Esa50

[pin62]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and not very confidant. I have just received a letter from Jobcentreplus dated the 5th. September which arrived on the 21st. of September and on the same day a separate letter from ATOS with an ESA50 form enclosed. Has this happened to anyone on this forum? I also tried to ring the Jobcentreplus on Saturday but they were closed. I wondered too if it was normal for them to want to call you back as they've said they don't have my telephone number? but if I am phoning them what difference does it make. Thanks.

[abc123def]

I take it you are transfering from IB to ESA? If so, it is normal for the DWP to phone people on IB just to run through the process before hand, if they don't have your phone number then they will write and if no response in time then they send out the ESA50 form anyway. You can just complete the ESA50 form and return it (recorded, so you can prove it arrived and within the given time) and that's fine.

[**Margaret**]

: pin62:

 

Assuming you're currently in receipt of incapacity benefit, or income support cos you're incapable of work, the letter dated 5 September is your notification of reassessment for employment n support allowance. After the initial letter Jobcentreplus attempt to call the claimant, or ask the claimant to call them, to explain the process and answer any queries before (well that's the theory) referral to Atos for a work capability assessment.

 

Now you've received the ESA50 the reassessment process will continue whether or not you call Jobcentreplus. And you don't have to give your phone number on page 3 of the questionnaire if you don't want to. (About 10% of us don't.)

 

CAG has a guide to completing an ESA50 at;

 

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

 

And if you need it, there's a guide to the mental health part on Rethink's site, together with some tips about supportive evidence.

 

Best wishes, Margaret.

[pin62]

Thank you very much for the replies.

[pin62]

Hello all, I have received my ESA50 form, I have made an appointment with C.A.B. can anyone tell me what help they give having not been to them before. Thank you.

[silverfox1961]

Hi

As far as I am aware, they do a 'reasonable' job

 

Before you go, why not look at this thread:

 

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

[**Margaret**]

: pin62:

 

Not a lot unless unless you're very lucky. They simply don't have the resources to cope. And if I remember correctly, this ESA50 has to be returned in a few days.

 

Even if you feel you need professional help with the form, unless there's a good reason why not (eyesight, severe mental health problems) you need to start preparing your answers for pages 7 - 16. Citizens Advice don't know how far you can walk, how long you can sit for, whether you've problems with communication or can't get out of bed in the morning cos of depression. You do.

 

Using a separate sheet of A4 or a word doc for each activity you've problems with, try to write some sentences/paragraphs along the lines of;

 

Cos of severe arthritis I can't walk, or wheel a manual chair, to the bus stop. My husband has to drive me to doctors and hospital appointments.

 

Refer to any medical evidence you've already got and enclose copies with the ESA50. Don't be tempted to tick any boxes that don't exactly reflect your problems. Try not to tick 'it varies' which Atos tend to interpret as no problem.

 

If you need it, there's a guide to the mental health part, together with some tips about supportive evidence, on Rethink's site;

 

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

 

Best wishes, Margaret.

Edited October 14, 2013 by **Margaret**

[**Margaret**]

:Citizens Advice and ESA50s:

 

Whilst I'm sure that their advisers do the best job they can within very limited time slots, their expertise with employment n support allowance tends to be patchy to say the least. Yes, some of their larger centres have a specialist :estellyn:

 

But in other areas, including my own, a poorly completed ESA50 or tribunal submission sometimes does more harm than good. Were I to seek their help I'd have to wait at least six weeks for an appointment, which would be across the borough boundary. And likely squashed between a homeless family and an unfair dismissal from employment.

 

Margaret.

Edited October 14, 2013 by **Margaret**

[citizenB]

pin, both your threads have been merged into the one in order to keep all the information/advice in one place

[pin62]

Hello everyone, We have managed to send off my ESA50 form today, went to C.A.B. yesterday the lady was really helpfull. I also received a letter asking why I hadn't sent my form back, I still had till next Tuesday the 22nd to send it back, I couldn't get an appointment till the 16th with C.A.B. do they send out these letters just to make you more anxious?.I would also like to thank all who replied to my questions its nice to know we are not alone in all this. Thanks again pin62.