× Members

No medical but WRAG

More
12 years 7 months ago #65037 by redcat
No medical but WRAG was created by redcat
Hi

I was recently told after submitting my ESA that I would not be required to have a medical...terrific!

After hearing nothing further from the DWP I rang them today and was told I have been placed in the WRAG.

How can you be placed in this group without having been examined? They obviously thought I had produced enough evidence not to need a medical yet they have put me in a group which means at some point I can work...which goes against the evidence from my specialist and doctor.

I have read that if the DWP decide you are in the WRAG but don't need to be looked at again for over 6 months then you don't need to take part in work programmes...is this correct? Between 3-6 months for reassement means you do, or so I have read!

I have top rate of DLA for care and mobility indefinitely...will this ESA result mean my claim being looked at again and my motability care being taken away?

I don't want the stress of an appeal but will do so if you advise me to. I just wonder if the WRAG isn't that bad...if you tell the advisers how ill you are they leave you alone and don't force you on to work programmes or is that merely a dream?! :)

Help!


Shirley Ann :)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 7 months ago #65045 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:No medical but WRAG
Shirley

You may be viewing it differently at the moment, but congratulations on getting into the WRAG, I'll try and answer your questions below.

As you summised, if your ESA50 and any evidence supplied with it, clearly show that you meet the criteria for the WRAG or the SG, then the Decision Maker can decide that no medical is required.

You can Appeal the decision or ask for a Reconsideration. Given that you were placed in the WRAG without a medical, I think there is little risk to your existing claim, however, you may well need to attend a medical to progress your claim.

You are right and wrong with regard to your attending the Work Programme. Members of the WRAG will be evaluated for the Work Programme 3-6 months before any recommended Return to Work Date (RtWD). So if your RtWD is six months then you should expect to attend a WFI in the near future, however if your RtWD is 12 months, then you should have six months of peace and quiet before a WFI is scheduled.

The intention of the WFI is determine whether a recommendation to the Work Programme is appropriate, so it is perfectly possible for it to be decided that it is not at that time.

There is no specific link between the level of DLA care and mobility you receive and whether you are in the WRAF or SG. However, there is an overlap between some of the ESA criteria and the DLA ones.

So, as an example, if you scored no points for the ESA mobilising test, this coulld impact on your DLA mobility. Even then the case is not clear cut as the ESA test involves the use of a "virtual" wheelchair whereas the DLA criteria do not.

Based on the experiences of members, DLA tends to be reviewed where a claim for ESA has failed, so I think the liklihood of your claim being looked at is low, but not zero.

I hope this explains evything.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 7 months ago #65058 by redcat
Replied by redcat on topic Re:No medical but WRAG
Thanks so much for explaining things so well for me, Gordon, I appreciate it very much.

Can you tell me, from your experience, do people put in to the WRAG without a medical tend to get sent on numerous work focused interviews or work programmes or as they pretty much left to it?

Also, is it true that if you are over 50 you only have to go for one work-focused interview? I will be 50 in 5 weeks so I am just going to miss the deadline if so! Typical!

Shirley Ann

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 7 months ago #65062 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:No medical but WRAG
Shirley

I don't this there is any correlation between someone being placed in the WRAG without a medical and whether you are forwarded to the Work Programme, there are certainly no statistics available for this sceanario. What happens, is really going to depend on your health at the time of the WFI, your condition, and your prognosis.

You shouldn't assume that a WFI and/or the Work Programme is the only outcome facing you, it is possible, that because of your condition, rather than having to go for a WFI, you are re-assessed and your ESA claim extended :)

The age limit for WFI's is 60, but is being increased in line with the State Retirement Age to 65.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • clio
12 years 7 months ago #65070 by clio
Replied by clio on topic Re:No medical but WRAG
I to have been put straight into WRAG with no medical I have mental illness.
I have ben put into it for 18mths from 4.8.11 got letter from jobcentreplus for WRI
for 22.8.11just over two weeks being on ESA prev on IB.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 7 months ago #65072 by redcat
Replied by redcat on topic Re:No medical but WRAG
I am a bit confused, Gordon!

How can I be "re-assessed and my ESA claim extended" when I have just been assessed!! Do you mean appeal for re-assessment? And if I leave things as is, won't my ESA claim just carry on?

Sorry for being dense!!

Shirley

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: bro58GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.