Are the DWP OK with the online form or not ?

I've begun filling in the online version of the E50 form with a lot of help and in stages due to my illnesses and disabilities.

But I've read on another thread that someone was told that they had to send in the paper form sent to them (they sent me a paper form) rather than send in the online version to them.I can think of dubious tactics being used by the DWP there, as to why, they'd prefer someone to use the paper form rather than the online one, but I won't mention it here as I don't want to upset people.

I'm going to type on it that I had to use the online version otherwise I couldn't have fitted in nearly as much or as many of my problems within the boxes on the form and if I'd had to use the paper form which they've sent me then it's mean a lot more added pages and many of my problems may have been overlooked especially the ones on added pages if I had to send so many of them.

So is it OK that I finish filling in the online version (explaining why I had to do it that way) or should I switch to hand writing the paper form out ?

It doesn't make sense if you can't send in the online form as it's exactly the same as the paper form and if they didn't wan t it sending in then why do they make it available for people to use so easily (mean why do they make it so accessible) ?

A Kaplan wrote:

I've begun filling in the online version of the E50 form with a lot of help and in stages due to my illnesses and disabilities.

But I've read on another thread that someone was told that they had to send in the paper form sent to them (they sent me a paper form) rather than send in the online version to them.I can think of dubious tactics being used by the DWP there, as to why, they'd prefer someone to use the paper form rather than the online one, but I won't mention it here as I don't want to upset people.

I'm going to type on it that I had to use the online version otherwise I couldn't have fitted in nearly as much or as many of my problems within the boxes on the form and if I'd had to use the paper form which they've sent me then it's mean a lot more added pages and many of my problems may have been overlooked especially the ones on added pages if I had to send so many of them.

So is it OK that I finish filling in the online version (explaining why I had to do it that way) or should I switch to hand writing the paper form out ?

It doesn't make sense if you can't send in the online form as it's exactly the same as the paper form and if they didn't wan t it sending in then why do they make it available for people to use so easily (mean why do they make it so accessible) ?

Hi AK,

I can assure you that it is perfectly acceptable to use the PDF ESA50 form, as here :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

Therefore, if you are told differently by anyone at the DWP or ATOS, they are wrong.

You can keep the nice pink one that you received through the post as a "souvenir".

See also :

ESA50 too big for the envelope

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

Cheers.

bro58

Thanks Bro

I used the online version of the form (having been sent the paper one) - at the medical the nurse spent five mins telling what a wonderful job I'd made of the form, she hadn't seen a typed one before and she was very impressed.

So I don't think you need be put off using the online form.

Whether they actually read the form, however comprehensive and legible, is another matter...

All the best

I think it might be useful to distinguish between [1] submitting the online form and [2] submitting the form online.

[1] is using the computer to fill in a form which you have downloaded, then printing it out and sending it through the post - which is entirely permissible, if I understand correctly.

[2] is filling in the form which you have downloaded and then submitting it electronically (as one does with tax returns) and this, as I understand it, is NOT permitted for ESA.

If either the enquirer or the DWP staff is not entirely clear about this distinction, or not certain that the other party understands it, then telephone queries could get confusing.

carruthers wrote:

I think it might be useful to distinguish between [1] submitting the online form and [2] submitting the form online.

[1] is using the computer to fill in a form which you have downloaded, then printing it out and sending it through the post - which is entirely permissible, if I understand correctly.

[2] is filling in the form which you have downloaded and then submitting it electronically (as one does with tax returns) and this, as I understand it, is NOT permitted for ESA.

If either the enquirer or the DWP staff is not entirely clear about this distinction, or not certain that the other party understands it, then telephone queries could get confusing.

Hi c,

There is clearly no facility to submit the PDF ESA50 electronically.

If the instructions given in : Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

are followed, there should not be a problem.

bro58