ESA review

I am carer and Appointee to my son who has High functioning Autism and is a virtual recluse. He refuses to take medication for his depression and has obsessive thoughts and dark moods..
He is in the ESA support group.
He has received yet another new form to fill in regarding his ability to work. It asks all the same questions it did in the past. Nothing has improved and he is now painfully thin at eight and a half stones and 5;10".
Why do I have to go through all this again. My every hour is spent trying to prevent him from doing something stupid. I have asked for help from the GP, NAS, and Social worker but there is no external help for him.
The professionals all say he won't co-operate and that's it.
I can't fill in the form and put this.
Is there anyone in a similar position to me? I can't bear this future of no help but tons of complex forms to fill out every 5 minutes.

Hi Jackie,

I'm sorry that you have so much to cope with, I can understand how these forms might make you feel!

However, the whole philosophy behind the welfare reforms is that every claimant will be subject to periodic reassessments rather than being allowed to 'languish on benefits' (their words, not mine!). The government/DWP argue that even people whose condition is not expected to change can find ways of becoming accustomed to, or working round, their limitations.

Each reassessment should be treated as a first application by the claimant, with every fact recorded in detail. Don't ever assume that the DWP already know these things!

Edited to add - if you have your previous information stored on your computer, it will be easier to 'tweak' it as required next time.

Hope the OP doesn't mind me posting here, but didn't feel my question warranted a unique post. Does this mean DWP are once again re-assessing existing ESA claimants ? I thought that was unofficially postponed. But I presume it has restarted again ?

I think reassessments were only unofficially given lower priority due to the DWP being overwhelmed and understaffed.
However there are different performance levels in different parts of the country so some areas may be better able to cope with reassessments. I also recall people waiting so long to get a decision that they were getting a decision and a reassessment virtually in the same post.