Thanks estellyn, I am probably being really paranoid about this but I am always cautious of DWP or anything AL related!

Thanks Mr.P. I had a look at what came up under 'compliance interview' - so is the benefit review basically the same thing as a compliance interview just called something different now? In the threads about compliance interviews there wasn't mention of completing a form, the officer yesterday specifically said he will complete a form with us, I asked if it was like the one I completed for my dad in order to get ESA and he said yes - that was a mighty long form, so I hope he doesn't mean literally completing that entire form! Sorry I forgot to mention this in my initial post - it just came back to me as I was reading through the threads.

Hello, Yesterday a Performance Measurement Review Officer came to my dad's home unannounced saying they needed to complete a form with my dad who is currently in receipt of ESA. I said no letter had been sent and we were completely unaware of the visit - the Officer said they do not always send letters out before visits. The Officer seemed okay but I had to reschedule the visit as I was just about to take my dad to a hospital appointment so we have rescheduled it for another time. I did a bit of research on the internet and the Officer gave me a leaflet and it seems the visit is to pretty much to check my dad is getting the right benefit payments. However, sadly, as with everything the DWP does I am suspicious of this "random" visit and wondered if anyone has had one of these visits before? What actually happens during the visit? Is it really just a matter of them asking about your payments and checking your accounts? The leaflet says the meeting can take up to an hour or longer - which makes me think that is a long time just to check your documents etc. Has anyone had their benefits affected after they had this review? Any information or help and advice would be much appreciated! Sorry to sound paranoid but with everything the DWP has put my dad and myself through in recent years I feel I have to be! Thanks in anticipation.

Thanks Kevin Bolt, my dad is on DLA but the property isn't adapted. As I explained to abc, I live with my dad in a 3-bed, so there is technically a 'spare bedroom', although my brother does stay over 3 nights a week to help me out during the night. Thanks for listing all the other changes as well, I have to admit when I read that DLA will be changed and another ATOS assessment will need to be done it made me feel a little sick, I just can't believe the government are still using ATOS and this consultation procedure when they should make assessments based on evidence from GPs and hospitals.

Hi RaeUK, in the letter the housing officer specifically states that he is not able to give advice on benefits, I'm hoping it is just a check to see whether their data matches facts but the whole going into detail about my dads income and outgoings makes me think they are assessing whether he can afford to pay the bedroom tax or not

Hi abc, I live with my dad in a 3-bed, my brother doesn't live with us but he stays over 3 nights a week in order that I can get 3 full nights sleep a week. I have been reading about the bedroom tax and it seems that because my brother uses the bedroom occasionally my dad might not be affected by the tax, however my brother is working full time and he doesn't get carers allowance and although I am a full time carer I can't get carers allowance either because i am a full time student, since we don't claim carers allowance I wonder if we could be counted as carers then?

Hello, My dad received a letter today from his housing association, the housing officer would like to visit him to discuss possible changes to his welfare benefit from April 2013. He wants my dad to complete a budget sheet detailing his total income and total outgoings each month. In the letter he says that in order to give my dad information about whether the changes will affect him financially he wants to discuss in detail his current income and spending. Has anyone had one of these visits yet? I have to admit I am suspicious about anything I get from the council and housing association, I think getting my dad through the ESA process has done this to me. Part of me is wondering why the housing association is asking for the appointment since it isn't them that decides whether his benefit is cut or not (or do they?). My dad is in receipt of DLA and ESA and according to the info I have read on the welfare changes his benefits won't change but this makes me think perhaps the housing association wants to visit to try and get my dad out of his house... If anyone has any experience of these visits and the effects it's has on their benefits I would be very grateful if you could share them (I know it might be too early - but this makes me think perhaps my dad is being targeted because it does seem so early) or if anyone has any advice. For some reason I am really worried about this appointment I just can't really put my finger on why, maybe it's just because I'm really jaded about the whole government and system.

Hello, I hope someone can help me. My mum claimed for ESA last year, she didn't pass the ATOS assessment so we appealed the decision. The appeal went to the tribunal in April and she was awarded 18 points, the appeal was allowed and she was entitled to ESA with the work related activity component. I was waiting for her to get a date for her work focussed interviews but nothing came. Today we got an ESA50 form to complete. Is this a mistake by the DWP? Having a look at the other threads it seems the system has been overhauled so now there is the work programme - does this mean my mum now needs to comply with this new system? What does the work prograame mean for my mum? Do we complete this form aand then she will need to attend another assessment with ATOS? Because they didn't pass her last time can they award her no points and will we have to go through the whole appeals process again? I have tried to find answers to my questions in all the literature but I haven't found any sites which outline the process for the work programme. Any help and advice on my questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in anticipation!

Thanks for your comment. I'm starting to think I should go ahead with the appeal...If we lose the appeal do you think this will effect her DLA? I guess if we lose we can appeal to the higher tribunal, or at least this shows the DLA that we fought the decision and like you say we can reapply

Thanks for your reply, your comments are really helpful, I have a few responses to your message...

Hi everyone, I've read through several threads and HB's very helpful sticky post, however I haven't been able to find an answer/advice for my particular situation. I'll lay out my case below: Like a lot of people my mum failed her medical assessment, she got 0 points even though she uses a walking stick to get around, she suffers from severe scoliosis which affects her walking, sitting, every part of her daily life actually. As her carer I have the appeals form and I'm not sure whether to send them away for a tribunal hearing. My mum recieves DLA at the higher rate and I don't want this to be affected if she loses the ESA appeal. Can anyone answer the following for me: 1. If she loses the ESA appeal will this affect her DLA? 2. If she doesn't go to the appeals tribunal can she reapply for ESA? If she can, when can she reapply, is it 6 months? 3. If she can reapply after 6 months, when is this 6 months from? From the date she stopped the appeals process or the date they informed her of their decision to stop her ESA and started to recieve the appeals rate of ESA? 4. If she reapplys can this be for the same illness that she applied for in her previous application? Or does her condition have to have changed? Sorry for all the questions, since I recieved news of the decision lots of things have been going round in my head, part of me wants to go to the tribunal to prove that my mum is severly ill but another part of me doesn't want to go to the tribunal because first they have made me and mum feel like we're lying when we're not. And second my mum is really worried about it already after failing the medical assessment, she even asked me whether she should stop taking her painkillers on the day of the hearing to perhaps try and prove to the panel that she is really sick... As it will be nearly 6 months after the decision to stop my mums ESA I wondered whether it was really neccessary to go through the whole appeals process, especially if, in the worst case scenario she isn't successful at the tribunal she can't get ESA ever again, her DLA is affected and she is put through a lot of stress. Thanks to anyone who reads this lengthy account, any help or advice would be really really appreciated. Thank you