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ESA50 and telephone assessment
- Twentyfold
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1 month 2 days ago #297081 by Twentyfold
ESA50 and telephone assessment was created by Twentyfold
Does anyone know, please, if the DWP do actually review and consider the ESA50 WCA questionnaire, (for which they ask the claimant to fill in and return) considering that the next stage seems to be an assessment, whereby some sort of report is written by a healthcare provider, which the DWP then apparently uses to make their decision? Ie, Do the DWP actually use the ESA50 for decision making, or this just being used as a ‘prompt’ as sorts, for the private healthcare provider to make their assessment? As the ESA50 is quite a huge form to fill out, which takes a lot of time and effort for vulnerable people to understand. Just wondering if it is actually used. Thanks.
- David
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1 month 2 days ago #297084 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic ESA50 and telephone assessment
Hi Twentyfold,
The ESA50 and UC50 are documents central to the WCA Work Capabilities Assessement.
See the following extracts from the DWP WCA Handbook.
"The HCPs have to ensure that they are fully familiar with all the conditions a claimant has indicated
on an ESA50 or in the available evidence (such as Med 3, 113, previous ESA85/IB85 reports)
before commencing Filework activity or a full assessment."
"Particular attention must be
paid to the current claimant questionnaire [ESA50 or UC50] and all areas where the
claimant indicates that there may be a problem must be fully explored."
"List all the current diagnoses. Ensure that all conditions entered in the ESA50/UC 50, or
documented in other medical reports, such as previous benefit assessment reports, Med
3, 113, GP/Specialist/Consultant letters, are included."
"It is particularly important
to carefully explore any change in conditions where the ESA50/UC50 for the current claim
has been completed some time ago. Note the ESA50/UC50 must still be utilised regardless
of age as long as it relates to the current benefit claim."
"It is also imperative to address all the information obtained during the assessment and in
the ESA50/UC50."
Here is the link to the document if you wish to investigate the matter yourself.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6...ndbook-sept-2024.pdf
David
The ESA50 and UC50 are documents central to the WCA Work Capabilities Assessement.
See the following extracts from the DWP WCA Handbook.
"The HCPs have to ensure that they are fully familiar with all the conditions a claimant has indicated
on an ESA50 or in the available evidence (such as Med 3, 113, previous ESA85/IB85 reports)
before commencing Filework activity or a full assessment."
"Particular attention must be
paid to the current claimant questionnaire [ESA50 or UC50] and all areas where the
claimant indicates that there may be a problem must be fully explored."
"List all the current diagnoses. Ensure that all conditions entered in the ESA50/UC 50, or
documented in other medical reports, such as previous benefit assessment reports, Med
3, 113, GP/Specialist/Consultant letters, are included."
"It is particularly important
to carefully explore any change in conditions where the ESA50/UC50 for the current claim
has been completed some time ago. Note the ESA50/UC50 must still be utilised regardless
of age as long as it relates to the current benefit claim."
"It is also imperative to address all the information obtained during the assessment and in
the ESA50/UC50."
Here is the link to the document if you wish to investigate the matter yourself.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6...ndbook-sept-2024.pdf
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
- Twentyfold
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1 month 2 days ago #297094 by Twentyfold
Replied by Twentyfold on topic ESA50 and telephone assessment
Hi David
Thank you very much for your reply. It’s appreciated. I will have a further look at the link. Could you possibly clarify if you know, do you think the DWP actually look at, examine and consider the actual original ESA50 questionnaire? Ie, do they look at what the claimant writes on the form - alongside the assessment reports?
Thank you very much for your reply. It’s appreciated. I will have a further look at the link. Could you possibly clarify if you know, do you think the DWP actually look at, examine and consider the actual original ESA50 questionnaire? Ie, do they look at what the claimant writes on the form - alongside the assessment reports?
- David
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1 month 1 day ago #297098 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic ESA50 and telephone assessment
Hi Twentyfold,
To answer your question ......do they look at what the claimant writes on the form - alongside the assessment reports?
It says they have to in the document I quoted above. Have you any evidence that they don't ?
David
To answer your question ......do they look at what the claimant writes on the form - alongside the assessment reports?
It says they have to in the document I quoted above. Have you any evidence that they don't ?
David
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- Twentyfold
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1 month 1 day ago #297113 by Twentyfold
Replied by Twentyfold on topic ESA50 and telephone assessment
Hi thanks for your reply.
I have no evidence of this, just my own doubts, based on
Page 122 of the WCA guide on this website here - ‘the assessor May not have read your form’.
If this is possible (as the guide mentions it is), then it simply makes me wonder, once the report is made by the independent HCP and returned to the DWP - despite the DWP WCA Handbook stating that they do examine the ESA50 of course - could it be possible that nobody ever actually reads it? Ie, either when it’s first received at the DWP, and once it apparently gets returned with the HCPs report? Sorry, it’s just my wild speculation that all may not be as we are told. The ESA50 is very challenging and time consuming to fill out for those with disabilities, and I was just curious if anyone does actually read and consider them, seeing as the final decision APPEARS to be based on the HCP assessment. There is probably no way of ever answering this question satisfactorily I realise that.
I have no evidence of this, just my own doubts, based on
Page 122 of the WCA guide on this website here - ‘the assessor May not have read your form’.
If this is possible (as the guide mentions it is), then it simply makes me wonder, once the report is made by the independent HCP and returned to the DWP - despite the DWP WCA Handbook stating that they do examine the ESA50 of course - could it be possible that nobody ever actually reads it? Ie, either when it’s first received at the DWP, and once it apparently gets returned with the HCPs report? Sorry, it’s just my wild speculation that all may not be as we are told. The ESA50 is very challenging and time consuming to fill out for those with disabilities, and I was just curious if anyone does actually read and consider them, seeing as the final decision APPEARS to be based on the HCP assessment. There is probably no way of ever answering this question satisfactorily I realise that.
- David
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1 month 1 day ago #297118 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic ESA50 and telephone assessment
Hi Twentyfold,
It is very difficult to come to a conclusion on this matter without getting " insider information ".
David
It is very difficult to come to a conclusion on this matter without getting " insider information ".
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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