Support Group, No Medical but 2 month review???

Hi all

What a rollercoaster today has been!

After waiting 8 weeks literally to the day since I sent my questionnaire to Atos,I got a letter today from the DWP to say I had been placed in the support group - without a medical! I was shocked and delighted but suspicious..and rightfully so..I called the DWP to ask for a copy of the Decision as it may be useful for later..and it seems sooner rather than later! I was not told on the letter which was dated 12 Nov (but only received today)...but the review date is as soon as 13 Feb next year!

Worse than that, when I asked if that was the date in which they intended to commence the review,they said no! The aim would be for Atos to have the form by the 13 Feb so it would be sent to me in January. Given it took them a week to inform me of this initial decision that means only 8 weeks before having to be reassessed again! Even tho I got support group with no medical! Bizarre and anger-inducing.

The DWP woman was very pleasant and said that a lot of people were being given three months initially before being asked to attend a medical (so-called!)and then maybe if I am still found not fit for work, having it extended for a further 6 months perhaps.

I intend resubmitting most of what I submitted before as it has been so soon I have little new to say! I was just going to add an extra sentence or two for the descriptors and ask my GP to write an updated letter.

Any other advice?

And has anyone else on the site had support group no medical and such a short review?? My condition is acute reactive depression and I have attempted suicide twice but not hospitalised.

Meanwhile i wish everyone else luck with their assessments.. really how anyone can argue that this vast new bureaucracy is money-saving!!!!!

Lone Wolf wrote:

The DWP woman was very pleasant and said that a lot of people were being given three months initially before being asked to attend a medical (so-called!)and then maybe if I am still found not fit for work, having it extended for a further 6 months perhaps.

Hi, LW, my sympathy for your nasty shock - you were indeed right to be suspicious!

Was this a new claim or were you already on ESA or IB?

Can I ask if you've ever had a medical for either benefit?

I got put in the WRAG without a medical but I hardly dare ask for a copy of the decision and review date!

Thank you Mark!

When did you find out you got put in WRAG? Bite the bullet and phone and ask for the decision and review date..better to know than not!

I have been on IB for about five years and as of today - tadah! - have been migrated onto ESA.

I have had two medicals before - both found me unfit for work. The new system is much tougher now of course - and it seems the quality of the ASOS assessors is far lower - both my assessors were proper doctors who clearly understood mental health and were in fact highly sympathetic. I got lucky and am worried it may be third time unlucky especially as ASOS pretty much let anyone be assessors now!

Let us know when you know your review date!

DWP..Give it with one hand, take it back with the other. !

Lone Wolf wrote:

Hi all

What a rollercoaster today has been!

After waiting 8 weeks literally to the day since I sent my questionnaire to Atos,I got a letter today from the DWP to say I had been placed in the support group - without a medical! I was shocked and delighted but suspicious..and rightfully so..I called the DWP to ask for a copy of the Decision as it may be useful for later..and it seems sooner rather than later! I was not told on the letter which was dated 12 Nov (but only received today)...but the review date is as soon as 13 Feb next year!

Worse than that, when I asked if that was the date in which they intended to commence the review,they said no! The aim would be for Atos to have the form by the 13 Feb so it would be sent to me in January. Given it took them a week to inform me of this initial decision that means only 8 weeks before having to be reassessed again! Even tho I got support group with no medical! Bizarre and anger-inducing.

The DWP woman was very pleasant and said that a lot of people were being given three months initially before being asked to attend a medical (so-called!)and then maybe if I am still found not fit for work, having it extended for a further 6 months perhaps.

I intend resubmitting most of what I submitted before as it has been so soon I have little new to say! I was just going to add an extra sentence or two for the descriptors and ask my GP to write an updated letter.

Any other advice?

And has anyone else on the site had support group no medical and such a short review?? My condition is acute reactive depression and I have attempted suicide twice but not hospitalised.

Meanwhile i wish everyone else luck with their assessments.. really how anyone can argue that this vast new bureaucracy is money-saving!!!!!

Hi LW,

With respect to the above, I am a little confused.

Is the letter that you say that you received today your ESA Support Group award letter?

If so any date of length of award on that may simply be for admin purposes, some members have received their award letters saying that the award is payable until Nov 2011, or Dec 2011.

To know the expected length of your ESA SG award, (prognosis) you need to obtain copy of your ESA85A medical report, (as it seems that you did not have a face to face assessment).

It is not advisable to rely on information and advice given over the phone by the DWP, as it is apparent that much misinformation is being given out.

I would advise that you request copy of your ESA85A in writing, keeping copy, and posting by recorded delivery if possible.

Address this written request to the ESA Decision Maker, at the address on your ESA SG award letter.

Once you have copy of your ESA85A medical report, you should then know for sure how long your "prognosis" is and therefore how long it should be approximately before you are re-assessed.

It should also contain the reasons why you where placed in the SG.

You may of course already have your ESA85A, but this is not clear from your post.

cheers

bro58

Lone Wolf wrote:

When did you find out you got put in WRAG?

A couple of weeks ago.

I'm still contemplating an appeal.

bro58

Thank you for your reply and I apologise if I was unclear. Been a bit confused myself!

The only letter I got (no ESA85A)was not an ESA Support Award letter at all.

It was entitled "Your Benefit is Changing to Employment and Suppport Alowance. " It went on to say that this would apply as of 3 Dec 2011 and I would receive my old benefit until the day before that. The entire five page letter simply refers to how the money will be paid, what ESA is, how the money is calculated etc - very standard and routine.

Bizarrely, nowhere does it refer to having had receipt of (tho i know they got it) or having reviewed my questionnaire and provided other evidence, of being assessed at present, of being processed as part of the WCA etc etc. It certainly did not provide a review date - that was given - ostensibly! - when I rang DWP.

The only sentence that referred in any way to the WCA stated:

"You have been placed in the support group because your illness or disability restricts the possibility of working."

I will take your advice and request the ESA85A - but is it possible that they did not produce one, that they are so busy that they are just in effect putting me on hold for a couple of months? Given that they didn't send a proper award letter etc..

On a positive note I have been awarded an extra £14.05 more than I currently get (as well as the Support component whose equivalent i had been getting before as part of IB)from 3 Dec as a result of the "Disability Income Guarantee. " Have you heard of this before? Not often to get an unanticipated positive from DWP!
And have you heard of people being given their ostensible results in the bizarre way i did - mentioned almost an as aside??

Thank you for your help.

It is much appreciated.