esa assessment phase

Hi all hoping for some reassurance here.As I posted previously I have only been getting the basic rate of esa (now £67)per week since at least april 2010.And after both writing and emailing the complaints department I was told a few weeks back they would organise a back payment of the benefits I was owed plus an amount of compensation for loss of said benefits.Since then nothing(except my esa medical next tuesday)Now I watched the postman walk past our door again today and being a little peeved off I decided to ring esa again and ask about my back benefits.The person I spoke to (different one each time)listened to my drawn out account of my ringing,emailing and writing about my back money (took about 15 mins to explain it again)before looking at her computer and saying,"im sorry theres no notes on your file regarding any back payments" I asked was she sure and she said "yes nothing".So I asked could she see on her screen I was only getting the basic rate and she said "yes" I asked did she not think that was wrong and she said "well not necessarily" So I asked if its not wrong what else can explain it and she reverted to type and said "you would need to write and complain if you think its wrong"This after writing emailing and ringing numerous times and being told it was all going to be fixed and dont worry.I sent yet another complaint email off right away and this time I will make sure I get the persons full name but I was wondering as im getting the runaround here from esa and the complaints department is there anywhere else I can contact to make my case? (bear in mind I live in n.ireland)if I get the same result again?

Hi James, I really think it is time to involve your MP.

Best wishes,
Rachel

James2 wrote:

Hi all hoping for some reassurance here.As I posted previously I have only been getting the basic rate of esa (now £67)per week since at least april 2010.And after both writing and emailing the complaints department I was told a few weeks back they would organise a back payment of the benefits I was owed plus an amount of compensation for loss of said benefits.Since then nothing(except my esa medical next tuesday)Now I watched the postman walk past our door again today and being a little peeved off I decided to ring esa again and ask about my back benefits.The person I spoke to (different one each time)listened to my drawn out account of my ringing,emailing and writing about my back money (took about 15 mins to explain it again)before looking at her computer and saying,"im sorry theres no notes on your file regarding any back payments" I asked was she sure and she said "yes nothing".So I asked could she see on her screen I was only getting the basic rate and she said "yes" I asked did she not think that was wrong and she said "well not necessarily" So I asked if its not wrong what else can explain it and she reverted to type and said "you would need to write and complain if you think its wrong"This after writing emailing and ringing numerous times and being told it was all going to be fixed and dont worry.I sent yet another complaint email off right away and this time I will make sure I get the persons full name but I was wondering as im getting the runaround here from esa and the complaints department is there anywhere else I can contact to make my case? (bear in mind I live in n.ireland)if I get the same result again?

Hi James

I'm sorry to hear the problems you are encountering. It seems to me that you need to see a Welfare Rights Service in order to get face to face advice about your case.

Unfortunately B&W can only give general advice and not specific advice about your case. You could start with Advice NI www.adviceni.net

I do hope this is of assistance.

Michael

thank you michael I think I will have to down that road.The thing I cant understand is why each time I call Im told different things,ie one person tells me "oh yes I can see this is a major mistake on our part and I will sort it out for you ASAP (never to be heard from again)another can see a mistake but advises me "just to go for this upcoming medical and it will be sorted out after that" while yet another (today)tells me they can see no record of arrears!!surely when they access my records on computer they must see the same thing as they work in the same office?

James2 wrote:

thank you michael I think I will have to down that road.The thing I cant understand is why each time I call Im told different things,ie one person tells me "oh yes I can see this is a major mistake on our part and I will sort it out for you ASAP (never to be heard from again)another can see a mistake but advises me "just to go for this upcoming medical and it will be sorted out after that" while yet another (today)tells me they can see no record of arrears!!surely when they access my records on computer they must see the same thing as they work in the same office?

I agree James, the way you have been treated is quite appalling, I hope you get it sorted out soon. Good luck. M