Hi all

All advice appreciated. A client has been given an ESA50A to complete and it appears to be an abbreviated version of the ESA50.

On closer review, JCP guidance indicates there is no legal requirement for the client to either submit this form or attend any medical appointment scheduled that is specifically related to this form???

We are confused...................why issue it if it isn't required??

Sorry if this is a really stupid post.........haven't seen one of these before.

I haven't heard of this form before so I don't know what it is for.

However..., see ESA regs 19(8)(a) and 34(5)(a).

Could it be a phishing expedition...?

Its fairly similar to the ESA50 and is accompanied by a formal letter informing the client they MUST complete it but on checking JCP guidance it is clearly stated that there is no legal requirement for the form to be completed and/or returned as there is no penalty or sanction if it's not received back.

It all seems rather pointless but is causing some anxiety amongst our service users and we too haven't come across one before!!

The only advice I've managed to get so far is that it can be used by an ESA DM to determine if a client should be in the WRA group or Support Group without the need for a medical assessment. That's in the case of those fortunate indivisuals who are deemd not to require an assessment following submitting an ESA50............haven't come across any of those yet either..........

It appears to be one more DWP form without any purpose...........or am I being unkind here........??