ESA

I did phone them and they just sent us a letter (they said they sent one in August), but no other information.

We have so far had two letters saying sorry for their errors, but it does not make up for the stress and lost time.

He now has a letter asking him to go to a Pathways to Work Interview. We still have not had the result following the medical. Does he have to go? (I can't find the previous thread that answered this question). Can he delay it until we have the decision?

Finally, they keep sending all correspondence to my son, even though I am his appointee. Is this right?

Hi Kazzen,

If you are your your son's appointee. letters should be sent to you.

Unfortunately, the medicals are now running so late that most people have one or more Pathways interviews before they have their medical. You can ask to have the Pathways interview deferred on the grounds that your son would find it distressing.

Steve

Thanks.

The ESA claims process seems to be a nightmare.

I rang and said that my son would need either myself or one of his support workers to come with him, and the EA said he would defer the interview.

As stated the Job Centre agreed to defer my son's Back to Work Interview. I was concerned that they would stop his payments, so I mentioned that the interview had been deferred when I spoke to the main JC office and they made a note of it. I then had a call from the local JC, saying "About your son's interview next week...." I said it has been deferred, and she said "oh... has it...oh, OK".

I told my son to make sure he got his next ESA payment - and he didn't! Having spoken to both local and main offices, no one can tell me why his money was stopped, but they have now paid the money into his bank. We previously got a letter from the Council Tax benefits, saying that his income had changed (from ESA to ESA!), so something has obviously been going on.

They still have not put me back on as his appointee properly, even after several calls.

We are still waiting for a decision after his medical - but that was only two and a half months ago, so we are probably expecting too much.

Just to let you know that I had a "courtesy" call from ESA today (I was very surprised!) to let me know that my son passed the medical and is in the WRA group, which we agree with. Arrears and CWPs should follow soon.

The process took 6 months (and he still hasn't had the second part of the medical).

Thanks for the useful tips on how to fill in the medical questionnaire.