How long should the transfer from IB to ESA take?

I had a letter, with a form to fill in, in July 2013 - with a deadline for sending it back of early September. I got a follow up letter reminding me that if the form wasn't returned in time, then my benefit might be affected. It was returned but I heard nothing for ten months.

In July 2014 I was given an appointment for a medical which I went to. On arrival I was told that there was no way that I would be seen that day, however, as there were so many people waiting. All very stressful, to say the least. I was send another date for late August and got all my medication, hospital letters etc ready... as psyched up as I could be.... for that, only for it to be again cancelled - this time with a phone call the afternoon before (as the practitioner was off sick I was told, which seemed rather ironic).

Third time 'lucky' with a date in September when the medical did actually happen. My concern now is that I have heard absolutely nothing since then. The person I saw said that I should hear within a week. Is no news good news? Waiting for the post every day, to know if I have indeed made the transfer from IB to ESA, is now making me feel very stressed. I am constantly trying to remember details that I would need to refer to in the event of an appeal, but have no idea if that will happen.

Is this the usual way that this 'transfer' takes place and with this never-endingly long and stressful time-scale? It has been 17 months now since the dreaded brown envelope landed on my door mat.

Hi AH12 and welcome to the forum. On the assumption that you are also new to the site, this FAQ should help you find your way around.

Welcome to Benefits and Work

Both DWP and ATOS have built up huge backlogs of cases and migrations are taking a very long time. Even so, yours is certainly one of the longest I have come across!

As you have had a face2face assessment I would have expected you to hear something from DWP within about 8 weeks (certainly not as soon as 1 week).In your situation I would probably ring DWP and ask them what is happening.

You can complain to DWP, it probably won't change the handling of your claim but if enough people do it it might eventually have an effect. You could also consider letting your MP know what is happening, they can sometimes get DWP moving when all else has failed.

Complaining to DWP

Contacting your MP

If you have any further questions please reply to this post and we will do our best to help

Thanks; it certainly seems to have been a long wait!

Sorry if I'm being 'thick', but where would I address an enquiry/ question concerning this to? All the letters that I've had about the medical/assessment have come from ATOS so I really don't know how to go about contacting the DWP. I know that my DLA is (or at least was) dealt with by an office in Blackpool, but I've no idea where my IB office might be.

AH12 wrote: Sorry if I'm being 'thick', but where would I address an enquiry/ question concerning this to? All the letters that I've had about the medical/assessment have come from ATOS so I really don't know how to go about contacting the DWP. I know that my DLA is (or at least was) dealt with by an office in Blackpool, but I've no idea where my IB office might be.

Hi AH12,

As the ESA85 Medical Report compiled by The ATOS HCP carrying out The F2F Assessment is sent electronically to The DWP ESA Decision Maker, you should be able to gain an update by ringing The ESA Call Centre :

0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

I believe that they are open from 8AM in the morning, the earlier that you ring on Monday morning, the better.

bro58

I had a phone call today to tell me that I will not be moved from Incapacity Benefit to ESA since the 'medical' finds that I am fit for work. I injured my back working in a special school 20 years ago. I have had many procedures since then: many epidurals, back surgery, endless visits to physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, osteopathy etc etc, and I take a daily concoction of pain killers, with additional tablets to help me sleep. I cannot sit for long, walk very far or stand for very long. Ironically just after that phone call I had another from the Pain Consultant's secretary to arrange a date for an epidural injection via the sacrococcygeal hiatus plus another coccygeal block I am devastated and quite shocked, to be honest. I have said that I will be asking for a reconsideration but I'm not sure how I am going to cope with the stress of all that on top of the level of pain that I have. I guess that I simply 'letting off steam', as I know that nobody can tell me specifically what to do now.