Now ESA Muck Around.

louise wrote: Hi Gordon, Strangely the PIP Form has just arrived at 3,10pm today as well as a new ESA Form to complete as well, so I've got to go through two forms now for my partner,
Can't believe they sent them off at the exact same time as each other.

I did print out a ESA form a while ago, where I typed in the answers & then printed it out, am I able to use that printed version of the ESA form? or do I have to fill in this Pink/white ESA form in pen?

Thank You in advance.

Hi l,

It doesn't rain but it pours !!!

Yes, you can use the PDF ESA50 :

Just to make you aware that : The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) (aka HAAS) (Maximus) who took over the ESA WCA Contract from ATOS on 02/03/15 now carry out ESA Assessments/Re-Assessments.

There have not been any changes to ESA Legislation since January 2013, however you should always use our most current Guides.

There have been some changes to The ESA50 itself.

Now that you have The ESA50, you may 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. (aka CHDA, aka HAAS.)

You should treat this re-assessment as if it was your first assessment and not assume that The Assessor will have access to any of your previous evidence. They may not even know that you are currently in The SG, so you should make it clear that you are.

It is therefore important that you reiterate how and why you still qualify for The SG, in that the limitations that you suffer as a result of your medical conditions have not changed nor diminished to such an extent that you no longer qualify for The SG.

Nor have you learned to deal with or adapt to your limitations since your last assessment.

If you are aware how and why you were placed into The SG last time, you could cite that also.

If you want to obtain fresh evidence such as a letter of support from your G.P., obtain it yourself and post it with the ESA50.

Do not rely on Maximus/DWP contacting your G.P. , even if you request that they do so.

They seldom do and are not legally obliged to do so.

If you are going to pose queries regarding PIP can you please start a new topic, otherwise we will get "all mixed up" !!

bro58

Hi, I contacted Maximus through email today & had a reply back with in 1 hour, I wanted to know how my partners ESA claim was progressing, as I can't get through to the DWP at all & been trying for two days at different times, as it's making my partner very stressed out & she is very difficult to deal with, as she wants to end her life:(.

The lady from Maximus stated the following email message - Please call the DWP on 0345 608 8545 regarding the decision on your partners ESA claim. We do not have her case any more.
Do you feel they have looked at her case & feel she has enough evidence with out the need for a face to face medical.

She was already in the support group & this is a reassessment.
Do you think she will remain in support group or pushed to the work related activity group.
Thanks in advance.
Antony.

louise wrote: Hi, I contacted Maximus through email today & had a reply back with in 1 hour, I wanted to know how my partners ESA claim was progressing, as I can't get through to the DWP at all & been trying for two days at different times, as it's making my partner very stressed out & she is very difficult to deal with, as she wants to end her life:(.

The lady from Maximus stated the following email message - Please call the DWP on 0345 608 8545 regarding the decision on your partners ESA claim. We do not have her case any more.
Do you feel they have looked at her case & feel she has enough evidence with out the need for a face to face medical.

She was already in the support group & this is a reassessment.
Do you think she will remain in support group or pushed to the work related activity group.
Thanks in advance.
Antony.

Hi l,

Although this message does not indicate which "group" (WRAG or SG) your partner has been placed into, it does indicate that Maximus have made a paper based assessment and returned their file to the DWP ESA DM to make the final decision.

As a paper based assessment has taken place, your partner cannot be found fit for work, so it will be WRAG or SG !!

You will now need to contact DWP ESA for further updates :

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

Good luck and please let us know how things progress !!

bro58

Hi Bro,
Thanks for the reply back, On the grounds of no Face to face medical, do the DWP DM phone up with the final result or do they just send a letter, or don't they say any thing & expect the claimant to phone up for the out come?

Also can I request a ESA85A to find out what Maximus opinion is?
I have tried to phone DWP, but just can't seem to get through to them.

Thank You for all the help.
Antony.

louise wrote: Hi Bro,
Thanks for the reply back, On the grounds of no Face to face medical, do the DWP DM phone up with the final result or do they just send a letter, or don't they say any thing & expect the claimant to phone up for the out come?

Also can I request a ESA85A to find out what Maximus opinion is?
I have tried to phone DWP, but just can't seem to get through to them.

Thank You for all the help.
Antony.

Hi l.

DWP ESA do sometimes ring to confirm their decision, but this is generally only with a fit for work decision, which cannot occur now with your partner !

You can sometimes gain the decision by ringing up, but generally the first you know is when you receive the Decision Notice through the post.

If you are to try the ESA telephone number, do so as early on in the morning as possible.

That will not be until Tuesday morning now due to Easter.

You can try requesting The ESA85A over the phone on Tuesday, but they generally won't provide copy of this until the DM has made their decision !

bro58