survallance

Maz

Welcome to the forum

ESA is an indefinite award with regular re-assessment, I'm not sure where the 64 weeks has come from, re-assessments are usually 3, 6, 12, 24 or 36 months although the DWP can set whatever time they want.

If you are due for re-assessment at the end of the year then you will probably receive a new ESA50, although these are not always issued. They may ask you to attend an assessment with a company called ATOS, but again these are not always carried out.

If you want more information about the above then you should have a look at our Understanding ESA guide and our ESA Claim guide, both are on the following link

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1

It is difficult for us to comment on whether you are being followed or not, the DWP do carry out investigations but it is not usual for them to follow a claimant in the manner that you describe, sometimes seeing someone more than once is just a coincidence and nothing more, but if you are concerned about this then you should talk to your family about it, they may be able to find out what is going on.

If you still have questions or have some new ones once you have had a look at the guides then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon

maz wrote: hi what kind of things do they do whilst under survallance looking at paperwork it was 24months do i start all over again

If you are re-assessed at the end of the year then it will depend on how the DWP approach your claim. there are a variety of options from them doing it entirely on paper without you having to provide any input to your having to complete an ESA50 in detail, provide medical evidence and attend a face to face assessment. Unfortunately, until you are assessed there is no way for us to know what the DWP will choose to do.

The situation is further complicated by problems with the ESA assessment process which has resulted in many re-assessments being deferred, these problems persist in may parts of the country so it is not impossible that you will not actually be re-assessed in December but at some time later which could be as much as another two years. Again, I am afraid there is no way to pre-empt what the DWP will do until later in the year.

I would not worry about the DWP looking into your affairs, I mentioned it purely for completeness, if you have been open and honest in your previous dealings with them, which I am sure you have, then they will have no reason to be investigating you.

Gordon