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Choosing an ESA Assessment Centre
- hartlepool1945
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8 years 2 weeks ago #156123 by hartlepool1945
Choosing an ESA Assessment Centre was created by hartlepool1945
Interesting recent development.
Sent ESA50 after just 15 months on ESA Support Group - the whole ESA assessment procedure is highly stressful for my wife (and no doubt many many people). The worst of it is that she should have retired in 2014 originally !!!!!! and hasn't been out to work in twenty years - so at 62, not really worked in 20 years, and sick/disabled for many years and with multiple other medical issues, who would be interested in offering employment?
Completed form expecting automatic confirmation of Support Group - but no! Sent Medical Assessment interview, not at nearest Centre, but some miles further away, and further into London, making access even more difficult.
On requesting change to nearest Centre told HEALTH AND SAFETY considerations had changed and no one with mobility issues could attend Centres NOT ON GROUND FLOOR. Two years ago this wasn't a problem, and many of the people there used walking sticks.
Argued access and suitability issues without success, so now waiting to see if DWP/Maximus will authorise taxi.
Just thought people ought to aware if this is general policy countrywide.
Sent ESA50 after just 15 months on ESA Support Group - the whole ESA assessment procedure is highly stressful for my wife (and no doubt many many people). The worst of it is that she should have retired in 2014 originally !!!!!! and hasn't been out to work in twenty years - so at 62, not really worked in 20 years, and sick/disabled for many years and with multiple other medical issues, who would be interested in offering employment?
Completed form expecting automatic confirmation of Support Group - but no! Sent Medical Assessment interview, not at nearest Centre, but some miles further away, and further into London, making access even more difficult.
On requesting change to nearest Centre told HEALTH AND SAFETY considerations had changed and no one with mobility issues could attend Centres NOT ON GROUND FLOOR. Two years ago this wasn't a problem, and many of the people there used walking sticks.
Argued access and suitability issues without success, so now waiting to see if DWP/Maximus will authorise taxi.
Just thought people ought to aware if this is general policy countrywide.
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- Gordon
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8 years 2 weeks ago #156136 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Choosing an ESA Assessment Centre
Hartlepool
Thanks for the information, there have always been problems with claimants with restricted mobility, particularly if the have to use a wheelchair, visiting assessment centres that are not on the ground floor. It refreshing (in some ways) that they are actually being pre-active about this, previously they would wait for the claimant to turn up and then tell them they couldn't be seen.
Gordon
Thanks for the information, there have always been problems with claimants with restricted mobility, particularly if the have to use a wheelchair, visiting assessment centres that are not on the ground floor. It refreshing (in some ways) that they are actually being pre-active about this, previously they would wait for the claimant to turn up and then tell them they couldn't be seen.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: hartlepool1945
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