ESA change of address temporary

"The message on the number said that I do not need to call them back and they will contact me if they need to"

Hi Janet

I'm sorry to hear that you're troubled by this issue but from what you told us the message itself said, and I've quoted you above, you DON'T need to call them back and they'll contact you IF they need to."

I suggest that you follow what the message says and do nothing, they will contact you IF they need to! We can - and often do - torment ourselves about what may happen, well I MAY be run over by a bus tomorrow, I MAY have a heart attack, I May have a stroke, the list is endless isn't it? Someone once said, and is often quoted, "I've worried about a great many things in life and most of them never happened!"

Try a different approach Janet, don't feed your anxiety, let this issue go, we can't control the future, they said they will contact you if they need too. Leave it at that!

All the best.

Mr B

Hello
Please can someone help? Sorry for the long post.

I had a breakdown (from beating assault domestic violence and family court) in addition to my health conditions which I'm on ESA for and was put in temporary accommodation because I had to leave my home. I wasn't well enough to manage all the practical and paper matters so this was done for me by a local charity who set up a redirect on mail to ensure that I didn't miss out on benefit letters etc.

I have now had a letter from the fraud and error department asking about my address whether it is temporary and whether I claim HB (I do as transferred) because they have received notification from postal services that I'm not living at the address anymore.
I didn't think I had to advise of temporary changes plus it does not change my claim to benefit as I have identical entitlement and I'm not double claiming on HB or ESA.

There is no mail security where I am and thought I could keep the other address for correspondence. Also the authorities (domestic violence) have advised that I not use my present location on any official record for my psychological welfare and safety reasons.

I tried to call the ESA line on the letter and eventually got through although was extremely distressed so I couldn't understand what the person was saying who first said I'd confirmed it by phone then her manager shouted in the background that I had to return the form. I explained that I am not mobile at present, am on medication that makes me unstable on my feet and not near a postbox which I couldn't get to if I tried also have been advised to return to shielding however when I asked for reasonable adjustments such as an email to send it in I was told to send it back or my money would stop. I no longer have any support or anyone who could do this for me as the one person I had is isolating at the moment.

I'm not trying to get extra money of claiming twice but I really can't cope with this at all and struggle to talk to anyone on the phone, especially DWP (I also have PTSD) so it never goes well when I do.

I'm thinking of sending it back and say no change of circumstances to be at the old address. Please don't judge me on this I simply can't survive another breakdown right now.

Thank you.