ESA Support Group Reviews

Hi there Andy

Many thanks for the information - it has been very useful to get the experiences of others -I hope all goes well in November for you.

Cheers for now

Chris

Thanks bro58

And, so, as far as we can work it out, is it common practice for them to give Atos assessments to those put in the ESA support group, year on year? Or does it vary?

It seems a terrible waste of everyone's time to do it so frequently

Vita

I can totally understand your view about having to undertake different medicals for different benefits.

In terms of DLA I had a review at the end of last year and was not asked to attend a medical. In my original claim for DLA I was visited at home. It is very possible that if you have had a relatively recent DLA medical then you will not be asked to attend again, but as with all things DWP you never know!

With regard to ESA the new ESA50(11/03) is a harder assessment to achieve the magic 15 points. Again there is a possibility that you will not be called to an "assessment" for ESA.

Thanks for the comments

Chris

Vita, if you look in the ESA handbook, in the members ESA resources section of B&W,

Have a look at Section 2.5 Page 33 onwards. It talks about Support group Re-referrals.

There is also more useful info in this 180 page doc as well, if you haven't already looked at it.

bro58

I spoke to my GP today, asking him to write me a letter to go with my re-assessment form. I asked him to comment on my prognosis, in the hope ATOS might realise I am not expected to improve, which he is going to do. If they keep coming back every year the benefits process itself will keep me deteriorating!

My GP said being re-assessed just six months after my ESA medical didn't necessarily have anything to do with my medical situation: "it's just what they do". So I just thought I'd mention that, in case it's encouraging to anyone else who is very sick and yet being re-assessed: it increasingly appears it could be just an admin thing.

Obviously that doesn't guarantee the outcome, but at least they may not be denying the medical facts. Yet.

regards
Rainbowlight

Hey there Rainbowlight, thanks for the information.

We have written to Darra Singh the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus to get an understanding of the review system and find out how review times are set.

Cheers for now

Chris