ESA 50 & COMPLETING A DOWNLOADED COPY

Hello, could anyone advise or give their opinions please on completing my ESA 50 on the computer and then just printing it off and signing before sending back to dip. I have never done a form this way before but think it may be easier and help a little with the stressful process because the anxiety is already beginning to crush me. I have been in the support group of ESA for about 8/9 years and was wondering if it would be a good thing to mention this a few times when completing the form. I am also in receipt of the enhanced rate of both components of pip. This is not the first time I have had to complete these forms I know, but it certainly doesn't get any easier each time and I am extremely grateful for any advice or opinions, thanks so much UNCLE M.

Hello Uncle M. I’ve just completed the online ESA 50, & as in my previous ESA 50 done in 2013, I also added quite a few extra printed sheets of evidence as well. The beauty of the online ESA 50 is you can start to fill it in and, as long as you save your work, can leave it and have a break. The one that’s sent in the post to you is woefully short on space for you to write in, especially if you have several health issues to write about.

In each of the question boxes on my ESA 50, I filled the space with the start of my answers but would then write eg “ Question 5 Continues Over” making sure to put your name and national insurance number on any additional sheets you add. I don’t know if it’s needed, but I also headed the additional sheet with eg. Question 5 continued” so there would be no mix up as to which question you are answering. I saved all my additional sheets in my 2019 ESA-50 folder on my computer so when I then printed out my completed ESA50 questionnaire & my additional sheets, I slotted the additional sheets in behind the relevant questions.

I know it’s a bit of an explanation and a half, but hoped it might relieve such a stressful process for you. I do hope you receive your ESA with as little stress as possible. Sue

Thanks for your help & advice SUE C C & BIS, it is very much appreciated and I will take on board what you have both said. I do have multiple problems which are not going to get better and the last 2 times I have had an ESA review, I was placed in the support group under regulation 35 but I just don't know how much more I can take or how many times I can manage this process, take care and thanks again UNCLE M.

You’re more than welcome Uncle M.

I totally threw a wobbly when the dreaded brown envelope finally landed on my front door mat. It took a good week for me to talk myself down & calm down. When I’d stopped to think about it I realised that since my transition from Incapacity Benefit to ESA - support group in 2013, my health, unfortunately, but predictably, has deteriorated further. Bearing that in mind, I dusted off my last application of 6 year’s ago, refreshed myself by re-reading it and then began to edit my documents to bring them bang up to date. I added 6 years worth of information that Atos/Capita/Maximus and the DWP were unaware of and posted the completed online ESA50 + all the extra evidence as well as all the printed sheets I had drafted in support of my claim, on Wednesday 4 September 2019. I have not heard anything as yet about my claim but, just to keep me on my toes, I have now received my “Invitation” all 28 pages of it, to apply to transition from DLA to PIP. Needless to say, I just can’t wait to apply for PIP............ not.

With that in mind, I subscribed to this excellent, straight talking B&W website and have been trying to inwardly digest their PIP Guide while on my travels. I really do hope that you can summon up the energy to hang on in there Uncle M and continue to receive the benefit you are fully entitled to. Sending you warmest best wishes Sue