From DLA to PIP and now WSA WRAG HELP!

Hello to everyone

In May of this year I was transferred from DLA to PIP with a favorable outcome following a PIP assessment by Atos, the result of the PIP assessment awarded me the Enhanced rate daily living component and the standard rate mobility component which was better than I had previously been awarded under DLA.

Within a few weeks of being transferred from DLA to PIP my huge sense of relief and calm was shattered on receipt of receiving an ESA50 form to re-apply for my ESA benefit.

I took my time filling in the ESA50 form and made extensive use of the guides here on the website and submitted the form along with various letters and documents most of which I had used for my recent DLA to PIP claim.

I soon received a letter requesting I attend a face to face assessment with a medical professional which took place a couple of weeks ago and I am now waiting to receive the decision of this in the mail.

Today 26th September I received a letter from Job Centre Plus to tell me that an appointment has been setup for me with my work coach! Incidentally I am not aware I have a work coach let alone need one!

I was shocked and shaken by this letter which was a bolt out of the blue especially as I was still waiting for the decision from my ESA50 assessment. I phoned the job center and was advised I had been taken out of the support group and placed into the work related activity group and my letter confirming this was probably in the post.

I am devastated by today's events and feel in total turmoil at the prospect of being placed in the WRAG.

I suffer with chronic anxiety, depression and Meniere's disease so the prospect of attending Job Center appointments and possible work related activities is difficult and for a large percentage of the time impossible. With Meniere's disease I get rotary dizzy attacks that occur with little or no warning and they last for upto 48 hours. I suffer with panic attacks and fear going out and attending strange places which is made worse by the additional fear of having rotary Meniere's attacks.

I find it impossible to plan things ahead and reliably keep to appointments so fear sanctions on my benefit and possibly loosing them.

I put what I thought was a good and strong case forward when I submitted my ESA50 form and evidence, I felt confident I would remain in the ESA support group having put a very similar case forward for my DLA to PIP claim which turned out in my favor.

I previously got put into the support group after an appeal at the Tribunals Services Court which was won on the grounds that rule 29 should be applied along with regulation 35. I found the whole appeal procedure a strain which made my anxiety and depression worse so the thought of going through it all again makes me feel like giving up.

Rule 29 and regulation 35 are meaningless terms to me and I wonder if those still apply to ESA claims today? I mention this as my condition has not improved but got worse which is evident by the increased dosage I take with 2 of my medications plus the addition of a further medication I now take daily. When filling in the ESA50 claim form I did explain that I was currently in the support group as a result of Rule 29 & Reg 35 being applied but this either had no impact or went unread.

At the beginning of my ESA face to face assessment I was informed that various questions would be asked about my conditions, the assessor then acknowledge receipt of my additional papers and evidence but went on to say she had not looked at those as there was insufficient time to look at such documentation, this concerns me as I consider the documents I provided both evidence and a good account of my health conditions and how they affect me on a day to day basis.

As of today I have asked for a mandatory reconsideration which was requested over the telephone but wonder if I should put this in writing and not rely on the telephone adviser to process this.

It is at this point I feel lost, hopeless and bewildered and I can only hope that a member of the website/forum can offer me some useful advice or help before I finally throw the towel in.

Thank you for reading my message and I express my thanks and gratitude to anyone who can offer any suggestions or help as to what I should say, do or write in order to have any hope of getting out of what feels like a hell hole.

Andyboyo

Gordon

Thank you for reply which at least gives me some pointers to both read and consider.

It is highly unlikely I will be able to attend or participate in Job Center work related activities and interviews and I will attempt to get a letter off my doctor to back this up and I will send this along with a cover letter to the Job Center.

If I get a letter from my doctors stating I am not fit and up-to attending the actual Job Center can I refuse going and insist on a telephone interview or is that at the discretion of the so called work coach?

If I should end up getting sanctioned on my ESA WRAG benefit will this also affect my PIP benefit and could I loose both in the long term if I continue to get sanctioned?

My PIP has been awarded for 5 years to be reviewed in 4.

Thank you again.

Andyboyo

Gordon

Thanks for the reply and information it is reassuring to learn that possible sanctions on my ESA wont impact my PIP award.

Thank you

Andyboyo