Medical evidence for transfer from SDA to ESA

How important is it to send in medical evidence with your ESA form? Does the DWP actually take any notice of it? I am currently claiming SDA and am waiting to be transferred to ESA. My GP has just left and has not yet been replaced. I have no other medical professionals caring for me ( I have severe ME/CFS). In fact there is currently no medical professional who is still practising who knows me at all. If my assessment starts in the near future, I am unlikely to be able to supply any medical evidence or even to put any name down on the form of anyone who can supply detailed information. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Do you know if the DWP has started assessing claimants on SDA yet?

Pippa wrote: How important is it to send in medical evidence with your ESA form? Does the DWP actually take any notice of it? I am currently claiming SDA and am waiting to be transferred to ESA. My GP has just left and has not yet been replaced. I have no other medical professionals caring for me ( I have severe ME/CFS). In fact there is currently no medical professional who is still practising who knows me at all. If my assessment starts in the near future, I am unlikely to be able to supply any medical evidence or even to put any name down on the form of anyone who can supply detailed information. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? Do you know if the DWP has started assessing claimants on SDA yet?

Hi P,

It does appear that they have started migrating SDA recipients over to ESA. We have had 3 or 4 members in receipt of SDA that have informed us that they have begun the transfer process within the last month.

Relevant medical evidence should help in that it proves that you suffer from the medical conditions, it is then upto to you to draw reference to such evidence and show how the resulting limitation qualify you for an award of ESA under the WRAG and/or SG descriptors.

Of course, you can only provide the evidence that you have access to.

You can request copies of your G.P. records from your practice reception, there will be a charge. These should include any test results, and letters from Consultants, etc.

You could then provide copies of relevant extracts with the ESA50.

You could also contact PALS at any hospitals that you have attended.

Requesting your medical records

Charging for medical records

In answer to your question :

"How important is it to send in medical evidence with your ESA form? Does the DWP actually take any notice of it? "

They are supposed to, and if you don't provide evidence that you have access to, they cannot possibly take it into account.

To get ahead of the game, you could start gathering your evidence now. If you can manage to obtain an upto date letter of support from a G.P./Consultant, that should help further.

You could even make a start on the ESA50, by :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Whilst referring to the guides under the heading of "New ESA50 form"

On this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Thank you for your advice. I've started filling in the ESA50 form using Adobe reader in order to get ahead but I'm a bit confused as to what happens at the end when I have to send it in. I know I must print the form out & sign it but I will then have a pile of loose papers. Should I fasten them to together somehow and is it best to write my name and N I number on each sheet?

Pippa wrote: Thank you for your advice. I've started filling in the ESA50 form using Adobe reader in order to get ahead but I'm a bit confused as to what happens at the end when I have to send it in. I know I must print the form out & sign it but I will then have a pile of loose papers. Should I fasten them to together somehow and is it best to write my name and N I number on each sheet?

Hi P,

Yes, you should attach them at the end of the ESA50, this can be done by stapling, or you could hole punch the pages of the ESA50 and the extra pages or put them into punched clear pockets and put them in a file holder.

Which ever way is easiest for you.

As well as your name and NINO, you should also put your DOB at the head of each extra page of added evidence.

You can also number each extra page, that way you can refer to the relevant extra page from the corresponding section of the ESA50.

Try and make it all into a numbered file, so the first 1-20 pages would be the ESA50 itself, then any added evidence could start at page 21, etc, etc.

You could even provide a numbered index at the very front.

bro58

I would also suggest that you number your pages '1 of 100' etc. This means that it is very clear if pages have gone missing.

Hi. I don't mean to but into your conversation but can I ask a question in a similar vien my daughter who helps me with my. Disabilities on a daily basis is going to write a statement for me. She isva nurse and deals with one of my problems ona daily basis in herwork , is it worth her mentionig this in her statement for my esa form .thank you