I am soon to go for my ESA medical. In the notification I received, Jobcentre Plus enclosed a leaflet, which inter alia, says that claimants are entitled to ask for a copy of the healthcare professional's medical report. I would like to know whether it would be a good strategy to request this ASAP after the medical rather than wait for the decision letter and a possible appeal, given the latter's time-limits. Could anyone offer a view please? If so, how long after the medical should I wait before calling to request? Also, is this the form that one would ordinarily use to challenge an adverse decision, and would the same form give an indication of when the next review/re-assessment would occur? If not, which form would that be?
You can ask for form ESA85 immediately after the medical, but it is very unlikely that the ADA will supply you with a copy at this point in time.
The normal practice is to request form ESA85 when a decision has been made on your ESA entitlement. Write to the office which deals with your ESA claim preferably using recorded delivery, and request a copy of the form.
The ESA85 will give you an indication as to when the next assessment should be undertaken.
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
