Decision makers

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Social Development (Northern Ireland),

Could you be so kind as to furnish me with the following information:

1. how many Decision Makers do you employ in Northern Ireland to administer Employment and Support Allowance.

Yours faithfully,

H Millar

NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE ESA FOI/DP,

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Morren Colm NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE,

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Dear Colm NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE,

Re: reference: DSD/2013-0175

You have kindly given me the total number of people currently in the Support Group as a whole at May 2013 but not a breakdown within it as the question asked.

My question specifically asks the number "placed in the Support Group category where a return to work is unlikely in the longer term?" This being on the advice of a H.C.P following the E.S.A assessment process as outlined on page 42 of ESA File-work Guidelines 9 Final MED-ESAFWG~001 under the heading CHANGE UNLIKELY: "In the longer term:
If in your opinion there is a substantial degree of functional impairment due to a serious medical problem, which is chronic or will inevitably deteriorate further, even with optimal treatment/ maximal input and adaptations, you should indicate that a return to work is unlikely for in the longer term."

Document MED-ESAFWG~00 informs the H.C.P that they "might reasonably advise an “in the longer term” prognosis". This being the case you should have the figures for this group of people within the Support Group.

Yours sincerely,

H Millar

NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE ESA FOI/DP,

Dear H Miller

Re: reference: DSD/2013-0175

I have been asked by my colleague to reply to your enquiry.

Your question was the number "placed in the Support Group category where a return to work is unlikely in the longer term?"

You should be aware that customers who pass into the support group are reviewed in a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 3 years (the longer term) or at intervals of 3 months between. We have no need to identify which of those will be recalled in 3 months; 6 months; 9 months; etc and so do not keep these figures. I understand you have been given the figure for customers who are in the support group and this is the only information available.

David Crilly
ESA Medical
2 Cromac Avenue
Gasworks Business Park
0845 602 7301
[email address]

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Dear NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE ESA FOI/DP,

Surely these figures must exist to allow your department to recall claimants. For example how would you know who needs called in intervals of 3 months etc if there was know list and not to call to soon.

I find it inconceivable that you do not have these figures.

I would ask you to again to see if they do exist.

Yours sincerely,

H Millar

NISSA BELFAST JAMES HOUSE ESA FOI/DP,

Dear H Millar

Thank you for your reply.There is no reason for the Department to collect this information.

The re referral process is largely automatic so we do not have a list of customers in the support group and their recall dates.

David Crilly
ESA Medical
2 Cromac Avenue
Gasworks Business Park
0845 602 7301

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