ESA50 FORM AFTER JANUARY 2013

radhika wrote: Happy New Year to all Mods and Members.

Just mansged to look at posts i missed and came accross the one from Pussycatmum with regards to the changes on the descriptors for ESA50 form from 02/13

Just wantted a bit of advise. My friend who has physical and emotional problems has filled out the current PDF version in great detail and looks at it on a daily basis to update etc as she is waiting to be migrated onto ESA from IB.

I hope i am not jumping the gun here, but does anyone know what the impact will be on claimants who recieve ESA50 after January, as there is only a couple of weeks left.

Thanks Radhika.

At this time, we have no idea whether the changes to be made on 28/01 will necessitate a change in the ESA50 or not, and we may not know until the changes are enacted.

Most of the changes clarify points that have been raised in Upper Tribunal decisions, and are therefore related to interpretation rather than changes to the way the descriptors operate at a fundamental level, so whilst I am expecting our advice will need to change, this may not result in any change to how an individual claimant should complete the form.

The bottom line is until we have consolidated the changes and analysed them, we cannot offer detailed advice.

To be clear, the changes apply to ESA50's issued after 28/01, anybody who has was/is issued an ESA50 before this date will assessed using the current regulations.

Gordon

radhika wrote: Thanks Gordon.

So should my friend continue with the present form, as your answer seems to state that if there are ammendments, these may well not apply as to how she has answered the questions for each descriptor and how it effects her on a daily basis????

Also if there are changes, they may well be how each descriptor is reworded???

Hope i have not misread your reply

Radhika.

I'm sorry, but there really is no more that I can add to my previous post.

If your friend is completing the PDF version of the ESA50, then they can copy/paste the text into any new form, assuming that one is available.

Gordon