Heartfelt thanks

Firstly, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to this wonderful website for all the information provided during such a worrying and anxious time. It affected me emotionally, mentally and physically very deeply.

Very selfishly, it also helped me to know that I wasn't alone in enduring this torture.

I sent off my ESA50 along with a great letter from my GP and within 12 days was called by the DWP to say I would be moved directly from IB to the Support Group without a face-to-face assessment, along with a small increase.

May I now ask for more help?

Of course, I would like to know everything on how thus decision was reached.
As per your advice to other members I will be writing to request the recommended period before I am reassessed, (the prognosis),
ESA85A
LT54

Do you recommend I should also ask for the other items as per your guide on ESA forms?

ESA72 award form (may be available)
ESA85 medical report (if you had a medical)
ESA85A medical report (if you did not have a medical)
ESA113 report from your GP (if one was requested)
any medical reports from your GP or Consultants
any queries, requests for clarification, correspondence, memos, emails or other communications between ATOS health professionals and the decision maker in relation to your claim, or any notes or records of conversations between ATOS and the DWP
any other evidence considered by the decision maker in reaching their decision
a copy of any worksheet, score sheet or any similar document which sets out which descriptors, exemptions or exceptional circumstances the decision maker considered.

I do want the maximum amount of information possible, but also do not want to upset the DWP by asking.

Once again, thank you. You haven't seen the last of me because I will have to go through the DLA to PIP process at some point, but knowing I am not alone will help.

Hi d,

Congratulations on The SG award !!!

Just to add to Gordon's post, there will definitely be an ESA85A, an LT54, there may be an ESA113, if one was issued to your G.P. as part of your assessment.

I doubt very much that there will be any type of "score sheet" and there won't be an ESA85, as you did not have a face to face assessment.

My best advice would be to request ESA85A, LT54, and ESA113, then add a comment such as "All other documentation used in my ESA WCA."

If you use a SAR, they have 40 calendar days to comply from receipt of the SAR.

Address the envelope FAO The Data Controller, at the address of the benefits office dealing with your ESA, and write DPA 1998 SAR in front, top, left corner of the envelope.

See :

SAR Form Download

From this page :

DWP Data Protection Policy

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Hi d,

Within the SAR you can even ask the particular questions :

e.g.

1. Which ESA descriptors were applied in placing me into The Support Group ?

2. How long is the recommended period before I will be reassessed.(The Prognosis) ?

This may be advisable, as sometimes the information in the forms can be pretty vague.

Once you are aware of the prognosis, you should expect to receive a new ESA50 for reassessment a few months before the end of that period.

bro58

Hi D,

That is great news! Thanks for letting us know and for your kind words about this site

daisy wrote: Firstly, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to this wonderful website for all the information provided during such a worrying and anxious time. It affected me emotionally, mentally and physically very deeply.

Very selfishly, it also helped me to know that I wasn't alone in enduring this torture.

I sent off my ESA50 along with a great letter from my GP and within 12 days was called by the DWP to say I would be moved directly from IB to the Support Group without a face-to-face assessment, along with a small increase.

May I now ask for more help?

Of course, I would like to know everything on how thus decision was reached.
As per your advice to other members I will be writing to request the recommended period before I am reassessed, (the prognosis),
ESA85A
LT54

Do you recommend I should also ask for the other items as per your guide on ESA forms?

ESA72 award form (may be available)
ESA85 medical report (if you had a medical)
ESA85A medical report (if you did not have a medical)
ESA113 report from your GP (if one was requested)
any medical reports from your GP or Consultants
any queries, requests for clarification, correspondence, memos, emails or other communications between ATOS health professionals and the decision maker in relation to your claim, or any notes or records of conversations between ATOS and the DWP
any other evidence considered by the decision maker in reaching their decision
a copy of any worksheet, score sheet or any similar document which sets out which descriptors, exemptions or exceptional circumstances the decision maker considered.

I do want the maximum amount of information possible, but also do not want to upset the DWP by asking.

Once again, thank you. You haven't seen the last of me because I will have to go through the DLA to PIP process at some point, but knowing I am not alone will help.

Fantastic news daisy. I have often said if it wasn't for this site I would be totally lost and to be perfectly honest I think I would have a nervous breakdown at times. This is one of the best sites for being able to turn to for advice and get just the answers we are looking for. Often on other forums people start joining in which is great but at times you really need to knowledge of people in the know and this is where I feel this forum comes into it's own.

I know what you mean about feeling selfish as each of us is caught up in our own scenario but if it wasn't for the help of the mods and people taking part on here we would not learn from others experiences and what each of us go through individually helps others.