Re-Assessment

Sorry to bother the mods but could you stop me worrying (a bit). Towards the end of 2013 my appeal for WRAG to Support Group was successful (reconsideration) That was followed pretty closely by a two year old paper only appeal, from the previous claim, also being successful! I have to say I was amazed that the tribunal found in my favour as I could not face attending. They said that the DWP also failed to attend and had not provided any evidence of work related activity that I could do.

When my current claim was again decided to be WRAG, I was given a 2 year re-assessment period. My request for appeal triggered reconsideration and I was consequently put in SG. Would that lengthen the re-assessment time period? Or should I prepare myself for the inevitable? I was hoping that they might leave me alone a bit longer, but have just read another post where it was stated that re-assessments are sent out by computer. If that is the case and the 2 years still apply, it could be any day now. I'm worried already and I'm terrified of ringing them to find out anything.

With the height of my anxiety being in the red most of the time anyway, calming opinions would be welcome. Only honest ones of course. If it's bad news, I can always take an extra beta blocker!

I seem to be wishing my life away until I reach retirement age and can just get a pension without all this stress. I'm not quite 60 yet! As they keep pushing the retirement age, I probably won't ever get there.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

tazman wrote: Sorry to bother the mods but could you stop me worrying (a bit). Towards the end of 2013 my appeal for WRAG to Support Group was successful (reconsideration) That was followed pretty closely by a two year old paper only appeal, from the previous claim, also being successful! I have to say I was amazed that the tribunal found in my favour as I could not face attending. They said that the DWP also failed to attend and had not provided any evidence of work related activity that I could do.

When my current claim was again decided to be WRAG, I was given a 2 year re-assessment period. My request for appeal triggered reconsideration and I was consequently put in SG. Would that lengthen the re-assessment time period? Or should I prepare myself for the inevitable? I was hoping that they might leave me alone a bit longer, but have just read another post where it was stated that re-assessments are sent out by computer. If that is the case and the 2 years still apply, it could be any day now. I'm worried already and I'm terrified of ringing them to find out anything.

With the height of my anxiety being in the red most of the time anyway, calming opinions would be welcome. Only honest ones of course. If it's bad news, I can always take an extra beta blocker!

I seem to be wishing my life away until I reach retirement age and can just get a pension without all this stress. I'm not quite 60 yet! As they keep pushing the retirement age, I probably won't ever get there.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Hi tm,

I am afraid that I cannot offer a definitive answer to calm your anxieties !!

There is no way of knowing whether the existing 2 year prognosis for the WRAG award remained in place when you were placed into The SG.

As you may know the maximum prognosis for The SG is 3 years.

Yes, ESA reassessment re-referrals to ATOS are flagged up by a computer programme, however as from January 2014, when these re-referrals were flagged up, they were being deferred for 2 years.

This was due to the backlog, and obviously it would depend on the backlog in your own area.

I know you state that you don't want to ring up, but that may be the only way that you will receive a definitive answer :

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

Failing that our best advice is to be as prepared as possible.

This could involve having a PDF ESA50 as "ready to go" as possible, then once you receive the paper one through the post, you can update the PDF ESA50, add any fresh evidence, print it off and post it back by the deadline :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the guides on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Thank you for taking the time to reply and the help you provided. I'm now in full worry mode!

I'm even more bothered as I no longer have psychotherapy due to the cuts. Even my therapist was worried about his job! Mental health services have been cut by 2/3 in my area. So, I won't be able to provide any evidence from him and I rarely see my doc as my meds are on repeat. The fact that my mental health has suffered more from having no-one to talk to will be ignored as I have no proof, with the inevitable result.

Once again bro58 thank you. I will just have to take drastic action - glue up my letter box. If you don't laugh.....

tazman wrote: Thank you for taking the time to reply and the help you provided. I'm now in full worry mode!

I'm even more bothered as I no longer have psychotherapy due to the cuts. Even my therapist was worried about his job! Mental health services have been cut by 2/3 in my area. So, I won't be able to provide any evidence from him and I rarely see my doc as my meds are on repeat. The fact that my mental health has suffered more from having no-one to talk to will be ignored as I have no proof, with the inevitable result.

Once again bro58 thank you. I will just have to take drastic action - glue up my letter box. If you don't laugh.....

Hi tm,

If you have no fresh evidence, it will be important to state that you are currently in The SG, and mention how and why you qualified for The SG last time, noting the Activity/Descriptor if you are aware of it.

You could then make it clear that since the time of your SG Award, your conditions have not changed or improved to such an extent that you no longer qualify for The SG.

Nor have you received any new medication or procedures that have diminished your resulting limitations, and that you have not learned to cope with or adapt to them any better than at the time of your previous SG Award, this being the case of course.

Have a look at : This Post.

Even though it is with regards to PIP my comments regarding acquiring evidence still stand.

bro58

Well good news for you tazman because it seems from the Govt response to the WCA independent review published today that if you are already in the support group they won't be reassessing anyone for the time being unless deteriorating condition?

"The Department understands the concerns behind Dr Litchfield’s recommendation. However, regular repeat assessments were suspended in January 2014 to allow the assessment provider to focus on new claims. Reviews are only taking place when requested for a deteriorating condition.
As no claimants in the Support Group are currently being reassessed, making any change to the treatment of this group of claimants will be considered as part of the policy work ahead of restarting reassessment"

Justanotherday2

I took the leap and phoned the DWP to find out when I was likely to have a reassessment as I should have been due one in October of last year. I was told I was due to have one in October 2016 which does seem to confirm that for the moment, some reassessments have been deferred for two years. However, its hard to know if this won't be revised in the future.