Called for Assessment in support group

Hi. Can anyone help here? In Oct 14, I applied for ESA, and due to my condition knew I automatically scored 15pts in one category. I was placed in the Support Group without a medical.

In Dec 15 I was asked to fill out another ESA50 form, and again knew I automatically scored 15pts in the same category as previous. If anything, due to two additional medical conditions since, I would have expected my overall score to have risen.

I have now received the letter asking me to attend a medical. I find this most strange since my condition has not changed, and I would therefore have expected the same criteria to apply.

Has anyone else experienced similar? What is going on in this instance? I thought that if you scored enough on the ESA50, the medical was not required? Who should I contact for clarification in this instance.

Thanks.

Hi Gary and welcome to the forum. This link should help you find your way around the site.

Welcome to Benefits and Work

The whole thrust of the welfare reforms was that benefit recipients would be reassessed periodically. Whether or not you have a face2face assessment is purely at the discretion of the HealthCare Professional who scrutinised your claim paperwork. Whatever the reason, this person clearly feels that they do not have enough information to make a decision without you being seen in person. To put it bluntly, it is all very well you saying that you should score x points, the assessor does not take your word for it!

If you have further questions regarding your ESA claim, please reply to this message and we will do our best to help. We do ask you to keep everything in one placeas it makes our jobs a little easier. You will find it easily if you bookmark/favourite it on your web browser now. Thank you for your co-operation

At my DLA appeal the DWP guy told me due to backlogs people were being put in support group if enough evidence on paper and then being called in for f2f at a later date ,even DLA judge said same thing.

Rh wrote: At my DLA appeal the DWP guy told me due to backlogs people were being put in support group if enough evidence on paper and then being called in for f2f at a later date ,even DLA judge said same thing.

Nothing DWP does will surprise me!

Thank you for the responses. My condition is what used to be called Multiple Personality, and thus the question that automatically qualified me for the Support Group was the one asking if you have 'blank' moments. Since these happen on a daily basis, I was considered a substantial risk to the safety of others.

This could prove interesting at a face to face, since if one of the other personalities takes over whilst I am there, this could lead to any number of scenarios.