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ESA medical evidence
- tintack
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5 years 4 months ago #241916 by tintack
ESA medical evidence was created by tintack
I was expecting to receive an ESA50 reassessment form around now but I had to phone the DWP for something else yesterday. While I was on the phone I asked about my next reassessment and was told it's been put back a year to December 2020.
I recently asked my consultant about providing an updated medical report when the ESA50 arrived, thinking that would be very soon. To my surprise I've now received an updated report in the post even though I hadn't yet said I needed one. If I received the ESA50 now then the new report would obviously be right up to date, but if what I was told on the phone is correct, and I won't hear anything until around this time next year, the new report will be a year old by then. Would that be old enough to diminish its value as medical evidence, and if so, should I ask for an updated version nearer the time?
The reason I ask about this now is that my consultant has had several lengthy absences in the last few years, so I don't want to get to this time next year, receive the ESA50, and be involved in a mad scramble to get an updated report in time - only to find that I can't because my consultant is unavailable. My routine appointments are usually around January and July. Would it be advisable to ask for an updated report in, say, July? If I then get the ESA50 in December 2020 the updated report would only be six months old.
Naturally, for the time being I will hang on to the report I've just received. The latest I have prior to that is from late 2016, and if the report that's just arrived were to be the one I ended up having to send, it's obviously better to send something that's a year old rather than something that's four years old.
Thanks for your help.
I recently asked my consultant about providing an updated medical report when the ESA50 arrived, thinking that would be very soon. To my surprise I've now received an updated report in the post even though I hadn't yet said I needed one. If I received the ESA50 now then the new report would obviously be right up to date, but if what I was told on the phone is correct, and I won't hear anything until around this time next year, the new report will be a year old by then. Would that be old enough to diminish its value as medical evidence, and if so, should I ask for an updated version nearer the time?
The reason I ask about this now is that my consultant has had several lengthy absences in the last few years, so I don't want to get to this time next year, receive the ESA50, and be involved in a mad scramble to get an updated report in time - only to find that I can't because my consultant is unavailable. My routine appointments are usually around January and July. Would it be advisable to ask for an updated report in, say, July? If I then get the ESA50 in December 2020 the updated report would only be six months old.
Naturally, for the time being I will hang on to the report I've just received. The latest I have prior to that is from late 2016, and if the report that's just arrived were to be the one I ended up having to send, it's obviously better to send something that's a year old rather than something that's four years old.
Thanks for your help.
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5 years 4 months ago #241925 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA medical evidence
tintack
It really depends on your conditions and whether they are variable or likely to change over time. The usual cut off for evidence is two years although a current report is still likely to hold more weight than one from a year ago, you will need to think about how you explain that your limitations are the same as they were when the letter was written.
Gordon
It really depends on your conditions and whether they are variable or likely to change over time. The usual cut off for evidence is two years although a current report is still likely to hold more weight than one from a year ago, you will need to think about how you explain that your limitations are the same as they were when the letter was written.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- tintack
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5 years 4 months ago #241941 by tintack
Replied by tintack on topic ESA medical evidence
Hi Gordon. Thanks for your reply.
The updated report I've just received does specify that my condition is chronic, severe and lifelong, which should be very useful. It also says that no great improvements have been achieved over many years.
In theory that ought to be enough to make it clear that things will not have improved a year on, and indeed that they are not likely to ever improve at all. Nevertheless, it sounds as though asking for an updated version nearer the time - even if the only difference is a new date - would be a good idea.
Thanks again for your help.
The updated report I've just received does specify that my condition is chronic, severe and lifelong, which should be very useful. It also says that no great improvements have been achieved over many years.
In theory that ought to be enough to make it clear that things will not have improved a year on, and indeed that they are not likely to ever improve at all. Nevertheless, it sounds as though asking for an updated version nearer the time - even if the only difference is a new date - would be a good idea.
Thanks again for your help.
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