× Members

ESA Decision or Not? Confused!

  • Drivelman
  • Topic Author
10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #114617 by Drivelman
ESA Decision or Not? Confused! was created by Drivelman
Be gentle, this is my first post and apologies if I seem ignorant/stupid.

In July of this year I received a letter from the DWP about migrating from IS to ESA (along with the phone call)
I then received the ESA application form from ATOS, which due to the invaluable help from your guides, I completed to the best of my ability - it was due back on 31/07, sent in on time, my benefit continued.

I have had no further contact from Atos, and I haven't been called for a face to face interview.

On Friday I received a letter from the DWP stating that my benefit is changing to ESA, which starts on the 17/12/2013. It is income related ESA.
It says I have been placed in the Support Group, and details the payments. There is no mention of how long this might be for.

My question is this:- is this the formal decision from my ESA50 application, or is it just a change of benefit whilst that process continues?
Do I have to contact them?

Any help gratefully received. Many thanks.
Last edit: 10 years 3 months ago by bro58.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • bro58
10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #114621 by bro58
Replied by bro58 on topic ESA Decision or Not? Confused!

Drivelman wrote: Be gentle, this is my first post and apologies if I seem ignorant/stupid.

In July of this year I received a letter from the DWP about migrating from IS to ESA (along with the phone call)
I then received the ESA application form from ATOS, which due to the invaluable help from your guides, I completed to the best of my ability - it was due back on 31/07, sent in on time, my benefit continued.

I have had no further contact from Atos, and I haven't been called for a face to face interview.

On Friday I received a letter from the DWP stating that my benefit is changing to ESA, which starts on the 17/12/2013. It is income related ESA.
It says I have been placed in the Support Group, and details the payments. There is no mention of how long this might be for.

My question is this:- is this the formal decision from my ESA50 application, or is it just a change of benefit whilst that process continues?
Do I have to contact them?

Any help gratefully received. Many thanks.


Hi Dm,

Congratulations, the letter that you speak of is the written decision notice formally informing you that you have been successfully transferred over to ESA and placed into The Support Group (SG) without the need of a "medical" !!!!! :cheer:

The ESA SG award starts from 17/12/13.

If you wish to know the recommended length of the award before you are reassessed, (The Prognosis) you can ring the 0845 number on the letter, they should have it on screen. :

How often will I be reviewed

You could also make a written request for the relevant documentation which was used in coming to the SG decision.

There will definitely be an ESA85A Medical Report, an LT54 Form, and there may be an ESA113 Questionnaire, if one was sent to your G.P.

ESA Forms

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?


To cover all bases, you could request "ALL" documentation used in coming to SG award decision.

You could request the above, and then make particular written requests for :

1. Reasons why you were placed into the SG, including which of SG descriptors were applied. Whether it be one or more of The Schedule 3 Functional Descriptors, or The ESA Regulation 35 Non Functional Descriptor.

2. The prognosis of the SG award, and when you should expect to have your next reassessment.

You can do this using a SAR Form :

SAR Form Download

From this page :

DWP Data Protection Policy

Or you can make the request in the form of a letter, as long as you make it clear that you are making a formal SAR under The Data Protection Act 1998.

Address the envelope : FAO The Data Controller, at the Benefits Office dealing with your ESA.

Write DPA 1998 SAR in front, top, left corner of envelope.

Once received, they have 40 calendar days to comply.

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58
Last edit: 10 years 3 months ago by bro58.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Drivelman
  • Topic Author
10 years 3 months ago #114625 by Drivelman
Replied by Drivelman on topic ESA Decision or Not? Confused!
My goodness - that was a swift reply, I'm still online!

Thank you so much for clarifying that for me; I cannot tell you how relieved I am, it's been 5 months of constant daily worrying which made me even more ill.
I was recently in hospital and so concerned that I might miss the call for assessment.

I cannot thank Benefits and Work enough for the invaluable guide to filling in the ESA form - I followed it diligently step by step, and allowed enough time to consider my answers.

A massive thank you once again to all those who put so much time and effort into producing the guide; without it I'm sure that I would have messed up somewhere along the line.

Good luck to all others who have to face these pernicious criteria and regulations.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • bro58
10 years 3 months ago #114631 by bro58
Replied by bro58 on topic ESA Decision or Not? Confused!

Drivelman wrote: My goodness - that was a swift reply, I'm still online!

Thank you so much for clarifying that for me; I cannot tell you how relieved I am, it's been 5 months of constant daily worrying which made me even more ill.
I was recently in hospital and so concerned that I might miss the call for assessment.

I cannot thank Benefits and Work enough for the invaluable guide to filling in the ESA form - I followed it diligently step by step, and allowed enough time to consider my answers.

A massive thank you once again to all those who put so much time and effort into producing the guide; without it I'm sure that I would have messed up somewhere along the line.

Good luck to all others who have to face these pernicious criteria and regulations.


Hi Dm,

Thank you for your kind words regarding all at B&W, they are much appreciated. :)

Hopefully, the prognosis will be a long one.

bro58

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: bro58GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.