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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Work capability issues and ESA  →  Thread

‘Switching off’ ESA re-assessments

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NAI
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Unclaimed Benefits Campaign, Middlesbrough CAB

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Damian - 29 September 2017 12:41 PM

If its happening from today presumably HCPs have already been given guidance on this

Of course they will have! :-(

 

Daphne
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The Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals hasn’t been updated since 1 August 2017 (and it didn’t include updates for this) - don’t think we can presume anything with the DWP ;)

[ Edited: 29 Sep 2017 at 02:05 pm by Daphne ]
BC Welfare Rights
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I was wondering at what actual point the DWP would go about deciding who to ‘switch off’ ESA assessments for? As suspected, the answer is…at their next assessment. Of course it is.

So you need to have another assessment to be told that you no longer need any more assessments…

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/435024/response/1056753/attach/2/4043 reply.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

BC Welfare Rights
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Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere before, missed it if it was

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Ken Butler
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Disability Rights UK

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Hi,

I received the following confirmation from the DWP yesterday in relation to the ‘switching off’ guidance -

“An updated copy of the healthcare professional guidance is published annually on GOV UK. It’s next update in summer 2018 will include this guidance.

I can confirm all healthcare professionals were given the guidance and trained prior to the 29 September. Those who were on leave and unable to complete the training before the 29 will complete it on their return before undertaking any assessments. 

Guidance has been issued to DWP decision makers, this is in the form of implementation memos, which are only published internally.”

DR UK has published the ‘switching off’ guidance online -
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/october/guidance-work-capability-assessment-reassessment-published

stevenmcavoy
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ive just done an esa50 for a client with downs syndrome.  ive enclosed a letter specifically asking for this to be considered alongside evidence.

going to monitor it to make sure this gets applied.

Daphne
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A written answer yesterday suggests that -

in the vast majority of cases we should be able to make a decision on whether someone meets the criteria [to switch off assessments] without the need for a face to face assessment.

it is a question specifically about motor neurone disease but you would hope it would be the same in all cases…

Daphne
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DWP stakeholders have circulated guidance in respect of the severe conditions attached…

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