SO CONFUSED

Hi All,

Sorry if this has already been covered but I need someone to give me answers of one syllable because my brain is fried from this horrible process. I have two completely separate questions.

I have been on IB for the past 7 years and pretty much left alone after going completely to pieces at an IB medical about 5 years ago . I have just been through the transfer system and after the medical assessment have been put in the work related ESA group. I have a partner who works full-time and previous to being on IB I worked full time for many years. I am 55.

My questions:-

1. Will I carry on getting ESA indefinitely as long as I manage to play their game and attend the interviews and ATOS medicals as asked, or will I automatically stop getting any benefit whatsoever after one year because it becomes means tested and my partner works.

2. I have heard nothing as yet about what I have to do exactly that is "work related"other than attend interviews with "someone". What will I be expected to do. I am majorly stressed about this and I have no idea when "they" will contact me about it.

Sorry if I have asked too much in one go but I am going crazy (ier) with all this upheaval.

Thanks

Thanks for that Gordon.

Can I just ask what can trigger a re-assessment? Surely if my partner works full-time then I won't meet the requirements for income related ESA. I don't know how we would be able to cope. I find all this so hard to deal with. There is no way I could go back to work. I don't ever leave the house without my husband. I didn't appeal the decision because I was just thankful to still be getting the same money. I didn't really want to think any further ahead. I had my decision just over a month ago and haven't heard anything since. I can't see I would have won an appeal anyway because other than anti-depressants I am not receiving any treatment any more and have no one medical to speak on my behalf. I read my ATOS report and it was about 80% accurate I would say. Sorry I am rambling, just trying to get my head round managing with £400 a month less coming in next year.

Thanks for listening
A

insomnia56 wrote:

Thanks for that Gordon.

Can I just ask what can trigger a re-assessment? Surely if my partner works full-time then I won't meet the requirements for income related ESA. I don't know how we would be able to cope. I find all this so hard to deal with. There is no way I could go back to work. I don't ever leave the house without my husband. I didn't appeal the decision because I was just thankful to still be getting the same money. I didn't really want to think any further ahead. I had my decision just over a month ago and haven't heard anything since. I can't see I would have won an appeal anyway because other than anti-depressants I am not receiving any treatment any more and have no one medical to speak on my behalf. I read my ATOS report and it was about 80% accurate I would say. Sorry I am rambling, just trying to get my head round managing with £400 a month less coming in next year.

Thanks for listening
A

Hi,

A reassessment can be triggered by a number of things.

However with ESA it is mainly down to the short time the ESA award is made for. Commonly it is 6 months or 1 year. At this time you need to go through the process again.

Another example of what can trigger a reassessment is for example if ones condition improves (or deteriorates!) during the award period. As one needs to inform the DWP of a change of circumstances (ie the improvement/deterioration)this can also trigger a review.

As Gordon has stated above, Contributory ESA in the WRAG is only paid for one year. If you are subsequently put into the support group then it can be paid indefinitely whilst one remains in the Support Group.

Pete

we work hard all our life, pay our National Insurance so if fate is cruel we get the help we need, then after 12 months thats it?
words fail me. I assume then if we hadn't worked hard and payed our way we would carry on getting help?
((hugs)) A... I too am confused and frankly terrified over all this and my heary goes out to you. I too worked from 15, including several years in the RAF and asked for nothing from the state, I too am 55 and my husband works full time on an ever decreasing wage and goes to work terrified I will have had another bad fall or left the gas on and blown up the house whilst he's out. I cannot walk without agony, sit without agony or go out at all without my husband. I too have just been put in WRAG from indefinate IB after my last medical in 2004. OHHH sorry I have rambled again

Thank you for the reply Pete. This system really does stink!!! Yet again penalised for not being TOTALLY dependent on the state.
A