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ESA decision

  • Bob Graham
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13 years 1 month ago #46545 by Bob Graham
ESA decision was created by Bob Graham
I had my medical on the 10th Jan 2011 and just got a letter advising me of a one off payment that i wasn't expecting.
I phoned and was advised that I had been put in the wrag group and that, as a result. my payment was increased to the higher amount and this one-off payment was for back payments to when I qualified.
The advisor told me that although they recognised that I was unable to work, at present and therefore I could stop sending med certs. It may be possible for me to work in future.
This was this morning and in todays post I got an invite to my first "Pathways to work" interview this Friday.
I have not yet received a letter advising me of any decision and so am bemused by this invite.
My condition is Parkinsons and also early stage dementia, both of which are progressive and basically not treatable.
My point is that neither is going to improve and are more likely to deteriorate so if I am classed as unfit to seek work now, how canthey imagine I may be in the future?
Any comments or advise would be much appreciated.

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13 years 1 month ago #46550 by Derek4
Replied by Derek4 on topic Re:ESA decision
Hi Bob

I'm afraid your situation is not uncommon.

Basically, under the present Work Capacity Assessment, if you can't walk 30 meters you are placed in the support group. If you can walk 30 meters but no more than 50 meters you are placed in the WRAG and presumed to be able to work at some time in the future, even if you have a progressive illness. How this test was ever created is beyond anybody with reasonable intelligence!

You have the option of appealing but there are risks involved and you would be advised to seek face-to-face advice. If you attend Pathways to Work, your advisor who is allowed to use his/her judgement rather than strictly bound by rules, could decide to defer your interviews if they feel that they would not be of benefit.

Hope this helps

Derek

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13 years 1 month ago #46558 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:ESA decision
Bob

I am afraid that it is almost impossible to get out of the first WFI, as it used by the JCP to evaluate how to manage the subsequent five interviews.

Whilst not always the case, the JCP are fairly good at recognising cases where the liklihood of someone returning to work is slim or non existent, and usually indefinitely defer the following interviews (legally they cannot be cancelled).

As to the delay in telling you the result, unfortunately it seems to be standard practice, I have had to wait three weeks for a confirmation of Carers Allowance :(

Let us know how you get on.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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