Question about presenting officers & reassessment

Hi all,
I have been on Income related ESA for quite a few years.
In July 2012, on MR, I was placed in SG for 18 months. Next ESA50 came in Nov 2013 and I was, without a f2f, kept in the SG, thankfully. My only evidence, as diagnostic specialists couldn't offer anything treatment-wise, was provided by my GP (a letter) who's been my only medic since diagnosis. When I called DWP, I was told my award for SG was 3 years. So, I am expecting a new ESA50 around early-mid Nov this year, probably to be returned end of Dec, with a f2f (if required) after that.
My questions are (if they can be answered):

*Will the fact I did not get a f2f last time, with a max 3 year reprieve, make it more likely I will have a f2f this time?

*Is it likely the appointment of presenting officers will coincide with my re-assessment? I'm a bag of nerves already. I don't think I could cope with inquisitorial questioning (due to fatigue, pain and anxiety I find face to face stuff very difficult an awful lot of the time...can't focus, go to bits etc).

*Will the fact I haven't ever applied for PIP be questioned (I can't face more forms etc! Mum and a friend are invaluable and help a lot but aren't paid carers or anything). Mum works part time and friend is semi-retired).

*Has the ESA50 changed much since end Dec 2013/ beg Jan 2014? Are there new descriptors now? Are they here on the site?

*Are ESA reassessments running on time?

* Am I more likely to get selected by these presenting officers because I have CFS/ Fibromyalgia (ie fluctuating conditions) - plus depression and anxiety? I'm wondering if I have the kind of conditions that will get targeted as they are diagnosed basically by exclusion. Plus, I'm only 41.

*Friend would take me to f2f but will be in hospital sometime in the NY. Can I put the dates down (when they know) as dates I'm unavailable for a f2f?

I think this gov is trying to see us all off tbh
Thanks for all you guys do though!

Thanks so much.

Hi Shell,

I will try to answer your questions in order -

There does not seem to be any pattern regarding if and when people are deemed to need a face2face assessment.

Adverts are currently going out for presenting officers. It is not possible to say how long it will take to get them recruited, trained and active. Nor can we say how long your reassessment (+MR if needed) might take this time round.

The fact that you have not applied for PIP should not make any different whatsoever.

The ESA50 might have changed slightly in layout. The descriptors are the same. I think DWP guidance might also have changed since your last assessment. This will all be covered in the most recent ESA guide.

ESA reassessment seem to be pretty much up to date now and most claimants are getting decisions fairly promptly - although we still see the odd claim,ant for whom things take very much longer.

We have no information regarding how the presenting officers are going to select cases.

Yes, write down the times that your friend will not be available to accompany you to an assessment. However, don't be surprised if you get an appointment during this time. The first appointment is sent out by computer without any reference to the claim form!

If you want to get ahead of the process, you could make a start on the PDF version of the claim form.

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Thank you so much, Mrs Hurtyback, for answering all my questions. I really appreciate it. We'll no doubt learn more as you do. In the meantime, I'll look at the latest guides/ descriptors here. Thanks for the link.

Apologies if I've got hold of the wrong end of the stick but I thought that claimants come across a Presenting Officer only if they need to attend an appeal tribunal. I feel sorry that this possibility might deter claimants from filling in their initial or renewal ESA/DLA/PIP application forms.

Bearer wrote: Apologies if I've got hold of the wrong end of the stick but I thought that claimants come across a Presenting Officer only if they need to attend an appeal tribunal. I feel sorry that this possibility might deter claimants from filling in their initial or renewal ESA/DLA/PIP application forms.

At the moment, claimants might meet a PO at a tribunal. The intention is for these people to make more of the appeal decisions rather than actually going to the Tribunal Service.

Either way, it is not something that the claimant will see in the early stages of the assessment.

If the DWP are instructing their Presenting Officers (PO) to take an inquisitive role at tribunals they could be shooting themselves in the foot!

Only the tribunal judge truly has an inquisitive role and is legally obliged to treat both parties (PO and appellant) fairly and equally. There is absolutely no power of questioning that can be given to the PO that can be denied to the appellant.

An appellant has the right to ask the PO questions as well. If an appellant has a medical report that falls well below the required standards of accuracy (the usual standards to you and me), the appellant could easily ask the PO to explain such discrepancies, and take on an inquisitive role himself, or herself!