Your claim for employment and support allowance

Hi all

Partner been on ESA for a few years now, in support group no medical. Just received a brown envelope through the door which states:

Your claim for employment and support allowance

This will be paid into bank etc.

Anyway no esa form has been received or completed, I think it may have been due for reassessment later this year after 3 years but the figures and bank details are still the same, are these just generic letters being sent to everyone?

Scared to call and ask. Had sent back a pip form 3 weeks ago now and not had anything back in relation to this.

Thanks

John wrote: Hi all

Partner been on ESA for a few years now, in support group no medical. Just received a brown envelope through the door which states:

Your claim for employment and support allowance

This will be paid into bank etc.

Anyway no esa form has been received or completed, I think it may have been due for reassessment later this year after 3 years but the figures and bank details are still the same, are these just generic letters being sent to everyone?

Scared to call and ask. Had sent back a pip form 3 weeks ago now and not had anything back in relation to this.

Thanks

Hi J,

The ESA letter sounds like the normal annual "uprating" letter, only there is no "uprating this year.

See : This Post

If you are bothered, the only way to be sure is to ring ESA :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 (Open 8AM-6PM. Mon-Fri.)

Likewise with PIP, if you want an update, ring the PIP Helpline or contact The PIP Assessment Provider.

bro58

Hi Bro

It doesn't look like the normal increase letter sent by esa or dla but guess your likely right as there's no increase this year.

As for the pip form, what is the normal amount of time to hear anything back? I assume 3 weeks isn't that long, does the dwp forward the form to atos for review or do the dwp review the form before deciding if it has to be forwarded to atos.


Thanks

John wrote: Hi Bro

It doesn't look like the normal increase letter sent by esa or dla but guess your likely right as there's no increase this year.

As for the pip form, what is the normal amount of time to hear anything back? I assume 3 weeks isn't that long, does the dwp forward the form to atos for review or do the dwp review the form before deciding if it has to be forwarded to atos.


Thanks

Until recently, members where reporting that they had received an appointment for a face to face within a fortnight of returning their PIP 2 Form.

Over the last week or so, we have heard from members where they have either heard nothing, or they have received a text or letter stating that it will take longer than usual to deal with their PIP assessment.

One can only assume that the above is an indication that the PIP Assessment process is slowing down, at least in the areas where the members who have posted live.

Yes, DWP forward your PIP 2 Form to your PIP Assessment Provider (AP), (ATOS or Capita) so the likelihood is that your PIP 2 form is now with The AP.

If your AP is ATOS, you could contact them via : Their Website to see whether they have your PIP 2.

There is a slight chance that they may have felt that they had enough evidence to carry out a paper based assessment and have done so and returned your file to DWP.

You may be best advised to contact DWP or ATOS to ensure that they have your PIP 2, and/or a letter that may have been sent to you making an appointment for a face to face has not gone astray.

Of course, the decision is yours on what to do next !

bro58

Thanks think will wait another week or so, had sent it recorded so have proof that it was received. Also the letter received today is dated 01/02/16 and only arrived today 12/02/16 which is shocking.

Was the same with the pip form sent by them 23/12 not received to 06/01 if we do end up having to involve an MP I want to complain about the time it takes them to send forms, it just isn't good enough especially when it severely deducts from the amount of time for completion.

Just to follow up on this rather than worry about the letter from esa I took Bro's advice and called the helpline.

Apparently that is just the generic letter that all claimants will receive, just mentioning it in case anyone else gets one and immediately panic's as we are prone to do.

I tried to find out when esa is due for renewal the guy said there has been nothing on the notes since 2014 which is probably when the transfer from incapacity benefit took place.

Also asked about the pip form, the guy was in the wrong section but could look at the notes, there has been nothing so far but he did point out it takes the dwp 9 days to send the pip2 form once received to atos/caplita.