support group criteria

I've a copy of the ESA Guide by the Disability Alliance and have been looking closely at the the Support Group Descriptors I'd appreciate opinions on the following, which I feel is very pertinent to many with mental health problems

11. Initiating and completing personal action(which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising and switching tasks
This descriptor requires inability to reliably initiate aAor complete at least 2 sequential actions

12 Coping with change, 'cannot cope with change due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed

13. Coping with social engagement. 'Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual'

My questions are as follows

Would OCD related difficulties stand one a decent chance with 11, and 12, on the basis that obsessional thinking or ritual so hampers efficacy of these functions, or that they are efficaciously completed only the minority of the time, that it might be possible to secure this descriptor for access to the support group. ?

By 'Sequential actions ' would this for example be proven as an ability even at the medical it might be said that ' customer removed trousers and socks' or ' put shoes on and tied laces ' ? If so, then VERY few people would qualify under this heading Certain sequential actions such as those undertaken without active thought, example socks and laces, or 'operating a clutch and gears on a car' could be completed often even in the presence of severe, even mental health detention by section level illness, and so the sequential actions could be easily shown as successfully undertaken


Would several times daily Panic attacks causing fleeing from rooms and conversations suffice for 13. ? bY 'Social Contact' I presume that they do not mean you have no conversation at all with your housemates/immediate family with whom one lives ? Or might it be that 'social contact' would even include with the GP ? If it were to mean all forms of face to face contact it would mean that many patients on an acute psychiatric ward would not qualify for this descriptor, and almost no claimants who live in the same home as family members or partners

Any ideas ?:

XFACTOR wrote:

I've a copy of the ESA Guide by the Disability Alliance and have been looking closely at the the Support Group Descriptors I'd appreciate opinions on the following, which I feel is very pertinent to many with mental health problems

11. Initiating and completing personal action(which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising and switching tasks
This descriptor requires inability to reliably initiate aAor complete at least 2 sequential actions

12 Coping with change, 'cannot cope with change due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed

13. Coping with social engagement. 'Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual'

My questions are as follows

Would OCD related difficulties stand one a decent chance with 11, and 12, on the basis that obsessional thinking or ritual so hampers efficacy of these functions, or that they are efficaciously completed only the minority of the time, that it might be possible to secure this descriptor for access to the support group. ?

By 'Sequential actions ' would this for example be proven as an ability even at the medical it might be said that ' customer removed trousers and socks' or ' put shoes on and tied laces ' ? If so, then VERY few people would qualify under this heading Certain sequential actions such as those undertaken without active thought, example socks and laces, or 'operating a clutch and gears on a car' could be completed often even in the presence of severe, even mental health detention by section level illness, and so the sequential actions could be easily shown as successfully undertaken


Would several times daily Panic attacks causing fleeing from rooms and conversations suffice for 13. ? bY 'Social Contact' I presume that they do not mean you have no conversation at all with your housemates/immediate family with whom one lives ? Or might it be that 'social contact' would even include with the GP ? If it were to mean all forms of face to face contact it would mean that many patients on an acute psychiatric ward would not qualify for this descriptor, and almost no claimants who live in the same home as family members or partners

Any ideas ?:

If you look at the small percentage that get in support group and whats wrong with them. (there is a link around to this data) I doubt that what you have posted would make the support group, IMO you might of course make the work group... then would have to put your case at a tribunal

as you finish your post

"it would mean that many patients on an acute psychiatric ward would not qualify for this descriptor, and almost no claimants who live in the same home as family members or partners"

I think you will find that stands as true

Thanks Gordan, I think the social contact one is likely to be of wider application to those with mental health problems, it is going to be impossible though if 'social contact' means all forms of human interaction, to include immediate family at home, GP etc. Anyone who can at any time talk to anyone, would not get SG on this basis
which would mean almost all patients under section detention in psychiatric wards

if someone with mental health problems was looked on as a potential threat to themselves or to others.would they be put in the suport group or the WRAG.?

Hi Potter.

You are refering to the exceptional circumstances criteria. I think one can be placed in either the work related or support group if that criteria is applied - all very confusing.

One of the problems with the exceptional circumstances criteria along with the rest of the assessment is that GPs/specialists etc are not being given proper guidelines - somebody please correct me if i'm wrong.

Best wishes