confused!!!

Hi everyone.

I have an ATOS medical assessment on 12th August,but over the weekend I received a letter from the DWP stating that I am being moving from IB to ESA and will be moved into the WRAG group! It says that I can appeal,but I haven't even had the medical yet Can they do this,move me where they want to without a medical? I would appeal,but I am worried that if I do,I may have to appeal again after my medical. My CPN thinks that I should be receiving more support off them and said that she would ring them up and explain why I am not ready to attend the work related interviews. I also read somewhere,that you can ask for a telephone interview. Is this correct.

I see my psychiatrist (first meeting) on 15th Aug,the day of my work related interview!! This will be my third re-book,so they will stop my benefits next time I cancel. I just don't know what to do .

I am more worried that this would be my only change of appeal and that I would not beable to appeal,if I need to,after the medical. This has really thrown me. My allowance has stayed the same though

Has this happened to anyone else?

Any advise would be very much appreciated, thankyou.

Juliette

Hi Juliette,

It sounds like you would very much benefit from face-to-face advice from a CAB or similar.

In the meantime, if you think you might be eligible for the support group then look through the guides and try to decide which, if any, of the support group descriptors - or exceptional circumstances - you think apply to you. Then decide whether you can get evidence to support this.

If there isn't a realistic prospect of any of the support group qualifying conditions applying then clearly an appeal would be a doubtful course of action.

It would certainly be worth contacting the office dealing with your claim to find out if you are still required to attend for a medical, as a decision appears to have been made in your case. Once you know that you will know whether you need to base any possible appeal on the current decision or whether another decision will have to be made following your medical.

You can ask for your work-focused interviews to be carried out by telephone, but this isn't an automatic right and medical evidence nay be required.

Good luck,

Steve

Hi

Thanks for replying.

I will contact the DWP.

Also,the WRAG group. Do you have to attend these every day?

Thanks

Juliette