ESA IR claim - Support Group and PIP Review

I know that my ESA50 and medical evidence was received by Maximus nearly 3 weeks ago.

I have wondered if I would be required to be invited to a face-to-face assessment or whether I can be assessed on paper.

Today, on the Maximus website, there is a notification to say that all f-2-f assessments are suspended from 17th March 2020 for 3 months.

www.chdauk.co.uk/all-face-face-assessments-suspended

My assessment phase runs to 2nd April 2020...

Does this mean assessment itself is suspended, do you think? Or will they try to see if they can make a decision on paper?

My medical team think my form and evidence is enough to get me into the support group. I am just wondering that as a new claim, aren't they supposed to meet the assessment phase target, in case I am going to receive more money by being put in the support group?

Thank you.

Hello Gordon and everybody,

In light of the suspension of face to face assessments, I called the Maximus number they gave if I needed more information about the progress of my assessment. I have not received any letter for an appointment.

I was told that a decision was made within a day of receiving my ESA50 and supporting medical evidence (about 3 weeks ago) not to assess me and that it was sent back to the DWP for their decision. No f-2-f required.

That's quick. When I asked the Maximus phone advisor what that meant, she told me it was good news and to expect a decision in 6 weeks about my ESA from the DWP.

Should I phone the DWP to ask for a copy of the Maximus report? Will there be one?

Thank you.

Hello Gordon and Everybody,

As I mentioned, having contacted Maximus directly last month (just as face to face assessments were suspended because of Covid19), I discovered they were recommending an award of ESA based on my medical evidence and I would not have had to have a face to face assessment anyway.

I contacted the DWP shortly thereafter. I was told a decision was made to put me in the Support Group for 18 months from the date of the Maximus report (in February). I was told a decision letter had been sent out to me. I also asked for a copy of the report from Maximus to be sent to me.

To date, the Maximus ESA85a report was sent to me - which was only a page with no mention of points. I was found not fit for work or work related activity under the substantial risk provisions based on my bipolar disorder health condition and my medical reports.

I never received the ESA decision letter from the DWP. I chased this up and was told it was probably delayed in the post. To date, it still has not arrived and I was told it was sent on 26/3/20. Therefore, I have no idea what the amount of my award is or how it is broken down (with premiums etc, because I also get PIP and still get WTC for the first 28 weeks of illness).

I did phone the DWP again last week to ask for my decision letter. I was sent a 'benefits entitlement letter' which only tells me I am awarded income-related ESA since January and the current weekly rate but with no breakdown and no mention of which group I am in.

From looking at the amounts, it is clear that I am put in the support group. But, I need a copy of my decision letter that never arrived. The reason I need this is because my council give full council tax reduction to claimants who are in the ESA support group and they require an original copy of the decision.

What do I do? The DWP Enquiry line only operates reduced hours. It takes about an hour before anybody responds. My experience on the two occasions I have phoned since this Covid crisis began is the advisors/operators I am talking to clearly have no idea why I am phoning or what I am asking for. They sound clueless about what ESA even is. It seems as though the phone lines are manned by untrained people. Is there any way of being able to contact a DWP Manager or decision maker to get a duplicate copy of my decision letter. I am entitled to my decision letter, aren't I?

Thank you Gordon and everybody for all your help in getting this award - even though I have circumstantial rather than actual evidence on paper of actually having got it.