ESA Support group question

Hi,

I am hoping someone will be able to answer my question. I was ill health retired last year from work and now receive a pension: I have a permanent debilitating auto-immune disease, suffer with depression, and have 3 prolapsed discs in my back. After an appeal last year I was awarded ESA and was placed in the Support Group. (Due to my pension my ESA was reduced by half.) I first claimed ESA back in October 2009 (as advised by my previous employer), and have now received another form to complete, ESA50 03/11. My health has not changed, and after my experience last year,with ATOS and the appeal, I dread having to go through the whole process again.

Sorry to go on, but my question is, do claimants in the support group have to reapply for ESA every 2 years, and what are the likely reasons for being asked to reapply?

compactgirl wrote:

Hi,

I am hoping someone will be able to answer my question. I was ill health retired last year from work and now receive a pension: I have a permanent debilitating auto-immune disease, suffer with depression, and have 3 prolapsed discs in my back. After an appeal last year I was awarded ESA and was placed in the Support Group. (Due to my pension my ESA was reduced by half.) I first claimed ESA back in October 2009 (as advised by my previous employer), and have now received another form to complete, ESA50 03/11. My health has not changed, and after my experience last year,with ATOS and the appeal, I dread having to go through the whole process again.

Sorry to go on, but my question is, do claimants in the support group have to reapply for ESA every 2 years, and what are the likely reasons for being asked to reapply?

Hi CG,

It is not a case of reapplying, it is normal practice for ESA recipients to be re-assessed at regular interval, so this ESA50 will be a review of the prior decision to award you ESA Support group.

People in the support group should theoretically have longer periods between reviews.

Please be aware that the format and qualifying descriptors in the ESA50 03/11, changed in March 2011.

I would advise that you read through all the ESA guides in the orange MEMBERS ONLY area on the left.

Then if you have any particular queries you can come back to the forum, and we will try our best to help.

cheers

bro58

bro58 wrote:

compactgirl wrote:

Hi,

I am hoping someone will be able to answer my question. I was ill health retired last year from work and now receive a pension: I have a permanent debilitating auto-immune disease, suffer with depression, and have 3 prolapsed discs in my back. After an appeal last year I was awarded ESA and was placed in the Support Group. (Due to my pension my ESA was reduced by half.) I first claimed ESA back in October 2009 (as advised by my previous employer), and have now received another form to complete, ESA50 03/11. My health has not changed, and after my experience last year,with ATOS and the appeal, I dread having to go through the whole process again.

Sorry to go on, but my question is, do claimants in the support group have to reapply for ESA every 2 years, and what are the likely reasons for being asked to reapply?

Hi CG,

It is not a case of reapplying, it is normal practice for ESA recipients to be re-assessed at regular interval, so this ESA50 will be a review of the prior decision to award you ESA Support group.

People in the support group should theoretically have longer periods between reviews.

Please be aware that the format and qualifying descriptors in the ESA50 03/11, changed in March 2011.

I would advise that you read through all the ESA guides in the orange MEMBERS ONLY area on the left.

Then if you have any particular queries you can come back to the forum, and we will try our best to help.

cheers

bro58

Hi CG,

I know that you have received a copy of the ESA50 03/11 through the post, but many members have found it easier to use the online Pdf version, which can be downloaded and saved to your P.C. from the link below. :

www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/...lasset/dg_195544.pdf

Once saved, you can fill it in at your own pace within time constraints of the deadline for return date given.

You can edit and save it as many times as you wish.

When complete you can simply print it off and post (I would recommend recorded delivery) back to ATOS at the address provided.

This then leaves you with a ready made copy for future reference, that you can store on your P.C. and even backup on a USB stick, or external hard drive.

cheers

bro58