WRAG Group - no contact from DSS/ATOS for 2 years!

I am on ESA in the WRAG group, (although I believe I should be in the support group).
My initial ATOS assesment was in July 2009, they said I should be able to return to work in 3 months - wrong!
My second Atos assesment was in October 2009, they said I could return to work within 6 months - wrong again!
Since then, they have not sent for me again. Its now two years since my last assesment/interview. I was under the impression that I had to keep going to their interviews/assesments in order to keep my claim?
The DSS is still making payments to me as normal - but I wonder why ATOS has not sent for me?
My own theory is that my GP put me onto Morphine and, notwithstanding my physical disabilities, given that almost no one would employ anyone who takes regular doses of Morphine, I am suspicious that the DSS have "written me off", in which case I should be in the support group I believe.
Unfortunately, I became hooked on Morphine and had to undergo a terrible course of treatment to get me off it! The upshot of it all is that whilst I am no longer on any form of class 2 controllled drug, the pain continues unabated.
Now I really dont know what to do, I think the DSS are holding off in the hope that the Welfare Reform Act goes through, whereupon they can stop my contribution based WRAG payments.
Surely its not right to be left on the WRAG group and not to have been contacted for two years!
Anyone who can advise - I would be most grateful for some pointers!

Thanks


Dave

brokenbear wrote:

I am on ESA in the WRAG group, (although I believe I should be in the support group).
My initial ATOS assesment was in July 2009, they said I should be able to return to work in 3 months - wrong!
My second Atos assesment was in October 2009, they said I could return to work within 6 months - wrong again!
Since then, they have not sent for me again. Its now two years since my last assesment/interview. I was under the impression that I had to keep going to their interviews/assesments in order to keep my claim?
The DSS is still making payments to me as normal - but I wonder why ATOS has not sent for me?
My own theory is that my GP put me onto Morphine and, notwithstanding my physical disabilities, given that almost no one would employ anyone who takes regular doses of Morphine, I am suspicious that the DSS have "written me off", in which case I should be in the support group I believe.
Unfortunately, I became hooked on Morphine and had to undergo a terrible course of treatment to get me off it! The upshot of it all is that whilst I am no longer on any form of class 2 controllled drug, the pain continues unabated.
Now I really dont know what to do, I think the DSS are holding off in the hope that the Welfare Reform Act goes through, whereupon they can stop my contribution based WRAG payments.
Surely its not right to be left on the WRAG group and not to have been contacted for two years!
Anyone who can advise - I would be most grateful for some pointers!

Thanks


Dave

Hi,

Whilst we cannot answer queries in connection with specific claims, there could be a number of reasons why you have not had recent contact from the DWP or ATOS.

For example, the migration process seems to have slowed down the system somewhat in some areas, due to the volume of claims.

One school of thought maybe that as long as the DWP continue to pay you, it is probably better to let sleeping dogs lie. However the government have indicated that claimants must expect to be reassessed more under ESA than previous benefits.

I suppose you could always ask the DWP to review your claim, however there is always the chance of an unexpected result such as being found fit for work.

Until the Welfare Reforms Bill is passed it is still only a proposal on the 12 months contributory WRAG payments. However if it is passed, it is possible more claimants will be asking for a review and/or appeal if recent to try to get into the Support Group.

Pete