I am the same as you in a work related group this year. I have had to send a ESA form in this month. I might be called for a medical but I have filled out the form in detail about my condition. We shall see?
Unfortunately the DWP can call up a claimant for an assessment any time they want. Six monthly seems to be quite common, though for some claimants it's longer.
I have recently received my 2nd lot of forms for ESA after 'passing' the medical only 3 months ago. If I hadn't already sent off for the medical notes and seen the prognosis in there as 3 mths I would not have believed it.
I have ME/CFS and my lovely GP and ME/CFs specialist have already at my request sent me some strongly worded letters to accompany my forms when they go off after Christmas.
The specialist was clearly annoyed with ATOS/DWP (as he had already submitted a detailed report for them 3 months ago), and has said that he suggests that I should be awarded it this time for 2 years. I should be so lucky!!
I was awarded ESA in June last year. The basis of my claim is for my MH issues.
A couple of weeks ago I received another ESA50 to complete.
So in my case it looks like I'll facing a medical every six months or so.
The ATOS medical report suggests "a return to work could be considered within 6 months". I've suffered the same condition for years, so I found this comment highly optimistic!
