Prognosis of 12 months on WRAG ?

Hi all.

Got my ESA85A in the post today and it says....

"I advise that a return to work could be considered within 12 months".

Healthcare professional name was a registered nurse. This was the person who wrote the report up. Can nurses be in the place of doctors ?

Also says "I am able to advise that the claimed level of disability is consistent with the evidence before me".

So can anyone tell me what this means ? What happens at 12 months ? I am on income based ESA. I was on IB for 12 years.

Is pathways to work the same as WFI ? As I hear they come in within 6 months of the end or something ?

I have 5 days left to appeal, looks like I have 12 months to lose if it goes belly up, although I hear appeals can take that long anyway.

So if anyone can tell me what having 12 months prognosis means, then I would appreciate it, thanks. Oh and also the fact it says "WITHIN 12 months", not after 12 months. Is there anyone here who also had 12 months on their ESA85A and has been on it for that long ?

Thanks everyone.

Benson wrote:

Hi all.

Got my ESA85A in the post today and it says....

"I advise that a return to work could be considered within 12 months".

Healthcare professional name was a registered nurse. This was the person who wrote the report up. Can nurses be in the place of doctors ?

Also says "I am able to advise that the claimed level of disability is consistent with the evidence before me".

So can anyone tell me what this means ? What happens at 12 months ? I am on income based ESA. I was on IB for 12 years.

Is pathways to work the same as WFI ? As I hear they come in within 6 months of the end or something ?

I have 5 days left to appeal, looks like I have 12 months to lose if it goes belly up, although I hear appeals can take that long anyway.

So if anyone can tell me what having 12 months prognosis means, then I would appreciate it, thanks. Oh and also the fact it says "WITHIN 12 months", not after 12 months. Is there anyone here who also had 12 months on their ESA85A and has been on it for that long ?

Thanks everyone.

Hi B,

An ATOS HCP can be a nurse, midwife, physiotherapist or doctor.

Doctors must be used for certain conditions.

They are all classed as Approved Disabilty Analysts, ADA's, and receive training from ATOS in this.

With regards to the following.

Also says "I am able to advise that the claimed level of disability is consistent with the evidence before me".

This is saying that the HCP more or less agrees with the evidence in the ESA50 etc.

As you are in receipt of Income Related ESA, sometimes known as Income Based ESA, the 12 months limit of entitlement to Contributory ESA will not apply to you.

You must already pass the means test.

The Pathways to Work scheme was replaced by the Works Programme in June 2011.

WFI's are Work Focussed Interviews carried out by JCP staff.

See this thread on WFi's :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=71107#71107

A 12 months prognosis means that you will not be likely to be fit to work before that period.

This should also be the approximate date for your next ESA re-assessment.

bro58

Thanks Bro, does this mean I will be put on the work programme though at the 6 to 9 month mark ? Or do I escape having to do that ? I understand I will need to do the WFI's regardless, it is really the work programme that concerns me. Or is it not automatic based on time ?

So at 12 months I will get another ESA form ?

Thanks for the advice.

Benson wrote:

Thanks Bro, does this mean I will be put on the work programme though at the 6 to 9 month mark ? Or do I escape having to do that ? I understand I will need to do the WFI's regardless, it is really the work programme that concerns me. Or is it not automatic based on time ?

So at 12 months I will get another ESA form ?

Thanks for the advice.

Hi B,

You must be sent forward to the Works Programme by the JCP member of staff carrying out your WFI's.

This will depend on your health conditions, and your potential "work readyness".

Please be aware that you can not be compelled to seek or take up employment whilst in the WRAG.

It is most likely that you will receive another ESA50 to fill in, when it is time for your re-assessment.

This is why I call it the "ESA Merrygoround".

If you put WFI into the search engine above the logout box many threads will come up re : this.

bro58

Hi Benson,
I'm sorry that I'm not able to help answer your questions but I have a similar query myself and thought that if I posted my problem here maybe someone who knows what's what could help us both....

I used to be on Income Support due to incapacity for work and was sent an ESA form. Thanks to the advice on this site I was recently sent a letter saying that I have been put in the Support Group without the need to attend a medical (I suffer from severe and enduring mental health problems). I was so relieved as the process has been extremely stressful for me.

My DLA also happens to be up for reassessment, so I thought that it would help my claim if I could send a copy of the report from ESA. I wrote and asked if they could send the medical report and decision, even though I wasn't required to attend a face to face assessment.

I was surprised to find that the report was written by a nurse. I was even more surprised to find that she advises that 'a return to work could be considered in 12 months'and she advises I should be in the WRAG group. She also states that I do NOT "have reduced awareness of hazards, likely to lead to a significant risk of injury to self or others, or damage to property or possessions". I had stated very clearly how psychotic episodes affect me, giving examples of the above and included a psychiatrist's and doctors report. She also says that "the available evidence does not suggest there would not be substantial mental or physical risk if the client were found to be capable of work related activity" despite my doctors report that I sent in with the form saying the opposite. Also " the available evidence does not suggest the client cannot engage in social contact due to difficulty relating to others, or to their own significant distress", the examples I have given on the form and the medical documents from my medical records clearly state this is not the case.

It is like she has got me mixed up with someone else, though its my name and NI number on top of the report, or maybe she didn't read the vast pages of supporting evidence that I included securely attached to the form itself. Either way the decision maker has obviously disagreed with her in order to put me in the support group.

So what, if anything, should I do now? I was so relieved to have been put in the support group as I would be unable to cope with work related activity. However I am worried that this medical report written by a nurse who has never met me contradicts a report from a doctor with 30 years experience who knows me well, and he clearly stated in his detailed report that he does NOT think I am "fit for work or work related activity". I am concerned that this nurse's report will remain on my DWP records and will be used to decide my date of reassessment and/or taken into consideration when deciding the outcome of the reassessment.
I would be so grateful for any advice as I am confused and befuddled to put it mildly!

nellie wrote:

Hi Benson,
I'm sorry that I'm not able to help answer your questions but I have a similar query myself and thought that if I posted my problem here maybe someone who knows what's what could help us both....

I used to be on Income Support due to incapacity for work and was sent an ESA form. Thanks to the advice on this site I was recently sent a letter saying that I have been put in the Support Group without the need to attend a medical (I suffer from severe and enduring mental health problems). I was so relieved as the process has been extremely stressful for me.

My DLA also happens to be up for reassessment, so I thought that it would help my claim if I could send a copy of the report from ESA. I wrote and asked if they could send the medical report and decision, even though I wasn't required to attend a face to face assessment.

I was surprised to find that the report was written by a nurse. I was even more surprised to find that she advises that 'a return to work could be considered in 12 months'and she advises I should be in the WRAG group. She also states that I do NOT "have reduced awareness of hazards, likely to lead to a significant risk of injury to self or others, or damage to property or possessions". I had stated very clearly how psychotic episodes affect me, giving examples of the above and included a psychiatrist's and doctors report. She also says that "the available evidence does not suggest there would not be substantial mental or physical risk if the client were found to be capable of work related activity" despite my doctors report that I sent in with the form saying the opposite. Also " the available evidence does not suggest the client cannot engage in social contact due to difficulty relating to others, or to their own significant distress", the examples I have given on the form and the medical documents from my medical records clearly state this is not the case.

It is like she has got me mixed up with someone else, though its my name and NI number on top of the report, or maybe she didn't read the vast pages of supporting evidence that I included securely attached to the form itself. Either way the decision maker has obviously disagreed with her in order to put me in the support group.

So what, if anything, should I do now? I was so relieved to have been put in the support group as I would be unable to cope with work related activity. However I am worried that this medical report written by a nurse who has never met me contradicts a report from a doctor with 30 years experience who knows me well, and he clearly stated in his detailed report that he does NOT think I am "fit for work or work related activity". I am concerned that this nurse's report will remain on my DWP records and will be used to decide my date of reassessment and/or taken into consideration when deciding the outcome of the reassessment.
I would be so grateful for any advice as I am confused and befuddled to put it mildly!

Hi N,

The ATOS HCP, which appears to be a nurse in your case only makes a recommendation as to your award of ESA.

In your case, it appears that the DWP Decision Maker (DM) who actually makes the decison of an award of ESA has overruled the HCP's recommendation to put you in the WRAG, and has put you in the support group of ESA.

This extract :

She also says that "the available evidence does not suggest there would not be substantial mental or physical risk if the client were found to be capable of work related activity"

means that the HCP did not think that you qualified for support group entry under exeptional circumstances rule, in that you did not have LCWRA due to the risk afore mentioned.

(The double negatives are quite confusing here)

DWP Decision Makers, can use recent ESA medical reports in evidence in coming to a decision of an award of DLA, and vica versa.

Have you had a "written statement of reasons", ESA65 from the DM regarding you being put into the support group, if not, it may be worth while requesting copy, as this should explain why the DM gave you support group status.

Errant HCP ESA medical reports can cause problems with a DLA award decision, so it may be worthwhile challenging the validity of this report also.

Hope this clarifies things more.

bro58