Employment Support Allowance (replacing IB from Oct 2008)

[Blaadyblah]

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'll be aware that Incapacity Benefit is soon to be no more. It isn't exactly difficult to find news stories about the Welfare Reform Plan, but these are in some cases sensationalist and in others rather panic inspiring, so I went on a web trawl to see if I could find a bit more information, less the hype and associated political soundbites.

DWP explantion of changes to Incapacity Benefit.

From 27th October 2008 no new claims for Incapacity Benefit will be accepted. Instead the government is launching a new benefit - Employment Support Allowance along with a new Work Capability Assessment. Those who do not meet the criteria for ESA will be put onto Job Seekers' Allowance.

In summary, it would appear that contrary to some initial media reports, current Incapacity Benefit claimants will remain on Incapacity Benefit (at least for the moment) and that the new benefit will apply only to new claimants from October of this year.

Links below:
DWP info on ESA, DWP info on Changes to the Personal Capability Assessment, Job Centre Plus information on ESA

For anyone wanting more information than you can shake a stick at about the green paper and the parliamentary process behind these changes, the Select Committee on Work and Pensions Third Report on the subject is available from the House of Commons website.

Application information is not yet available, but will appear on the Jobcentre Plus, Direct.gov and DWP sites from this autumn.

[curlysue]

Hello

I'd just like to add - the welfare reform bill is only a green paper and is not law yet. The document issued by the DWP about the proposed changes is just a discussion document and there is a consultation period between now and 22 October whereby anyone can write to them and tell them what they think of the new proposals. While it's likely that both houses of parliament will pass it, it's not too late to have your say and protest about these changes.

I would recommend people to read the article on http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk (I think you have to be a member) about the proposed changes. It's very good and without any media or govt bias.

If, as I am, you feel quite scared about the upcoming changes and feel that it's unfair to people claiming IB both now and potentially in the future, I strongly advise you to make your thoughts and feelings known to the DWP by emailing them on welfare.reform@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

There is a 'consultation toolkit' at the following url which sets out how you can tell the DWP what you think:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/noonewrittenoff/consultationtoolkit.pdf

The way they have written it is obviously biased and from the perspective that they are 'helping' people who are ill and have been 'excluded' from work (not how most people see it! Read the article at B&W) but they are actually letting people have their say on the matter so it's important to make use of this before it's too late. Because when the bill gets made into law, there will be nothing any of us can do about it whatsoever. Feel free to PM me for more information.

CurlySuex

[barkingmad]

Stargazer and Neomonie.

Perhaps we could look at this subject for the next newsletter after a follow up from the PIP?

[leashy11]

I spoke to someone today about the ESA3 form and thanks to reading the B&W site I seemed to know more than him about why I might need one. He said everyone on ESA (CB) currently should be sent one by the end of April so I'm going to see if that happens. I wasn't very convinced he knew what I was talking about but if it doesn't arrive I'll call again. I don't think I'll get anything more now as they already had to give me a top up on the basic amount so I didn't lose money but I should definitely qualify for it after my 365 days runs out so I'm going to do it early and save hassle further down the line.

[star gazer]

Hi barking, happy to do an esa piece for the news letter, I need to speak to nemonie about the reply for the pip consultation too.
leashy the date for April seems to be about the 30th. I already had a standard letter because I am upto my 365 limit and the last paragraph mentions esa (ir)but I am thinking that if you have not reached the esa (C) based 365 limit you wont get a letter in April, I might be wrong so as you say if you dont hear from them by the end of April phone the dwp and ask for the ir forms.
love sg x

[leashy11]

Thanks sg I will. You've been really helpful in this thread and good luck with your medical, I hope you don't end up on just NI contributions. Try not to get too nervous and fingers crossed for you. xx

[shen]

Just finished filling in my form. Should I include the DWP information on HMS or any other infos with my form?

[star gazer]

Hi shen, when I applied for dla first (i know this is the esa thread) i put in all sorts of info about pots (my dx at the time) the mistake was that as a piece of medical info it informed the reader about pots but not how it actually affects or limits me. however i am thinking that i will print out the hms stuff to take to my medical. the info on hms/ joint hypermobility in the dwp disability handbook was recently updated by prof Grahame so it might be worth putting that in (I plan to take that to the medical too) but what they are looking for with the esa assessment is what you can do rather than what you cannot do. Dont just rely on a generic list of problems associated with hms, they need to be specific to you. Dont be afraid to add extra sheets to your form along with a medical overview of your limitations, sometimes the questions they ask on the esa50 dont give you enough space or oppertunity to fully explain how you are impacted by your condition. I included medical evidence same as dla form and also a copy of my dla form which had only recently been assessed at hrm hrc and had a lot of in depth info. (I am not sure that the pre boards read any of it though as I still have to go for a medical, Tuesday is coming round too fast ) I think that as long as you include evidence related to you (med reports ot physio etc if available) then one sheet explaining the limitations and what hms is wont do any harm.
good luck with your form and give us a shout if you get stuck.
love
sg x

[leashy11]

Had the call today from the local jobcentre to go for my first interview, I asked if it could be delayed for a couple of months due to me trying out some permitted work and rather surprisingly I got a definite no to that because when I started the permitted work I was on IB and now I'm on ESA. Bet they won't extend my 52 weeks of permitted work because of this though! Anyway, the 24th is my interview date and it's with the lady who I've already had countless interviews with previously because of being on IB so I'm not terribly concerned, I could do with a chat with her about my permitted work anyway. Bit miffed they won't let people who are trying out a job delay them though, however it's a relief to know it's with my usual lady. I'm on crutches at the moment so hopefully I'll be able to get upstairs to see her, I don't want to have it downstairs in the middle of the jobcentre!

[Rosie]

Hi all

Leashy, if you can't get upstairs because of your diability, it is unacceptable to hold your interview in a large room with other people in hearng distance, if non-disbaled people get their interviews in a private room or area. It would be worth pointing this out to them, politely and calmly, as they really should have downstairs or accessable areas for private interviews. how would they cope if someone comes in in a wheelchair? Holding an interview in public, simply because oif your disability, is discrimination unless it is usual practise for everyone.

Rosie

[star gazer]

Last Tuesday I had my atos medical, it was very traumatic more so because of the impact it had on my body. My oh drove us there and I was in my wheelchair but as we had waited anhour before we were called in my joints had locked and my b.p was through the floor. when we eventually went in i had to lie on the doctors couch to recover, she conducted the medical with me lying flat out! after half an hour I started to feel a bit better but when the doc listened to my heart it was still tachy. She examined my joints and I took my splints of (with help) so she could assess my legs she didnt cause any pain. but the questions were very quick fire without a chance for me to expand. the doc then asked why we hadn't asked for a home visit as I would have qualified, I said I didnt know how bad you had to be to have a home visit. I had sent in so much evidence and there was definately not enough time for her to read it thoroughly before we went in but she went to various consultant reports through the interview.
Brown envelope arrived today, very quick seeing that it was easter weekend, opened it, read it twice then phoned dwp to clarify, I have been put into the support group with review due 3rd april 2013 . I am relieved and at the same time feel a bit odd in the fact that to get support group you have to be quite disabled/sick, however i suppose they recognise where my health is at the moment and I dont have to think about the dwp for a whole year. am probably just emmotionally drained with the wait and additional med issues coming into play.The positive is that they are really starting to accept hms and the associated problems as something that can really have an impact on people.
love to all those still waiting to hear
star gazer xx

[trekster]

Pleased you got into the support group really bad it only lasts a year.

[barkingmad]

That is good news stargazer, what a relief for you all!

[trekster]

Universal Credit is due to be actioned from next October, so what happens if you haven't been moved over to ESA by then?

[sheppeyescapee]

Good question I'm not sure of the answer