ESA Reassessment

Hello Forum and a Happy New Year to one and all!

Unfortunately, my festive season was completely ruined by the arrival through my letterbox, on the 19th December, of my notice of reassessment for ESA and the dreaded questionnaire. It is now two years since I was migrated from IB to ESA, Support Group, following a successful appeal hearing, having originally been deemed "fit for work". I am now wading through this horrendous document, ably assisted (I hope!) this time by the excellent guides on this site, and I am hoping not to repeat my mistakes from last time.

I do, however, have three questions to pose to the experts on this Forum, if I may, please?

Firstly, having already provided the requested details of my GP's Surgery, I then move to the next section asking for details of other professionals, etc., who know the most about my health difficulties, etc. Although I intermittently see different medical professionals about my various medical problems, none has any idea of how my daily life is impacted by my health issues other than my GP, who has been with me throughout my last 30 years of medical hell, and is always happy to support me in my dealings with the DWP. That said, should I then put his name here or leave it blank?

My second question refers to the physical capabilities section asking about bladder and bowel control. To assist me with this, I have recently been issued with a commode to keep in my bedroom, next to my bed. I am wondering if I should mention this, or are the DWP liable to rationalise that it would be reasonable to have a commode immediately adjacent to any place of work?

Finally, will the Assessment Provider and Health Professional at Maximus have access to my previous questionnaires and face-to-face assessment reports when they review my current questionnaire? More importantly still, will the Decision Maker at the DWP also have access to this previous information, plus the previous appeal documents, when they come to consider my case? I am not sure whether I should refer to anything that has gone before when completing this new questionnaire.

Your answers to the above will prove to be very beneficial in my quest to get things right this time around and then I hope I will not need to bother you further.

Thank you very much.

Spridgett56

Gordon,

Thank you for your prompt reply to my questions, the contents of which I am completely on board with. The long wait now begins.............

Thank you once again.


Spridgett

Hi

I'm in a similar position with ESA reassessment and currently have a few questions

1. Is it better to get old letters of support which were included in previous ESA claim (two years ago) updated - although the ESA50 appears to suggest not to?
2. In my previous ESA claim I included one or two consultant letters though these were more along the lines of only describing treatment and condition: should I be getting these updated and ask my consultant for a more detailed report to send in view of probable forthcoming move from my DLA to PIP? I have read that agencies are using medical report from one to inform the other, don't know if that's still the case?)
3. Again re ESA reassessment, and probable DLA to PIP, is it the case that those undergoing ESA reassessments are likely to end up having two medicals or they trying to use the one medical for both now?

Thanks very much in advance

Thanks very much for your prompt reply