ESA Decision Letter??? - confused????

Hi I received the dreaded brown envelope this week, but I’m unsure as to what it means?
I had an ESA50 (renewal) to complete in March, sent it off and heard absolutely nothing back at all since then. (Apart from being ‘invited’ to transfer from DLP to PIP, dealing with all those forms and a face to face assessment for PIP. Which I haven’t heard anything back from either. It’s been some year!).

I opened the letter and it says:
‘we have looked at your claim again following a recent change.
From 14th July your ESA will be £ amount
This is because of:
A decision on your capability for work. You have been placed in the Support Group’

So I’m not sure if this is a decision letter on my ESA award or just the standard letter they send out every so often stating how much you get? It looks the same and I’m really confused. I’m too scared to celebrate in case it isn’t an award letter and I’m far too terrified to call the DWP, I can’t do phone calls. It doesn’t state any time frame or the length of the award, but no letter (not even the original letter when I first got assessed) has ever stated how long I’d been awarded for.

So does anyone have any idea if this is an ESA decision letter or not? Thanks

Hello Dazzlelight

Were you already in the Support Group before you received this letter? If not then you obviously are now, the letter clearly says a decision had been made which resulted in your being placed in the Support Group.

If you were already in the Support Group then it could be just a standard letter - the only real way to find out is to either telephone the DWP yourself or approach a friend/family member to phone on your behalf. So long as you are in the room with them when they phone so you can answer any security questions they might be asked, that should work for you.

If this isn't possible then you could approach the CAB, who would be able to read the letter and explain to you exactly what it means, or they may be able to phone for you. You might have to wait for an appointment with them, though.

Other members of the Forum might have had a similar letter, and they also might be able to help.I'll leave it as a question for them or another Mod who might have more experience of this situation.

Get back to us when you have had a reply, please? Good luck.

Hi thanks for your reply

I’m afraid I’m just too scared to make contact with DWP in anyway, even with a family member calling for me in case it triggers something (paranoid I know, but I’ve been through an ESA reassessment and a DLA to PIP transfer in the past 8 months, this whole year has been taken up with benefits assessments so far and I just can’t take anymore). But I’m waiting for my PIP decision too so I guess at some point I’ll have to get someone to call up to get the report so I’ll ask them to ask about my ESA at the same time. One phone call is about all I can manage, even if someone else is doing it for me.

Yes I was already in the Support Group, which is why I was wondering if it was just one of the standard letters they churn out every so often telling you how much you get paid, or if it was a decision letter confirming that I was remaining in the Support Group after them looking at my ESA50.

Can anyone who has had an ESA decision letter tell me what it was like or if they think this sounds like one or just a standard letter? I’d be interested to hear thanks.

dazzlelight wrote: This is because of:
A decision on your capability for work. You have been placed in the Support Group’

So I’m not sure if this is a decision letter on my ESA award .

So does anyone have any idea if this is an ESA decision letter or not? Thanks

As posted above by Shelam your claim for the ESA support group has been accepted.
The letter is confirmation of a decision and an award. If the decision had gone against you the letter would start with the following.

Your claim for employment and support allowance
A change in the employment and support allowance rate payable

Followed by: We have looked at your claim again,Blah,blah,blah.
This is because of:
A decision on your capability for work.You have moved from the support group to the work related activity group.

Hi. A decision letter states if you are not happy with the decision you have 28 days from the date of the letter to request a Mandatory Request. If it doesn't say this it is the yearly update letter.