ESA SUPPORT GROUP REVIEW

[Eightiesgirl]

My dh was awarded ESA support group for MH issues in 2019. During lock down he got a letter saying it had been reviewed and was granted again, without him having to fill in any forms etc Yesterday I phoned them about something and the advisor mentioned he would be having a review this July. She mentioned the form and a possible interview. We've recently had a pip review, which he was granted at standard rate, so the thoughts of this ESA review has sent him into meltdown. He was with the early intervention service for psychosis for three years and is now under the care of the community mental health team. I'm his full time carer and he is on anti psychotic meds and antidepressants. He has been diagnosed with Psychosis, GAD and depression. Will the fact he has been granted PIP make any difference to the ESA review and does anyone know what his chances are of being granted support group ESA again. I realise he has been lucky not to have been reviewed until now but he is extremely worried ESA will be stopped and I just wanted to be able to give him some reassurance.

Eightiesgirl - did you have the reassessment in July?

@LoubylooLucy I rang them and they told me his ESA support group had been reassessed and he has been awarded it until July 2025. He didn't have to fill in any forms or be interviewed, it was just done automatically. He hadn't received any letters and we wouldn't have known if I hadn't phoned them to ask what the position was. I wonder if they looked at his PIP award that runs until May 2024 and went off that?

@LoubylooLucy sorry, forgot to mention I name changed, I used to be Eightiesgirl.

Thanks so much for the reply and update! That’s great news about the extension and no assessment. I’m hoping the same for me as my pip was re awarded recently.

@LoubylooLucy give ESA a ring and ask if yours has been extended if you are worried. They were really nice and were happy to tell me the date it was extended to. If I hadn't phoned I'd still be wondering now, as they seem to have stopped sending letters out. Good luck.

Hey sorry to bother you. I have a question .. I got put in the support group in December 2020 and I was told the longest timeframe you can be in it before review was 3 years and it will be 3 years this December since I’ve been in it. I phoned them on Friday just to see how long my award was for and if I had a medical coming up in December and she said oh there’s no end date it’s ongoing and then checked my notes and there wasn’t anything there about a review either. So would this mean I won’t have have one in December or? My anxiety’s through the roof. Thank you for reading

@steviedewar94 I had similar, I kept phoning up, thinking it must surely be due for review and I'd get sent forms to fill in etc but they said it had been reviewed without me having to do anything. I was told in July it wouldn't be looked at again till 2025 unless I notified them of a change of circumstances.

My husband got his and it was all done over the phone after I said he couldn’t do a meeting. The only thing he had to do was say one sentence confirming I wouid speak for him - this was already planned and in the preparatory documentation. that call was done on speaker phone. The assessor (this was a first claim) was excellent.

Hi all,I'm new to the forum and would be gratefull for any help with the following.
My wife receives esa and she got a letter stating that its increasing from £122.55 a week to £235.80 a week from Oct.4th,the day before I retire.
I do receive a pension from lgps and usually my wifes esa is deducted because of it.
Can anyone please explain this large increase?
Thank you in advance.😊

I imagine that might just be a final payment before they re-assess her ESA award based on your state pension amount ? Your state pension will affect her ESA amount as well as your private pension.