Yes! but also puzzled

I am delighted to inform you all I have received a letter (after 5months of waiting) that I have been awarded ESA thanks for all the info that helped me fill the forms in and I didn't even get asked for a face to face interview but I am also rather puzzled by some of the information stated in the letter. It states that I am awarded £108.15p a week and it will be paid from 20th September into my bank account every two weeks the but then right at the end of the last page sent it states 'amounts on this page apply from 20th September 2014 to 28th November 2014'

I haven't a clue to what that means, does it mean I will only get ESA for only those dates? or does it mean what I get will change after 28th Nov?

That's great news Susan, thanks for letting us know!

Hi there,

I think this may answer my question too. I found your website A DAY before my medical, I was migrating from IS/ SDA to ESA so I brought membership straight away and read long into the night. I was expecting a medical as I had been too ill to photocopy evidence etc. I was able to tell the truth at my medical but using the right language for them to understand my problems. I got a letter during the summer saying Support group but page 5 was the same as the other poster- until 28th November. So I phoned up job centre plus, really worried as I didn't know if they'd stop the ESA and I'd have to re claim or I'd get a form a month before. I'd been very stressed about it all, but was polite and explained I took meds and sometimes forgot what I was saying mid sentence so to please bear with me. I explained I couldn't clearly remember the decision makers call as I was ill and to get told in a very short fashion that I'd get a form "when it was time" and "there's no such thing as life awards any more" did not help. I sweetly told her "well I didn't think there were ever "life awards" of income support anyway, good day" and hung up as I was getting a hint of teapots and chocolate...

You see, the problem was that when the decision makers called I was in bed, in pain and drugged up. All I understood were the words 'support' and 'group'. She could tell I was not at the height of my understanding and asked two or three times if I was ok/ I understood. I remember asking "I'll get a letter explaining all of this, won't I?" Then I remember saying thank you!

So I started with today's decision to ask, with just over 2 months till the date on the letter, got the answer, and now have another mystery with not knowing how long I'm in the support group for! I don't know if it matters to me really unless there was some official capacity I needed to know why. I had to fill in forms before every year and if I pass each anniversary of so many months at least it might be a celebration if I didn't get a brown envelope through the letter box. Celebrations are hard to come by so I have to scrape the barrel like to this!

The person at the job centre plus I called could have been a lot more helpful though. How hard would it have been to bring my details up and explain about the November date then tell me how long my award was? If they couldn't have I could have been passed to someone who could. I know why I forget or get confused but I can guess how someone with mental health or neurological problems would have felt by that response. Upset, frustrated, confused. I get they may have difficult people to deal with but I wasn't being rude or intentionally difficult. Where was the awareness training on that one!

In a very long and round about way I'm trying to say that membership helped me really understand what the forms and examiners are asking and even just reading the forum I got an answer to a question
I will be migrated from DLA from next year onward so I will be keeping my membership up to date. Thanks B and W for a very informative site and great guides (I have spread the word to my friends too).

TraceZee wrote: Hi there,

I think this may answer my question too. I found your website A DAY before my medical, I was migrating from IS/ SDA to ESA so I brought membership straight away and read long into the night. I was expecting a medical as I had been too ill to photocopy evidence etc. I was able to tell the truth at my medical but using the right language for them to understand my problems. I got a letter during the summer saying Support group but page 5 was the same as the other poster- until 28th November. So I phoned up job centre plus, really worried as I didn't know if they'd stop the ESA and I'd have to re claim or I'd get a form a month before. I'd been very stressed about it all, but was polite and explained I took meds and sometimes forgot what I was saying mid sentence so to please bear with me. I explained I couldn't clearly remember the decision makers call as I was ill and to get told in a very short fashion that I'd get a form "when it was time" and "there's no such thing as life awards any more" did not help. I sweetly told her "well I didn't think there were ever "life awards" of income support anyway, good day" and hung up as I was getting a hint of teapots and chocolate...

You see, the problem was that when the decision makers called I was in bed, in pain and drugged up. All I understood were the words 'support' and 'group'. She could tell I was not at the height of my understanding and asked two or three times if I was ok/ I understood. I remember asking "I'll get a letter explaining all of this, won't I?" Then I remember saying thank you!

So I started with today's decision to ask, with just over 2 months till the date on the letter, got the answer, and now have another mystery with not knowing how long I'm in the support group for! I don't know if it matters to me really unless there was some official capacity I needed to know why. I had to fill in forms before every year and if I pass each anniversary of so many months at least it might be a celebration if I didn't get a brown envelope through the letter box. Celebrations are hard to come by so I have to scrape the barrel like to this!

The person at the job centre plus I called could have been a lot more helpful though. How hard would it have been to bring my details up and explain about the November date then tell me how long my award was? If they couldn't have I could have been passed to someone who could. I know why I forget or get confused but I can guess how someone with mental health or neurological problems would have felt by that response. Upset, frustrated, confused. I get they may have difficult people to deal with but I wasn't being rude or intentionally difficult. Where was the awareness training on that one!

In a very long and round about way I'm trying to say that membership helped me really understand what the forms and examiners are asking and even just reading the forum I got an answer to a question
I will be migrated from DLA from next year onward so I will be keeping my membership up to date. Thanks B and W for a very informative site and great guides (I have spread the word to my friends too).

Hi TZ,

Congratulations on the SG award !!

It is not clear whether or not you are aware of the recommended period before your SG award is reviewed/reassessed.

Theoretically ESA is awarded indefinitely, (open ended)

However, in reality, each ESA awarded comes with a recommended period (The Prognosis) before it is reassessed.

See : How often will I be reviewed

From our : ESA FAQ’s

The ESA decision notice letter that you receive, does not include the prognosis.

To find out the prognosis, you can ring the 0345 number on the decision notice letter, they should have it on their computer screen.

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545. (Open 8AM-6PM. Mon-Fri.)

You should expect to begin the reassessment process, and receive a new ESA50 some 2-3 months before the end of a prognosis period.

e.g. It would not be uncommon to receive a new ESA50 9 month after an ESA award with a 12 months prognosis.

Whilst on the phone, as it seems that you had a "medical" you could also request the ESA85 medical report. (It would be the ESA85A Medical Report if no "medical" face to face took place)

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?

This should include the prognosis, and reasons why you were placed into The SG, which may be useful at your next reassessment.

If you have problems obtaining this, you can make a written request. (SAR)

There should also be an LT54 Form, which may contain useful information.

A description of an LT54 can be found at the bottom of this list :

ESA Forms

There may also be an ESA113 questionnaire, if one was sent to your G.P.

To cover all bases, you could make a SAR for "All" documentation used in coming to The SG decision.

You could also pose particular questions, e.g. :

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, ATOS, Capita or Maximus.

bro58

Hi there,

Can you request 'SAR for "All" documentation used in coming to The SG decision' if you are in the support group, but have not had a medical?

With thanks.
HandM