why no phone call? - incapacity to esa

I am on incapacity (technically income support) and for the last 4 years i have been in the exemption group because of a severe mental illness.

about a week ago i found a letter in my postbox telling me that i would be `migrated' to ESA.
the letter told me to expect a tel. call from the DWP in the next fortnight.
i have not yet recieved this phone call --i can check my phone to see who has called.
(the letter goes on to say that if i do not recieve a call from the DWP i am supposed to call them.)
i have horrible problems with paranoia. i really don't know if i can stand to call up DWP.
what will happen if they don't call me and i don't call them?
(i don't feel so paranoid about filling in the form if they are just going to send it anyway. i just don't want to talk to them. i can't see the point of it now - i have filled in renewal forms in the past and there was no phone call preceding those. i can't help feeling that it is a trap.)

You are not obliged to call them, but if you do not, it may delay the decision or they may make a decision as to which group to put you in without all the information that you think they should have.

Do you have a CPN or support worker who could call for you?

droopy wrote:

I am on incapacity (technically income support) and for the last 4 years i have been in the exemption group because of a severe mental illness.

about a week ago i found a letter in my postbox telling me that i would be `migrated' to ESA.
the letter told me to expect a tel. call from the DWP in the next fortnight.
i have not yet recieved this phone call --i can check my phone to see who has called.
(the letter goes on to say that if i do not recieve a call from the DWP i am supposed to call them.)
i have horrible problems with paranoia. i really don't know if i can stand to call up DWP.
what will happen if they don't call me and i don't call them?
(i don't feel so paranoid about filling in the form if they are just going to send it anyway. i just don't want to talk to them. i can't see the point of it now - i have filled in renewal forms in the past and there was no phone call preceding those. i can't help feeling that it is a trap.)

Hi D,

It would seem that you where PCA Exempt before.

Everyone will be re-assessed for ESA, see :

Being transferred from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance

From this link :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

You will also see our ESA Guides there also.

The phone call that you speak of is simply a courtesy call, and it not necessary to the process.

With respect to phone contact see here :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=75506#75506

Within a fortnight you should receive your ESA50 through the post, if not it would be wise to contact them to ensure that it has not got lost, as if it does get lost, and you fail to return it by the deadline date that is given, your benefits may be stopped.

It may also be helpful to read our ESA section on the FAQ's from here :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=70444#70444

In particular see this FAQ on using the Pdf ESA50, which you could download and start filling in now with the help of our ESA guides :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...imit=6&start=6#70879

bro58