Still waiting to hear after returning ESA50.

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I have been on ESA since 13th April last year and had a spinal fusion in July. I received the my 2nd ESA form in October with a return by date of 5th December, which i duly returned by recorded delivery.

My question is - as of today I have yet to hear anything concerning either a medical or any correspondence. As my 12 months for contribution based ESA is up in April this year, what happens if I don't hear anything by then , will I automatically be taken off ESA.

I'm slightly concerned that I haven't heard anything but am a little hesitant to contact them incase I 'rock the boat' so to speak.

It's now a race between getting an appt to see my consultant and discuss my failing health and mobility and hearing from ATOS.

Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Smithy, I had exactly the same return date as you and have now made a total of three phone calls to the Job centre+ handling my claim and to ATOS. the first two calls the JC told me to contact ATOS as they had no further info on my case file, which I did using the free phone number given to me by JC (I also sent the JC+ a copy of my esa50 and evidence which they have received). I was told by ATOS that my claim was still in a very large pile waiting to be reviewed. last week I phoned them both again, JC were very surprised that I had not heard from ATOS so I then phoned them to now be told that my file is in a pile waiting for an available appointment for a medical.I am also in exactly the same situation as you regards the April deadline and was hoping to have had my medical before then.I almost feel that they are slowing this down so that I go beyond the April deadline and my ESA(C) will be stopped.I think I am now on week 14 since my form went back on the 28th November. I will be phoning again next week to see if I have moved any further up the pile.
good luck
hassled mum.