ESA appeal: timescale. Relatively normal?

Hi Folks

ESA appeal: timescale. Relatively normal?


Exactly 12 months to the day (13.12.12), my older sister received a DWP letter from the Decision Maker, advising her that she had been found not to have a limited capacity for work following an earlier WCA medical by Atos. Her entitlement to ESA was immediately terminated.

Went through the usual motions of a reconsideration (the DWP advised her on 29.03.13 that the original decision had been upheld), followed by a submission to the 1st tier tribunal for a paper-hearing appeal a week later. The last thing I heard back from HM Courts & Tribunal Service was on 05.08.13; that copies of the 42 pages of evidence and arguments attached to Appeal Form GL24 that I had submitted on behalf of my sister as her representative, had been forwarded on to the other parties …presumably they mean the DWP, so that the DWP has an opportunity to produce counter arguments and evidence?

Have tried to phone the clerk to the Tribunal (in Birmingham) to establish where the appeal is at, but no-one seems to be able to give me the correct phone number (much less onward connect me) for dealing with social security cases. So my question is this: is a 12 month wait for a paper hearing outcome unusual?

Kind regards
Leed46

Thanks

That's very useful to know. Appreciate you having taken the time and trouble to reply.

I just wanted to let you know that in my experience people are more successful appealing if they have an oral tribunal. Of course it is your choice and you may prefer a paper hearing if you want things to be resolved more quickly.