Still waiting two months+ since I submitted my ESA

Hi,

I'm new here so hope I'm doing this right...

I have been ill for ten years and was moved on to ESA about 20 months ago. I was placed in WRAG but moved into the SG (on appeal with not much fuss...appealed and WRAG decision was overturned. I was sent a new ESA50 (I think it's called) at the end of November 2013 with the instruction to fill it in and return by December 31st. I could not do this but informed them and returned as soon as I could, sending on 2nd Jan. I called them on around 11th of Jan to ask where I should send a letter from my doctor (to go with my form but she couldn't provide it at the time of returning the form) and they confirmed receipt of the form on Jan 7th, reassured me although it was late I was not going to be sanctioned, and told me where to send the letter from my doctor to.
Fast forward to now, I have heard nothing (apart from a standard letter informing me of a small increase in April). I am starting to get really stressed about it which doesn't hep my condition at all. I was dreading hearing from them but now I'm getting in a state because I haven't.

Has anyone else waited this long? I've been in the unfortunate position to have now had 3 or 4 sickness claim forms over the years and have always been called for a medical within 2 to 3 weeks. Going on past experience, I should have got the form at the end of one month, had to have it in by the end of the next and been called for a medical before the end of the month after that. So, in my experience, waiting two and a half months is not the norm...

I'm not sure if sending in a letter from my doctor has delayed things. I was unable to send in reports from medical experts because they all saw me early on in my diagnosis... And, as, after diagnosis, there is not much they can do, I have been more or less solely under the care of my GP for a fair number of years. My GP told me there was no point getting reports from specialists from 2007, for example, which is why she wrote...

Why haven't the contacted me? Anyone else in the same boat? Wondering if I should call them. Mum says not to try not to worry, leave well alone as they're unlikely to have forgotten me and that she's sure they'll be in touch soon enough.

Anyhow, sorry for wittering on... Nice to meet you all, wish it was in more pleasant circumstances..

Thanks to anyone who might be able to advise.

Hi,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

We must get this query at least once a day, so you are not alone.

ATOS have huge backlogs with carrying out ESA assessments and reassessment.

Some of our members have sent their ESA50's in over 6 months ago, and have still not received any word.

As long as ATOS have accepted your ESA50, as it seems that they have, you will continue to receive your current payments of ESA until the reassessment has been carried out and a decision has been made by The DWP.

If your forum name is also your real name, you may wish to change it to maintain some anonymity.

This can be done quite easily by following the instructions on this FAQ :

My full name is showing, how can I stop it?

bro58

Hi M,
Welcome to the forum. On the assumption that you are also new to the site this FAQ should help you find your way around.

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I'm afraid that DWP and ATOS have huge backlogs at the moment and claimants are waiting for many months to hear anything after submitting ESA50s. The only thing we can suggest that might speed things up is to get your MP involved. Hover, as you are currently in the Support Group, and payment will continue until/unless a decision is made to alter this, you might be better served to wait it out if you can manage to do so

Contacting your MP

As an aside, it looks as if your username might be your real name. Many people prefer to use an alias in order to maintain an element of anonymity. If you wish to change your username you can do so by following the advice in this FAQ

My full name is showing, how can I stop it?

Please come back to this topic if you have any further questions. You will find it easily if you bookmark it, or make it a favourite, on your web browser now

Hi bro58 and MrsHurtyBack.

Thanks so much for your replies. I do appreciate it. Sorry that the

I think I have changed my name to the more anonymous Shell... I hope I did it right. Thanks for pointing that out.I noticed my whole name had come up too and attempted to edit it in my profile... It looks to have worked from my end. Hope it has from yours. Would you be able to tell me I did it right?

I wonder, if they have a backlog, why they sent me two letters reminding me how important it was to get my completed ESA50 in on time I know they got it on 7th Jan because I called to ask where I should send a letter from my doctor (I couldn't get my doctor's letter in time to send with the form and didn't want to further delay getting the form back in) and when they told me they said they'd received my ESA50 on the above date.

I am a bit worried because (well, last time I was placed in WRAG and with SUPRISINGY minimal hassle was placed into the SG on appeal) I wrote in the other info box that my condition is chronic and has not changed since I was placed in the SG on appeal in Sept 2012. Do you think that looks presumptuous?
I also did not send a letter of support from my mum (who helps me a lot), explaining that I did not want to approach her for a letter due to the fact she was (actually remains) under great stress (helping me, working, unexpected sudden loss of her younger sister, diagnosis of cancer in her eldest brother shortly after that). She also goes to bits and crumbles when she talks to any one in 'authority' and I was worried (because my condition fluctuates) that she might say something in innocence that they would latch on to and run with. I could have asked a friend but his niece who is quite young has a life-threatening cancer and I felt I couldn't ask for a letter when they are grappling with that. I'm wondering if the absence of a letter from my mum or a friend might go against me...

I have nothing to hide but my condition does fluctuate and that concerns me with regards to what group I will be placed in to. I have had countless conversations with my doctor about this. I have told her that I am concerned about being able to do more on the occasional better day and she has been very reassuring (she knows how much I suffer afterwards...sometimes for days even if I had felt able at the time). I try to pace and stay within my limits but it's hard not to attempt more when it seems possible even if I know I'll really pay for it. My doc is more forgiving of my condition than I am...she keeps talking of my worse days. The bad bad days/ weeks reassure me I'm a genuine claimant! I don't know if they put me into WRAG this time whehter I should appeal... I worry about being sanctioned if I couldn't possibly attend due to my condition.

Anyhow, please forgive me for wittering on... I go off on a tangent really easily. Any further advice is really appreciated...and thank you both for the lovely welcome! Shell

Shell wrote: Hi bro58 and MrsHurtyBack.

Thanks so much for your replies. I do appreciate it. Sorry that the

I think I have changed my name to the more anonymous Shell... I hope I did it right. Thanks for pointing that out.I noticed my whole name had come up too and attempted to edit it in my profile... It looks to have worked from my end. Hope it has from yours. Would you be able to tell me I did it right?

I wonder, if they have a backlog, why they sent me two letters reminding me how important it was to get my completed ESA50 in on time I know they got it on 7th Jan because I called to ask where I should send a letter from my doctor (I couldn't get my doctor's letter in time to send with the form and didn't want to further delay getting the form back in) and when they told me they said they'd received my ESA50 on the above date.

I am a bit worried because (well, last time I was placed in WRAG and with SUPRISINGY minimal hassle was placed into the SG on appeal) I wrote in the other info box that my condition is chronic and has not changed since I was placed in the SG on appeal in Sept 2012. Do you think that looks presumptuous?
I also did not send a letter of support from my mum (who helps me a lot), explaining that I did not want to approach her for a letter due to the fact she was (actually remains) under great stress (helping me, working, unexpected sudden loss of her younger sister, diagnosis of cancer in her eldest brother shortly after that). She also goes to bits and crumbles when she talks to any one in 'authority' and I was worried (because my condition fluctuates) that she might say something in innocence that they would latch on to and run with. I could have asked a friend but his niece who is quite young has a life-threatening cancer and I felt I couldn't ask for a letter when they are grappling with that. I'm wondering if the absence of a letter from my mum or a friend might go against me...

I have nothing to hide but my condition does fluctuate and that concerns me with regards to what group I will be placed in to. I have had countless conversations with my doctor about this. I have told her that I am concerned about being able to do more on the occasional better day and she has been very reassuring (she knows how much I suffer afterwards...sometimes for days even if I had felt able at the time). I try to pace and stay within my limits but it's hard not to attempt more when it seems possible even if I know I'll really pay for it. My doc is more forgiving of my condition than I am...she keeps talking of my worse days. The bad bad days/ weeks reassure me I'm a genuine claimant! I don't know if they put me into WRAG this time whehter I should appeal... I worry about being sanctioned if I couldn't possibly attend due to my condition.

Anyhow, please forgive me for wittering on... I go off on a tangent really easily. Any further advice is really appreciated...and thank you both for the lovely welcome! Shell

Hi S,

Yes, your forum name has changed !

The reminder letters to return your ESA50 are sent automatically, and are a legal requirement.

The major delays seem to be after the ESA50 is returned to ATOS.

ATOS are having major problems :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/2638-bene...nment-contract-early

bro58

Hi Shell,

I see that bro is going to answer your queries in depth - I just wanted to let you know that you have done the name change properly and you are now showing as 'Shell'

Edit - sorry, I x posted with bro!