atos

[mommalou]

had letter n form from atos saying my benifit will be changed to esa which i get???? anyone help pls

[Hidden]

Looks like you will be making a phone call tomorrow. I am sure it will work out ok. Keep well.

[Toci]

Sorry mommalou but I can't help. x

[Offcut]

Is it support or the work related? Also income or contribution from what I have found contribution stops after 365 days I just won an appeal (15 months in the waiting) and they have said it is the support ESA that they found in my favour. But do not know what happens now as DWP have said they have to agree the decision?

[Sociable in reply to Offcut]

In theory the DWP could decide to appeal the tribunal decision which is particularly rare but is the same right we have to appeal tribunal decisions providing the appeal is based on some error in law with the decision.

I'm actually now waiting for an upper tier tribunal appeal regarding my own 2008 DLA renewal which it looks very likely I will win.

A more common problem many have now is that even following successful tribunal hearing is that the DWP decide to do another assessment and yet again refuse or lower an award but I would guess in your case they tribunal decision will be agreed by the DWP especially if as is usual these days the duration of the award made by the tribunal means you wont have long till your regular re-assessment anyway.

[mommalou in reply to Offcut]

in support group had to wait 14 months but got back paid now it s starting again if it is in your favour then they have to pay you and back date it

[Sociable]

Hi mommalou

Just checking as it's not clear from your post which situation you are in.

For many including myself decisions are coming out now for the final groups being transferred from Incapacity Benefit to ESA so it could just be a notification that you have already been awarded ESA in place of any IB you were receiving so will continue to receive benefit but the name of the benefit has now changed.

If this is the case it is important to make sure they place you in the right group not least because Offcut is completely correct in that contributions based ESA is limited to just one year for those in the work related group although no such limitation applies if you are placed in the support group.

If you were getting ESA and your benefit was due to be reassessed it is possible this has been done without any need to fill in extra forms or submit further medical evidence and they are just notifying you of your continued entitlement.

Simply answer is to ask them to clarify what the notification actually relates to and if you don't agree with it to start the review/appeals process as soon as possible,

[mommalou in reply to Sociable]

am getting esa and am in the support group already this letter is from atos

[Sociable in reply to mommalou]

Cool I hope my original comment is true then and this is just confirmation that the award is being continued for another period in which case it should also tell you the next review date likely to be in two years time I think.

Basically even when it is crystal clear an award will be for the foreseeable future the awards are still only usually for two years at a time just in case we grow back limbs or replace our faulty genes or visit Lourdes. LOL

P.S. Just a guess but I'm now thinking it could also be a combination of my earlier comments i.e. the recent appeal win was about your change from IB to ESA so they are just confirming you are now on ESA not IB.

As said earlier only way to be sure is ask them and even then they are likely not to know the answer for sure themselves because the system is such a mess.

[chrissie53]

Just a quick reply,, i am on ESA and in the work group, contibution based and i will get this for 2 yrs,not the 1 yr that people are commenting on,,I am doing this through Prospect house,,,i will never work again as doc,s and consulants have said that,but cannot get onto the support group,,,still only 33 months to go and i can retire,,

[Offcut in reply to chrissie53]

how did you mange 24 months?

[chrissie53 in reply to Offcut]

I was told this when i went to Prospect house for my induction, and have it in writing,,they are really good, and do not push me to do anything,,last time i went i was so breathless due to the heat, that i now have my interviews by phone once a month,until i am able to get down there,,

[Offcut in reply to chrissie53]

Looks like you have some one that cares, well done

[Offcut]

As at August 2011 there were around 730,000 people receiving ESA. In the three quarters Jan-Sep 2011, 380,000 people left ESA.

The Government has boasted that more than half of new ­claimants are found "fit to work" - failing to mention that over 300,000 have appealed the decision and almost 40% have won.

The work capability assessments are carried out by private firm Atos, on a £100million a year contract.

The firm made a £42million profit in 2010 and paid boss Keith Wilman £800,000, a 22% pay rise on the previous year.

More info can be found here blogs.mirror.co.uk/investig...