ESA claim

Thank you. May I ask if you think it ok for me to use all the evidence I eventually gathered for my PIP claim for ESA. I mean letters addressed for PIP from my health professionals involved in my care saying how I would not be able to travel to a medical assessment centre, a letter from my psychiatrist written to explain my conditions to PIP, and also a questionnaire that my GP filled in upon request from ATOS for PIP. These may not be perfect for ESA because I know the criteria are different and also there are a few things not quite right which I would like rectified in an ideal world. However, I do not feel able to approach my health care professionals to ask for supporting evidence for my ESA claim so soon after they have provided the supporting evidence for my PIP. Could I use the same evidence but put a line through the PIP address, or write on the top of the paperwork 'PIP evidence to use for ESA claim' or not write on the paperwork at all and do a cover letter explaining?

Hi Cruella,

Yes, you can use the PIP letters in support of your ESA claim, as long as you clearly shpw how they relate to the ESA descriptors.

I would recommend that you don't change the actual letters in any way, send in a covering letter instead.

You would need to send in a new letter if you are requesting a home appointment for any face2face considered necessary.

ok thank you, I assume I would need to get the home appointment/paper based letter request ready to go with the ESA50?

I am hoping Maximus will do a paper based report like ATOS did for me. I assume all I can do apart from my health professional writing a letter supporting my inability to attend a medical assessment centre , is provide as much evidence and info about my conditions as I can. I could send a copy of the letter from ATOS saying they were doing a paper based assessment for me or do you think that might rub Maximus up the wrong way?