Messy & urgent: Request mandatory recon?

Having finally received what the decision was on my ESA renewal from Sept 2018, despite asking on three separate occasions for the details that they claimed to of sent to me (not even a confirmation of award letter was sent to me), I found out that I wasn’t awarded points for several things I clearly should have including but not limited to bladder/bowel, cognitive problems. All the evidence I submitted to ESA was newer evidence, nothing had changed in terms of my condition (only worsened in a few cases) and yet they decided I didn’t qualify for points. I’m in the Support Group, but this isn’t why I’m concerned, I should have qualified for more points.

In addition, I’m currently under review for PIP. As I know that PIP uses what’s found from ESA, I’m beside myself with concern.

To confuse things further, I only recently found out that I should have automatically qualified for the Disability Premium Income Support, but I wasn’t informed about this and wasn’t even aware it existed. It was by chance I found out about it. I’ve asked for ESA to create a mandatory reconsideration about this, and I’m waiting to hear back.

What should I do? It’s been so long since ESA came to their conclusions (Aug/Sept 2018) I don’t know what I can/should do.

I’m worried, I have no family or support network.

Thanks for all your help.

Hi Gordon,

Thanks so much for your very prompt reply.

I do have a few more questions, if you'd be alright with that.

I asked for a mandatory reconsideration of ESA over the phone (stupid, I know, now!) because I should have received Disability Premium Income Support automatically for the length of time I've been on ESA. I just wanted to be considered for it going forward. I'm presuming I've opened myself up to a can of worms by asking for this, should I write and clarify that I'm not asking for a mandatory reconsideration over all of my ESA just the Disability Premium Income Support?

I know that PIP uses the findings from ESA to make their decision, this is what concerns me the most. If I lose my PIP renewal, I'm presuming I would have to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, but if they're basing part of their decisions on ESA is it worth noting their incorrect assessment in writing to ESA?

I've been awarded 3 years of ESA.

Outside these questions I would like to highlight that it's shocking how few points they awarded me in categories I clearly meet the targets. It looks like they ignored all the evidence (Drs reports, tests, letters from Drs) and just awarded me without doing due diligence. I'm equally concerned my lack of request for a mandatory reconsideration may bite me back later. I do wish they'd have bothered!

Thank again, as always.

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for the clarification.

I’m on IR ESA and in the support group, I receive PIP currently though that’s being reviewed at the moment. There’s obviously some confusion on my part, but I believe that the conversations I had with the DWP/ESA is what has fuelled it. Also the .gov website seems to be misleading.

When I finally received my decision letter, I checked the .gov website for the severe disability premium and it states that I should receive it automatically. www.gov.uk/disability-premiums-income-support/how-to-claim
I asked the DWP/ESA about this but I was told they don’t know if I should be receiving it, which isn’t what I was told previously. I explained that the .gov website states I should receive it automatically and that I do qualify www.gov.uk/disability-premiums-income-support/eligibility. So, I asked for a MR.

After reading what you’ve written it looks like I’ve made a huge mistake. I don’t understand why the .gov website states it should be automatically added, I don’t understand why the DWP couldn’t simply explain things. I’d never heard of it before. If I’d known it existed, it looks like I could have made a claim for it for the past few years. I really could have used this.

I will write to the DWP/ESA and as that they stop the MR and ask about the severe disability premium again. Do you know what it is that they require from me in order to assess if I qualify? I’d like to have the information to hand so that I can answer everything.

I trust I've been clear. Thank you kindly for your time and assistance.

I feel like such a fool!