SUPPORT GROUP FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

lochlisa wrote:

I easily qualify for Activity 15 as my DLA mobility was awarded based on needing guiding and supervising when outside but the good old DWP ignored it and put me in WRAG.

My GP has also said, more than once, that I am totally unable to leave the house without help at all times, regardless of where I may be going.

It is going to appeal at the moment so fingers crossed they see sense at a reconsideration first?

Lisa

I don't think there is a support group category for not being able to go out alone. So even if you score 15 points for Activity 15 you will still only get WRAG based on this descriptor.

Hi nada,
I rang jobcentreplus and they rang me back,I explained I couldnt attend WFI which was planned for mon 22.08.11 told him of my problems ask me if it was better for me if he came to my home for the interview I explained how anxious I was and he conducted the interview over the phone. But I am still appealing.

As well as the LCWRA exceptional circumstances (substantial harm) criteria - is the fact that a mental illness is poorly controlled/uncontrolled another criteria for making it into the support group or have i misread the guidelines?

I am answering my own question - yes i misread the guides! The poorly controlled/uncontrolled disease non-functional descriptor only applies to limited capability for work not the support group.

It is the 'substantial harm' exceptional circumstances criteria that is largely relevant to people hoping to make it into the support group, though the regulations imply that it is not likely to be applied liberally.

(There are other qualifying descriptors too as listed in the ESA guides).

lochlisa wrote:

I easily qualify for Activity 15 as my DLA mobility was awarded based on needing guiding and supervising when outside but the good old DWP ignored it and put me in WRAG.

My GP has also said, more than once, that I am totally unable to leave the house without help at all times, regardless of where I may be going.

It is going to appeal at the moment so fingers crossed they see sense at a reconsideration first?

Lisa

I don't think there is a support group category for not being able to go out alone. So even if you score 15 points for Activity 15 you will still only get WRAG based on this descriptor.

I would have thought that exceptional circumstances could be applied here because anyone with such difficulties could be considered at risk of 'substantial harm' if forced to go out alone. Surely it would be unreasonable to expect someone to engage in work related activity if they had to be helped at all times when leaving the house as Lochlisa states?

Best wishes