ESA Renewal and PIP Claim Questions

Hi,

I have some mental Health Problems.
I do have a diagnosis and have been seeing local mental health team and psychiatrist regularly for last 4-5 years.

It is now coming up to 3 years since I applied for ESA (August 2013).
Was put in Support group with no assessment (on contribution bases ESA).
Also in receipt of enhanced disability premium (as income based ESA).

I never was told how long I would receive ESA for.

I did apply for PIP at the same time but by the time the assessment date came I was too ill to get motivated to attend and basically lost the plot and told them to stick it.
I never bothered to arrange a second assessment.

I applied again a year or so later but this time never even got a far as completing the form (even though just had to copy from old one).
I just found it all too stressful and lacked motivation.

Now I am having a 3rd go.
I have completed the form using information from my old one and the updated information found here on this site (thanks for that).
Hoping I am up to attending the assessment this time as I am struggling financially, due to some mistakes in life, again due to my condition.
Last week I received text confirmation that they have received the form.

So a few questions relating to all the above.

1. With no information provided for the length of my ESA payments am I correct in assuming I will have to re-apply soon?

2. Three years is the maximum length for ESA?

3. Who does the PIP assessment in the South West of England?

4. What is the average time before they inform you of a PIP assessment date?
(days, weeks, months)

5. After being informed of a PIP assessment date, what is average time to wait until assessment?
(days, weeks, months)

Thanks a lot for any replies,
Paul.

Thank you Gordon. So should get my assessment date in the next 1-3 weeks as 1 week since they recived my form.

After assessment it seems there is currently an average wait of 8 weeks for a decision (from what I have gathered reading other posts).
Is this a country wide average or is it specific to different regions?

Anyone know how long it is taking in South West england?
Any experiences from others here?

thanks.

not having an in person assessment. done. paper one which dwp now have.

do you know how much of the 8 weeks you quote is for each of the dwp/atos side ?

is the 8 weeks from when dwp recive the report?

i called them and they said it is up to 4 weks from when they received my report.
just wondering if this is what others are reporting?

thanks.