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Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.

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6 years 4 months ago #201323 by j112009
Hello,
I have been told some very alarming news today about a new procedure that has recently started. My CPN told me this afternoon that another of her patients had an unnanounced visit from a Capita assessor who just knocked on her door and said he was there to do a RANDOM review. The lady had not been sent an ESA50 or anything and had only been on the benefit for 6 months, she told him that she did not feel comfortable doing the review with out her CPN in attendance. He gave her his card (he was from Capita) and told her to arrange an appt with the CPN and tell him when he could come back.

My CPN questioned the assessor as to why he had just turned up and was told it was a "new thing" that they were doing Random reviews on the spot to supposedly see if you are getting the right level of benefit. He had the patients original ESA50 with him and proceeded to fill in a new ESA50 himself by asking her questions and trying to put words in her mouth. She had no chance to get supporting evidence etc as in the normal reassessments. The cpn had to keep interveaning because he was writing "unhelpful" things on the ESA50.
When it was over my CPN questioned him as to what this was all about as the person was not even due for assessment. He said it was a new procedure being done geographicaly and totally at random. If you are picked for one of these reviews was random. He had come from Manchester and had other people to see in the area which is about 60 miles from manchester.

I find this extremely alarming that they can just turn up at your house and not send you a new ESA50 to fill in and no time to get supporting evidence also no 7 day notice of them coming.

Have B&W heard about this new procedure? Have you heard from others about it? Has there been a change of law or or anything? The assessor was from Capita.
I would like to know what you think is going on. It seems a very unfair and cruel way of doing things.

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6 years 4 months ago #201341 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.
J

I think your CPN has taken 2 and 2 and come up with 17.

Capita are not involved in ESA assessments.

Being assessed to see whether you are receiving the right benefits is not the same as being assessed to see whether you meet the ESA criteria.

Despite your CPN seeing their card this is far more likely to be a DWP employee.

Claimants are perfectly within their rights to refuse an unannounced visit.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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6 years 4 months ago #201572 by j112009
Replied by j112009 on topic Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.
Hi,
I questioned her 2 or 3 times about was she sure it was ESA and she insisted it was an ESA claim form he filled in as he was saying things like "Oh, so you can't be bothered to do A, B, C. etc. The Cpn had to intervene and say "No, it's not that she can't be bothered, she has no motivation to do whatever ETC. Infact she was adement it was about ESA.
He said things like "well, things can change" and she said "What in 6 months?"
I'll ask her again who it was as I realised after my last post that it could not have been Capita as you say as they don't do ESA assessments.
Thanks.

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6 years 4 months ago #201590 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.
J

I don't understand what the value would be to doing these, any report would be easily challenged at appeal.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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6 years 4 months ago #202179 by Alikris
Replied by Alikris on topic Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.
Information on random home visits to check benefit payments are correct:

www.gov.uk/dwp-visit
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6 years 4 months ago #202199 by j112009
Replied by j112009 on topic Alert! Random ESA Reviews with no notice.
Thanks for your reply. Is this something new they are doing?. I had never heard of it before and the CPN insisted they filled in another ESA50.

Thanks.

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