timescales

does anyone know roughly how long it takes between ATOS sending their decision to the DWP and the DWP sending their decision to me? roughly?
I received an email from ATOS saying that they had provided advice to the DWP without me needing a face-to-face and "it is our opinion that you meet one of the DWP Support Group."
I know it is not definite that the DWP will agree but I just wondered how long it might take.

(emailing ATOS for periodic updates worked really well - they always responded in a day or two. The first time they said it was waiting to be reviewed - I left it a month and emailed again and got the above reply)

But I still can't cope with contacting DWP by telephone

FoxyLady2 wrote: does anyone know roughly how long it takes between ATOS sending their decision to the DWP and the DWP sending their decision to me? roughly?
I received an email from ATOS saying that they had provided advice to the DWP without me needing a face-to-face and "it is our opinion that you meet one of the DWP Support Group."
I know it is not definite that the DWP will agree but I just wondered how long it might take.

(emailing ATOS for periodic updates worked really well - they always responded in a day or two. The first time they said it was waiting to be reviewed - I left it a month and emailed again and got the above reply)

But I still can't cope with contacting DWP by telephone

Hi FL2,

I am afraid that I couldn't even hazard a guess !!

As you know ATOS and The DWP have huge back logs of ESA claims, so it will be totally dependent on how busy The Decision Making Team are in the particular Benefits Centre that is dealing with your ESA.

Isn't there some one who could ring The DWP on your behalf ? as long as you are present to provide the answers to a few simple security questions and give your consent they will speak to some one else.

I really wouldn't worry about ringing the DWP, you will only be speaking to a Chimp Call Responder in a Call Centre.

They will simply check your file on-screen to see where the process is up to.

You will be only one of many, many claimants that they will speak to in any particular day.

bro58