waiting for esa letter

Hi There, I sent my ESA form off 3months ago and I am still waiting for them to reply, has anybody else waited this long ? Many thanks Kath.

It was the best part of 5 months before I heard anything else after sending off my ESA50!

katherine1 wrote: Hi There, I sent my ESA form off 3months ago and I am still waiting for them to reply, has anybody else waited this long ? Many thanks Kath.

Hi k1,

Some members have reported waiting several months before hearing anything.

It may be a good idea to contact ATOS, to gain an update :

Phone : 0113 230 9175. Or E-Mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or :

"ESA/WCA Customer Service:" on the right, here :

www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants

It may be a good idea to gain an update, as some members have reported that they have been assessed without a face to face, and placed into The WRAG, without receiving any formal written notice.

They only found this out later, by inquiring.

bro58

Transferred last Jan, put in WRAG, appeal in Sept put me in Support, new ESA50 in Jan, returned beginning Feb and heard nothing since so after reading this post I thought I'd better check in case I'd been put in WRAG again. After 45 mins waiting I was told I had been kept in Support in March (!!) and would be in it till 2015 ! I put the phone down and burst into tears. All the stress of the last two months had been so awful and unnecessary. I was so relieved but now a few hours later I am angry about it.

Fimara wrote: Transferred last Jan, put in WRAG, appeal in Sept put me in Support, new ESA50 in Jan, returned beginning Feb and heard nothing since so after reading this post I thought I'd better check in case I'd been put in WRAG again. After 45 mins waiting I was told I had been kept in Support in March (!!) and would be in it till 2015 ! I put the phone down and burst into tears. All the stress of the last two months had been so awful and unnecessary. I was so relieved but now a few hours later I am angry about it.

Hi F,

I'm glad that you have been placed into The SG.

I can understand your annoyance, this is happening more and more, where claimants are being assessed without a face to face, and then placed into The WRAG or SG without receiving a written Decision Notice, which they are entitled to by law.

This can be most worrying for people who are entitled to CB ESA only, and are placed into the WRAG, as the clock will have already started ticking with regards to their 365 days entitlement to payment.

bro58

Hi F,

As an aside,I gather that it was the DWP that told you that you have kept your SG status, as ATOS only make recommendations.

It is The DWP Decision Maker that actually makes the decision. (even though in reality they tend to "rubber stamp" the ATOS recommendations in the vast majority of cases)

It is then The DWP DM who is supposed to instigate the sending of the written decision notice to you.

bro58