Advice on Support Group for ESA

Thanks for your input XFACTOR but i have been in the WRAG since about March this year and i have a copy of my WCA already.

I scored 15 points and failed to meet any of the descriptors for Support Group so despite initially asking to appeal, i decided against it. I took this decision based on what i have read on B&W.

It is a bit of a paradox though, i receive DLA - HRM/MRC and the Severe Disability Premium top-up to my ESA so i suppose i have a decent case.

Ranald

I should add that my lack of savings will not leave me at a disadvantage to those who have a nest egg. I will migrate to ESA (IB) whereas those with savings, working partners etc will be refused further ESA (cont) after 1 year and to their detriment, will have to live on their savings, income until it is below the savings ceiling.

I actually hope that this 1 year limit will be reversed as i care about the disabled community as a whole and would not like to see anyone punished needlessly due to Tory ideology.

Ranald

The one year time limit is a nasty policy which is tearing the contract of national insurance and going to hit hard many individuals and families not only those with savings but people with partners who earn £90 a week.

It isn't yet the law, but the Government have intention it is their plan.

The problem is that the Labour Party have given a pledge of support to welfare reform and about half the parliamentary liberal democrat party (thr MP's) have a position in government.

It looks a bit bleak when you look at it. The politicians have identified political capital (as well as financial savings) in these reforms and as they dont live in the claimants house or have to face their bills, they don't really care.

But lets see

If it goes through an awful lot of people will be badly affected. The support group will become the safe harbour for those who manage to become admitted to it, but even that is subject to prognosis advice and thus the claimants position within the support group becomes looked at again

Last year ATOS had a film about the ESA journey on their webpage, which showed a nurse talking and she talked about 'prognosis' advice for the support group. BTW they also had a senior examiner talking about ESA and that the 'bar is higher' than for IB and they had a nurse (who was also in a documentary concerning ATOS ON tv) examining a very depressed looking plumberr (not sure if he was an actor)

The Coalition will not lightly climb down from limiting ESA(cont)to 1 year as the saving is worth over 2 billion towards their austerity drive.


Ranald

Hi Ranald

I'm not sure if I've understood you correctly, but once someone is on income-based ESA, there is quite a big difference financially between the WRAG and the Support Group. Those in the income-based SG automatically also receive the Enhanced Disability Premium (also apparently sometimes called the Disability Income Guarantee). This is about £13 or £14 a week, so those in the IR ESA support group receive about £19 a week more than those in the WRAG.

For anyone on DLA HRC and also on income based benefits, it makes no difference which ESA group you are in, as the ED Premium is paid anyway. But someone on DLA MRC, such as yourself, would be approx £1000 a year better off in the SG compared to the WRAG.

Worth considering?

regards
Rainbowlight