IB to ESA migration and mortgage query

penguinita

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work


To try and answer your questions.

If you think you need up to date evidence, then I am afraid this may mean you will have to pay for it, unfortunately, neither your GP or Consultants have any obligation to provide you support in regard to a benefit claim, even if an offer of payment is made.

As an alternative you cold try requesting a copy of your medical records, whilst the content is dependant on when you last received an update from your Consultants it may none the less provide the information you need. See

Requesting your medical records

Charging for medical records

The important thing to remember with regard to ESA is that it is not the condition(s) that is considered but the effect it/they have on your daily activities in respect to the ESA Descriptors, see our ESA Claim guides for a more detailed explanation.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

If you are found Fit for Work, then you should receive one further payment of your IB before payments stop, this would include any mortgage assistance you are receiving.

If you are receiving mortgage assistance, then I would think that in addition to your IB you area also receiving an Income Support top-up, this being the case, then when you are transferred to ESA you will receive Contribution Based ESA with an Income Related ESA top-up , the ESA(IR) will enable your mortgage assistance to continue.

If you are placed in the WRAG, then your ESA(CB) payments will only be payable for 365 days after which they will cease, however, if you are also receiving ESA(IR), then your payments will continue without interruption and will not be time limited.

With regard an extension and your complaint, there is no legal framework in the ESA legislation to allow for an extension of the four week completion period, so it is entirely at the discretion of the DWP to allow such an extension, however, I have to warn you that unless you have the extension confirmed in writing, it may not be worth anything unless your phone conversation was recorded and you are able to gain access to a copy of it.

It is also important for you to note that this part of the transfer process is managed by ATOS, so unless the DWP have notified them of the extension, they will continue operate to the original deadline, as evidenced by the standard letter issued at three weeks.

I would recommend, that you contact ATOS and explain that you have been granted an extension, I would email them so there is a "paper" trail and, if you are unable to submit the ESA50 on the original deadline, to include a covering letter when you do, detailing what has happened and that the DWP have granted you an extension.

Phone: 0800 2888 777 or 0113 230 9175

Email: customer-relations @ atoshealthcare.com (remove the space around the @)


If you have further questions, please reply to this post.

Gordon