ESA for mental health reassessment

Hi,

I just thought I'd start a thread to let people know of how my claim has progressed. In June I received my first ESA50 and returned it. I got a phone call a few weeks later saying I had been placed in the support group following my medical assessment (I was never actually called for a medical with ATOS). I was told my claim would be reviewed in 6 months.

Very recently, I received another ESA50 which I have just returned to ATOS, this time with various supporting evidence, including letters from professionals who deal with me and a mental health report and psychiatric diagnosis. This process took a lot of time and filling in the questionnaire took me an age as I am not coping very well at the moment. Fortunately I receive a lot of support from various organisations as well as friends and this has assisted me greatly.

So I posted the form off and I am now waiting for the dreaded phone call to be called to a medical. Of course it is possible they'll keep me in the support group again without a medical, but I'm not so optimistic this time. I have included loads of evidence though so I cannot see what more they can gain by calling me for a medical, unless of course they want to deny the claim. In my second ESA50 I have mentioned the reassessment coming so soon and how it has not helped in my recovery at all; I hope they consider this for the next review date.

I have to say being young I have never claimed benefit before and I did not believe I ever would, and being in the system is no fun at all. It is very confusing for anyone, let alone people with mental health problems. I am so fortunate that I have had help with this by an advisor otherwise I'd have been totally lost. I'd never even heard of DLA before I became ill but my advisor helped me get lower rate care and mobility.

I will update this thread when I get an update from ATOS or DWP.

Hi,

I was just wondering, how long is it after submitting the form that people normally receive the dreaded phone call from ATOS about an appointment for a medical?

I called up today asking for the evidence used to decide my claim last time as I and my helper thought it would be helpful to see which support group descriptors they felt I met so that if they take it away from me this time I can challenge them on how I still meet it. They were a bit bemused on the phone as to why I wanted it though, is that a problem? Surely I am entitled to the information regardless of what reason I want it for. I tried to explain it to him that the woman who helps me with it said it would be a good idea… anyway he said he would put the request in just didn't see why it seemed so odd?

ka wrote:

I called up today asking for the evidence used to decide my claim last time as I and my helper thought it would be helpful to see which support group descriptors they felt I met so that if they take it away from me this time I can challenge them on how I still meet it. They were a bit bemused on the phone as to why I wanted it though, is that a problem? Surely I am entitled to the information regardless of what reason I want it for. I tried to explain it to him that the woman who helps me with it said it would be a good idea… anyway he said he would put the request in just didn't see why it seemed so odd?

A perfectly reasonable and justifiable request ka.

It's really none of their business why you want them.

In my opinon, the DWP and ATOS like to treat us as if they were growing mushrooms,

In the dark, and upto our necks in xxxx.

bro58

Yeah, you're right. This is the second time I had actually asked for this information as the first time I was told by them that I didn't need it. "You're in the support group, I don't see why the person who helps you with your claim would want any more information." So that time I just said maybe she had made a mistake. Glad I stuck to my guns this time though. Also awaiting my DLA evidence and statement of reasons.