ESA 50

I was placed into the support group of ESA with a severe disability premium in July for an indefinite award but I just got an ESA50 form that is wanted back on January 15th. I know they can reassess me at any point but this seems too soon.

Also the form has the usual descriptors but I use an electric wheelchair and I can't see anywhere that I can tick to tell them this.

In the distance I can move safely and repeatedly on level ground without needing to stop what do I say?

Hi,

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Although all ESA awards are in theory "Indefinite", with each award comes a recommended date before reassessment known as the prognosis of the award.

Legally, all awards can be reassessed after 3 months or more have elapsed since the date of your award, although your reassessment does seem rather early if you were only placed into The Support Group (SG) in July 2015.

SG prognoses are usually 2-3 years !

Maybe you could contact : The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (HAAS) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15. to see whether the ESA50 has been sent out in error.

If you have to use an electric wheelchair to move around through necessity rather than choice, and cannot walk aided or unaided nor self propel a manual wheelchair unaided for 50 metres or more , you should qualify for The SG under Activity 1. of : The Functional SG (LCWRA) Schedule 3 Descriptors

All this is explained in our ESA Claims Guides accessibly from the link below.

The question in the ESA50 that corresponds with Activity 1 as above is :

"1.Moving around and using steps"

You don't have to tick any of the boxes if they are not applicable to you personally, and that goes for any of the questions throughout the Questionnaire.

Simply write in the text box below that none of the tick box options are applicable then give details of the limitations that you suffer personally.

If you contact Maximus, and they still insist that you need to flll in and return the ESA50, I am afraid that you will have to.

You might want to consider : Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the guides on this page, 2nd & 3rd links down :

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 Maximus. (CHDA) (HAAS)

Please keep us updated by replying to this topic, which you might want to Bookmark/Favourite in your Browser.

bro58

I got my results through the post today, I sent in 57 pages just answering the questions. Then I had to send in a huge stack of papers as additional evidence.

With all the guides and advice on the forum I actually decided to let my partner deal with my form in totality instead of having my usual breakdown with anxiety. Once she had everything together and did the questions, I read it all and made some changes and then sent it in.

They took all this time to send it back and I'm delighted to say I got placed in the support group with all my previous money additions the same.
So for me it's no changes from before which is what I wanted. But you guys meant my partner could fill the form in better than I have ever done.

So a massive huge thank you to alll the mods and members that make B&W what it is xxxx

Sweetney wrote: I got my results through the post today, I sent in 57 pages just answering the questions. Then I had to send in a huge stack of papers as additional evidence.

With all the guides and advice on the forum I actually decided to let my partner deal with my form in totality instead of having my usual breakdown with anxiety. Once she had everything together and did the questions, I read it all and made some changes and then sent it in.

They took all this time to send it back and I'm delighted to say I got placed in the support group with all my previous money additions the same.
So for me it's no changes from before which is what I wanted. But you guys meant my partner could fill the form in better than I have ever done.

So a massive huge thank you to alll the mods and members that make B&W what it is xxxx

Hi S,

That is really good news, congratulations !!!

Now that you have your SG Decision notice letter, you may find : This Post helpful !!

Thanks for the positive feedback about all at B&W !!!

bro58

Thank you for linking me to that post. Is it now a policy for the DWP to not send out the prognosis with award letters? Also if it is then why?