Esa examination by phone? Help please

[Pritti]

Hi

My letter transferring me from IB to ESA arrived on Friday, sending me, as usual when I get such letters, into a paroxysm of anxiety and an epileptic fit.

However, this was followed by a phone call today. My husband, recently made redundant, was fortunately home to take the call and tell them that I was not in a state to answer the call, having had several anxious and sleepless nights followed by daytime exhaustion and fits.

 

My question is - why are they calling and not sending me the form? Do they want me to answer the questions on the form by phone? If so, what should I do? I can, with the benefit of the answers on some threads on this site write out some of the answers and my husband could be nominated to answer the questions for me?

 

Would that be a good idea.

 

Please advise - also, what to do about the mental health section of the form if and when it arrives?

[citizenB]

Did they say they would ring back ?

[swinginapig]

Hi

My letter transferring me from IB to ESA arrived on Friday, sending me, as usual when I get such letters, into a paroxysm of anxiety and an epileptic fit.

However, this was followed by a phone call today. My husband, recently made redundant, was fortunately home to take the call and tell them that I was not in a state to answer the call, having had several anxious and sleepless nights followed by daytime exhaustion and fits.

 

My question is - why are they calling and not sending me the form? Do they want me to answer the questions on the form by phone? If so, what should I do? I can, with the benefit of the answers on some threads on this site write out some of the answers and my husband could be nominated to answer the questions for me?

 

Would that be a good idea.

 

Please advise - also, what to do about the mental health section of the form if and when it arrives?

Once the letter has arrived it usually states that they will be in contact with you by phone within 14 days, if they dont get in touch with you,.. you have to ring them, after this initial contact your Esa 50 form will arrive within a few days. They dont do any assessments over the phone.

[**Margaret**]

: Pritti:

 

Deep breaths ...... n reread paragraph four of the letter; 'We will telephone you soon to talk about how this change will affect you ......'

 

Should Jobcentreplus phone again and you're able to answer, the caller will read a load of info from a script about the conversion process. However no one has to accept a call from Jobcentreplus, or phone them back. I know more people who've 'missed' this call (me included) than have accepted it. If you've been reading around the threads you'll know the content of the call anyway. Normally they try two or three times before giving up and sending an ESA50, which you need to look out for in case it disappears into the Atos/Royal Mail black hole.

 

CAG has a guide to completing an ESA50 at;

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?316210ESA50-Guide

 

And there's a factsheet about work capability assessments, which includes completion of an ESA50 for mental health conditions and tips about supportive evidence, on Rethink's site at;

 

http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/work-capability-assessment

 

Unfairly, the descriptors for activity nine changed earlier this year to exclude problems with continence during epileptic fits.

 

If you think you'll need your husband to speak for you during the reassessment process you need to arrange it now;

 

Letter from you (recorded delivery) to Jobcentreplus giving permission for your husband to speak to them on your behalf usually works.

 

Separate letter from you enclosed with your ESA50 (via recorded delivery) giving permission for your husband to speak to Atos on your behalf should suffice. Unfortunately, Atos appear to hate coping with third party authority and will ignore it as best they can, unless it suits them not to, so you'll need to be persistent. Took me two follow up letters. Whatever Atos say, this process doesn't need a work n pensions appointee for claimants who can otherwise manage their own affairs.

 

Sincerely, Margaret.

[Pritti]

yes, they said they'd call back tomorrow morning. what can they want?

[Pritti]

Thank you. Have taken deep breaths and tablets for splitting headache after fit brought on by phone call. Will do as you say and look at threads. Here is the smile I owe you all:)

[stigofthedump]

I received the same letter today, but it says" We need to telephone you to talk to you about how this change will affect you.................We currently do not hold a telephone number for you so please call us on the number above in the next 7 days" .........what if I don't have a telephone ...............someone told me if you can answer the phone or use a pc / internet then you can get a job............I wont go into my ailements but what happens if I do not call them or even better get a friend to call them from their house and say I don't have a phone..............

 

Likewise I have had a headache and unable to eat since I opened this letter..............the horror stories have not helped my stress levels. I only moved to this address less than a year ago and my GP knows nothing about me really as I have most contact with hospital specialists...........my GP only issues prescriptions and I have heard anyway they do not provide letters for DWP benefits...........where do I start???????

[reallymadwoman]

As has been said many times on this forum you are under absolutely no obligation to give the DWP a phone number nor are you obliged to call them. If you don't call they will just send the forms/information to you by post.

[stigofthedump]

As has been said many times on this forum you are under absolutely no obligation to give the DWP a phone number nor are you obliged to call them. If you don't call they will just send the forms/information to you by post.

 

Thank you, the only thing I was worried about was if they stopped my benefit because I did not call them. I am not good on the phone anyway. I know this review was going to happen so just hope I can deal with it......with help from the nice people on here.