Worried and confused!

Hello,

I have a couple of things that I'm pretty worried about which I hope someone can help me with please!

1) Back in July I received my ESA50 form for this year's ESA reassessment. I filled in the form and returned it along with all of my supporting medical evidence. via Royal Mail Special Delivery, on 31st July. It was signed for on 1st August and I printed out the delivery confirmation to attach to the photocopy I had made of my form prior to sending.

Since then I have heard absolutely nothing at all regarding this reassessment. My ESA is still being paid (as far as I know; since I don't have internet banking and am not well enough to leave the house at the moment to check my account balance at an ATM, but rent, bills etc. are all still being paid on time so I assume that I am still receiving ESA payments too).

I have been in the SG since 2013 and have never had a face-to-to face for ESA since being transferred onto it from Income Support back in early 2012. All of my ESA reassessments since then (of which this is the third) have been paper-based. In my previous experience, I usually wait about 6-8 weeks between returning my ESA50 and receiving a decision letter in the post.

It has now been just over 12 weeks since I returned my ESA50. Is it normal to wait this long and still have not heard anything back? Should I be as worried as I am, and is there anything I need to do?

2) Also a small concern about UC. My area goes into full service for UC in April next year. I claim Local Housing Allowance as I rent privately. I have a rent increase annually. When this occurs, I notify my local authority and my LHA is increased automatically following me providing relevant proof of the rent increase.

My concern is that, when this occurs after my area goes live for UC, will me notifying my local authority about rent increases trigger a reassessment and transfer to UC?

Many thanks in advance!

Idonia.

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for your reply!

Just to clear up a little bit of my own confusion about UC: so this means that, as long as I remain living in my current flat in my current area, notifying my local authority of annual rent increases after my area goes live for UC, won't trigger a transfer onto UC? Only if I move house or move to a new area?

Sorry for being a bit slow! I'm going to blame my meds and lack of sleep

Idonia wrote: Hi Gordon,

Thanks for your reply!

Just to clear up a little bit of my own confusion about UC: so this means that, as long as I remain living in my current flat in my current area, notifying my local authority of annual rent increases after my area goes live for UC, won't trigger a transfer onto UC? Only if I move house or move to a new area?

Sorry for being a bit slow! I'm going to blame my meds and lack of sleep

Yes, that is correct,

Hello,

Just wanted to quickly update with the good news: last month I was awarded ESA SG for 36 months; paper-based assessment. I am just so relieved; I feel like I can breathe properly again. It's a bit of a much-welcomed break for me now until next March and my PIP reassessment.

Many thanks again and take care.

Idonia.