IB to ESA review after only 4 months?

Hi,
This is my first post so hope I'm in the right place. Having received the standard notification from DWP of the benefit changes I followed the guides and was tranferred from IB & IS to ESA and placed in the support group without a medical June '13. Fantastic news I thought.

This month I received a letter from ATOS with another ESA50 form telling me I was to be transferred from IB to ESA and must fill in and return the form within the month. Confused, I telephoned ESA to question this as it is only 4 months since I returned an ESA50 and their consequent decision.

ESA said that it was a review to see if my condition had changed. So my question is, does anyone know how many times a claimant should fill in and submit an ESA50 form, or, should I have received a different form from ATOS?

mddyq

Hi m,

As this is your first post I am going to assume that you are new to the site and link to this FAQ to help you find your way round

Welcome to Benefits and Work

Your query actually raises a few issues, I will try to deal with them in some sort of logical order

1) ATOS seem to be sending out this letter to claimants who have already been transferred from IB to ESA. I can only assume that they are using upold stock, no matter how confusing this might be for claimants.

2) Reassessments are going to be part of life for all ESA/DLA/PIP claimants now, this was really the mainstay of the Welfare Reform Bill. ESa claimants can be reassessed anything from 3 months following the date of the previous decision with forms being sent around 2 months prior to this. The maximum time before reassessment will be 2 years for people in the WRAG and 3 years for those in the Support Group.

3) There is no difference between the first ESA claim form and those sent out for reassessment. Indeed, you should treat every reassessment as if it were a new claim and supply full information and supporting evidence each time.

4) Some people find it easier to use the PDF version of the ESA50 form, this certainly makes it easier when reassessment comes round

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

I suggest that you bookmark this topic, or make it a favourite on your web browser, so that you can find it easily in future. Then you can come back to ask further questions and we will have the benefit of keeping everything in one place

Thank you Mrs H for putting things into perspective. If this is to be a routine practice then I will definately take your advice and use the online form.
M

Hopefully your next award will be for longer! Don't forget to make full use of our guides when you fill in the form

ESA claims and appeals