Awaiting ESA Group Decision

[Blue1927]

Hi all,

Sorry I haven’t been on here for a while, finding looking at phones/tablets are hurting my eyes more than usual.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Has anyone ese been waiting months for a decision after sending in the ESA Capability for Work Questionnaire? I sent mine in last August and am still awaiting to hear from the Assessor whether I am having a telephone assessment or not. I’m worried because my ESA payments end next month and if I do not hear anything my payments will stop. I have spoken to the assessing department and they cannot give a date and wouldn’t give any information.

Sorry this is a long question but I am really worried if my payments stop, will I still have an assessment and hopefully go into the Support group and just wondered if anyone else has been waiting this long!

Thank you all, stay safe xx

[Blue1927]

Thank you, I have rung a couple of times but worried that if I keep ringing they may put me at the bottom of the pile 😞.

I will keep ringing thank you x

[Blue1927]

It is adding extra stress on me because my Husband is still furloughed so been replying on this as well as my PIP to pay for bills etc. I will keep nagging, I tried DWP yesterday but after neary an hour waiting on the phone my anxiety got worse and I put the phone down!!

Will try again later, thank you x

[trdlondon]

I’d ring DWP and tell them there’s a few weeks left, I had that problem with PIP my payments were due to end in 3 weeks (last year) the case manager rang me back within the hour to tell me no assessment was needed and extended it for 5 years, I got a letter last week to say they give it to me for an extra year

[Blue1927 in reply to trdlondon]

Thank you for your reply.

I have just got off the phone to DWP and they said that as I have a new claim with esa, I will go over to universal credit and unfortunately there is nothing I can do than wait to hear from the assessor. He was lovely and tried to explain but it is so confusing!!!! He said the payments will not stop and that I will end up being paid monthly instead of fortnightly!

I am hoping that they are just waiting for my initial 12 month to end and will move me over to uc and then decide if I go into the support group 🤷🏻‍♀️ xx

[Clairelb75 in reply to Blue1927]

That sounds incorrect, you said you already receive esa , so they can't move you onto universal credit until you report change in circumstances, this sounds really wrong to me.

[Blue1927 in reply to Clairelb75]

Oh right, now I am totally confused. I have been receiving contribution ESA for 12 months which will end soon. Not sure if that makes any difference? x

[trdlondon in reply to Blue1927]

I should of asked, do you get Severe Disability Premium?

[trdlondon in reply to Clairelb75]

Yes they can if it’s a new claim for ESA she’ll be in the assessment phase, if they wanna move he/she over then they can because she’s not actually getting the SDP (I’m presuming) . You can only stay on there if your entitled in the last month or get the premium.

I may be wrong I am autistic so could of read it wrong.

[Clairelb75 in reply to trdlondon]

Hi blue1926, trdlondon has a point, I assumed that you were on income related esa with sdp*severe disability premium) as these has protection against uc atm! Sorry for confusing you, my apologies take care.

[trdlondon in reply to Clairelb75]

I’ve just looked online, that protection against UC ends today, uploaded 17th January 2021 😲

[trdlondon in reply to Clairelb75]

disabilityrightsuk.org/news...

[Clairelb75 in reply to trdlondon]

Hi, so does this mean we have to go on uc 😱

[Blue1927 in reply to Clairelb75]

To be honest I am totally confused now, I will ring DWP again and will let you know Clairelb75 how I get on 🤞

[Clairelb75 in reply to Blue1927]

Great 🤞

[Blue1927 in reply to trdlondon]

No I am not getting Severe Disability Premium. Sorry I may be confusing everyone....I finished work last year due to the fibro, applied for esa and had a letter saying I will receive contribution esa as I have paid enough national insurance for 365 days. I filled out the capability for work questionnaire last year and sent it in August. I am expecting an assessor to contact me for a telephone assessment to see whether I should be put into the support group or the work related group and this is what I am still waiting for.

I hope this makes sense as it is totally confusing for me.

Thank you xx

[Blue1927]

I think so Ajay575, to be honest it so confusing!! I think then the esa I have been receiving is only for the contributions I have made during my employment, so I have a new claim in for the new style ESA, which DWP are saying will be changed over to Universal Credit 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I won’t know until I speak to an Assessor whether they consider me fit for work or put me in the support group where I am not fit for work.

Why does it all have to be so confusing x

[Blue1927]

Thank you Ajay575, I will do that. Thank you so much x