New Style ESA - telephone call to accept claimant commitment

Hi Olly

I had this call last year as I started a new claim for New Style ESA and it is a tick the box exercise for the work coach as part of the opening of a new claim which yours is classified as due to migration from old style ESA. The work coach is not a decision maker nor a healthcare professional. It is purely an administrative role.

The only query I have in my mind for you is - When was the last time you had a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for old style ESA and how long was it awarded for before requiring another assessment? This period varies claim to claim but is noted on the Worksheet for the Work Capability Assessment also known as form ESA56 which is what the ESA Decision Maker completes after reviewing your WCA. You can request a copy of the ESA56 from the ESA helpline. At the end of the worksheet there will be a statement that says ‘Please refer for another WCA assessment in XX years/months time from XX XX XXXX (the date of the assessment).

If your WCA has expired and is up for review, then the Work Coach can request an ESA50 is sent out to you to get an up-to-date account of your entitlement to LCWRA. But the call you have booked with the work coach is not a WCA assessment, just an administrative call.

I’ve had the same letter, like you I didn’t realise I was getting CB ESA which has now switched to New Style ESA. I had the letter two weeks ago and wrote to them to say I was not participating in a claimant commitment as I was in the SG and this was not a requirement. Then today I get an email and SMS to tell me I have a telephone call next week to accept my claimant commitment… Really not happy and not prepared to discuss the multiple medical conditions with someone at the job centre. I will be recording the call for my own benefit as well!