Phone call received out of the blue

Hello....

My last ESA form was returned 2016 and since then I have heard nothing from them but payments have continued. A jobcentre plus lady came to our home in 2014 - I've seen no-one since.

I can't remember and can't quickly find my last DLA form but it's a while (possibly 2013).

Today, whilst trying to deal with my husband's ESA renewal form we received a phone-call out of the blue which went something like this:

Husband: Hello...

(Irish voice) 'Can I speak to .........'

H: Who's calling, please?

'The Centre for Disability Assessments.'

H: Oh, what's it about...?

'I want to offer her a short-notice appointment.'

H mumbled in surprise something like : She's not available at the moment ....... and who are you again? (This was true - I was in the bath).

'Oh, it's alright.'

She then rang off.

My husband says he was thinking it was someone cold-calling or a hoax call from someone about to ask for bank details or something! Afterwards, he wondered if they'd had a cancellation and were looking for a replacement (we are in a somewhat remote place, although she didn't actually say where this appointment was going to be).

Are they allowed to do this without notifying you on paper first? Every time I fill in a form I stress the need to avoid phonecalls but I have still been phoned before but that was during an assessment period.

Also, does this department cover both ESA and DLA or is it just one of them? If I get phoned like this again do I have to agree to go or can I request longer notice? I can't go at short notice and am dependant on my husband taking me anyway, so notice is necessary, and he's going for hospital tests on Monday so it would be difficult just at present.

Many thanks

Hi Toadlet,

The Centre for Disability Assessments is another name for Maximus/Health Assessment Advisory Service, this will be in relation to your ESA reassessment.

You do not have to accept an appointment if you have not been given 7 days notice (although this includes time in the post), irrespective of whether this was given over the phone or in writing.

In addition, you are allowed to change the appointment once without risking your claim being closed, so this would be a possibility if an appointment arrived while your husband is unable to accompany you.

It never rains but it pours for you, does it?!


May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to return with further questions or comments about your ESA without having to start a new topic each time - and we will not b e getting confused between questions relating your husband's claim. We ask members to keep everything relating to the same claim in one topic as it helps us enormously - and I hope you will find it useful too

Hi Toadlet,

This happened to us too a few weeks ago, they wanted us to go in the next day. I said no but wondered if it would count against us as a first refusal. They made us another appointment for about a week later over the phone, we got the letter in the post the day before we went but it wasn't a problem as we knew it was coming. This was to be assesessed for PIP from DLA. I too wondered if they'd had a cancellation.

Mrs Hurtyback....

If this would definitely have been the ESA, would it be for a medical or might it have been for for another face-to-face with a local jobcentre after 3 years? Or does this dept only arrange the medical face to face? Any ideas?



Hello Bud

Had you filled in an assessment form recently? Just wondering because I haven't, and have received nothing at all about PIP yet.

Yes Toadlet, Welfare Rights had filled in a form for us for PIP at the beginning of February.