My brother gets DLA at the higher rate, and we have now received the letter from DWP about transitioning to ESA. First stage is a 'phone interview followed by various steps depending on outcomes, including assessment by a medical professional. What can we do to best prepare for this and maximise chances of retaining a reasonable level of benefit? Grateful for pointers to resources - thanks
Incapacity Benefit to ESA
- Thread starter porp
- Start date
DLA doesn't go to ESA, it goes to PIP.
IB goes to ESA.
If you subscribe to benefits & work, use their stuff as far as possible.
Okay, that one's fairly well trodden now, so you're in with a chance.
Get yourself over to the ATOS thread here, no need to read the lot, the first page and then the last will probably be enough. Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Very importantly, the "phone interview" will be an attempt to get his "details", but in a minimal format. This can mean that any nuance about your brother's condition(s) gets lost to the fact that the person at the other end of the phone can only enter details of 500 characters or less on their computer. It's better for the claim (although much more emotionally and physically draining) to insist that they send an ESA50 form instead, which at least gives you the opportunity to completely describe stuff, and to link stuff - even stuff as simple as "prescribed medication x, which is prescribed for condition a, causes dizziness and nausea in claimant".
