessment.

The most recent Guidance for PIP Assessment Providers (ATOS or Capita) can be found from the link on this post :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...5481&start=48#121606

Staying with PIP, see also :

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

PIP Self Test

PIP Topic Thread in Spotlight Area

In the short term, I would concentrate on getting through your ESA reassessment, and put PIP on the back burner for now.

bro58

bro58 wrote:

Benson wrote: Thanks for your help. I just want to ask some questions if that is okay, sorry if I ask a lot.

1. You mentioned I can contact ATOS and ask why this time I need a F2F due to being in the support group without a medical, is there a specific person I need to talk to ? Will they have my info on their file/screen ? Can it be done via email or just phone ?

2. Has anyone ever, in your knowledge, had a medical stopped by ringing ATOS and asking the above ? Is there anything specific I should ask them ? My last ESA50 was 15 months ago, if I mention this will it likely change anything ?

3. I never got to see the ESA85 (is that the right name ?) from my last renewal to see what the nurse or doctor said, DWP just rang me up and said I was in the support group for another year. Should I get that form prior to the medical ? If so how long do they usually take to send them ? I am just wondering if it might help explain why they put me in the support group then but not this time.

4. I haven't been to a ATOS medical since about 2009. I hear things have changed since the Tory government ? Have they changed a lot ?

5. I don't get PIP, if I was to go for it, would I likely need a medical for that too ? If so are most home visits ?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help.

Hi B,

1. You mentioned I can contact ATOS and ask why this time I need a F2F due to being in the support group without a medical, is there a specific person I need to talk to ? Will they have my info on their file/screen ? Can it be done via email or just phone ?

You do not have to address your e-mail to a particular person. Yes, it can be done by e-mail, and they should have your details as long as you provide your Name, NI Number, DOB, etc.

You could ring ATOS, but the reason that I advise e-mail is so that you have a paper trail of your correspondence.

ATOS Tel : 0800 2888 777 Or 0113 230 9175.

Further information on how ATOS deal with ESA claimants can be found on their website :

www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants

2. Has anyone ever, in your knowledge, had a medical stopped by ringing ATOS and asking the above ? Is there anything specific I should ask them ? My last ESA50 was 15 months ago, if I mention this will it likely change anything ?

We are aware of members having their F2F cancelled where they have provided fresh evidence, or where they have requested a Home Assessment and provided written support from their G.P.
Re : the ESA50 being 15 months old, they may state that this is the reason for arranging a F2F to gain a current assessment of your limitations.

If you receive an adverse decision, you could challenge the validity of the information in the ESA50, as it is not current, especially if your condition has changed or deteriorated since that time. This however, may be helpfully in any challenge after the decision rather than before it.


The reason that I suggested that you query with them whether the ESA50 has been read, is that it is not beyond the realms that it hasn't or it may have even be lost after all this time. They are allowed to carry out a face to face without an ESA50, however, again this would leave any adverse decision open to challenge.

3. I never got to see the ESA85 (is that the right name ?) from my last renewal to see what the nurse or doctor said, DWP just rang me up and said I was in the support group for another year. Should I get that form prior to the medical ? If so how long do they usually take to send them ? I am just wondering if it might help explain why they put me in the support group then but not this time.

It is the ESA85A medical report that is used when there is no face to face. You could request it using a SAR :

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?

SAR Form Download

From this page :

DWP Data Protection Policy

However, as the DWP have 40 calendar days to comply with a SAR, you may not receive it before The F2F.

You could try requesting it over the phone :

ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

4. I haven't been to a ATOS medical since about 2009. I hear things have changed since the Tory government ? Have they changed a lot ?

If you look at the pages mentioned on the FAQ that I provided :

ESA Medical – What to expect

and Section 3. of The WCA Handbook, it gives advice on what to expect, and questions that you are liable to be asked.

How you travel to and return from the assessment will be taken into account as part of the assessment. Observations may be made approaching the assessment centre, whilst inside and on leaving. Assumptions may be made from such observations.

The best way to treat it, is as the assessment starting from when you leave home, and ending when you return. Remember, you are allowed to be accompanied, and the companion can take notes.

5. I don't get PIP, if I was to go for it, would I likely need a medical for that too ? If so are most home visits ?

As you know PIP is a totally different allowance. Much as with ESA though, if they think that you have provided enough medical evidence, they may not necessarily insist on a F2F assessment.

The most recent Guidance for PIP Assessment Provider (ATOS or Capita) can be found from the link on this post :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...5481&start=48#121606

Staying with PIP, see also :

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

PIP Self Test

PIP Topic Thread in Spotlight Area

In the short term, I would concentrate on getting through your ESA reassessment, and put PIP on the back burner for now.

bro58

Hi B,

Although you don't have to address any e-mail to ATOS to a particular person, you could head it :

FAO : The ESA WCA Team, this will separate it from any PIP queries.

There is a direct e-mail link on the right of the ATOS Webpage that I provided the link for in my previous post.

Under : "WCA Customer Service:"

bro58

Hi Bro, Thanks for your help. Just want to clarify some things.

I am going to email ATOS, please can you confirm the below is okay to ask ?

I am going to ask them why they have chosen a medical for this time when the previous time I went to support group without medical.

I will ask if they have read my ESA50 fully.

I will suggest sending in more evidence if it helps.

I will ask if 15 months since sending in the ESA50 it is right for a medical to be taken from it.

Are those okay points to ask ? Any idea on the reply time normally from ATOS emails ?

Thanks !!

Yes, got a very quick reply from ATOS. They said the HCP needed more information so
they wrote to my GP with an FME. They said my GP did not reply. So there-for a face
to face was decided upon.

Probably not surprising about the lack of reply as my regular GP has since retired, another doctor at the practice died of a heart attack, and the 2 main doctors (husband and wife) also retired together due to ill health. This is a small town doctors. So the whole surgery has been in chaos.

They have given me a central address to send more information to but do I have to leave the appointment open ? It is only 2 weeks away so this is cutting things close. They said I could also email them more evidence and documents and they will send it to the central address on my behalf, but would that be for the HCP to check out before or during the F2F ? Would they have access to my ESA85A from last year and should I ask them to check it out ? I don't think I will be able to get it quick enough sent to me.

Also do I tell them all that info above about the doctors ? I no longer have a regular doctor as there have been so many changes in the last year. They also didn't explain though why I passed through last time straight to the support group.

Given the fact my health issues have lasted 15 years and are long term, will the fact I don't see a GP on a regular basis anymore work against me ? There is little more a GP can do now other than refer me to a consultant when needed or supply new medicine. I saw GP's all the time in the first 10 years out of desperation of a cure.

On the plus side to this whole thing, the person who wrote me the email from ATOS was very detailed, polite, and helpful, and of course fast in replying. So a thumbs up to that side of their business.

Thanks also to you Gordon and Bro, any more advice to the above appreciated !!