My Experience of being in WRAG

Hello All,

I have been awarded ESA WRAG but am currently waiting for a date for a Tribunal meeting.

In the meantime I have been sent another ESA50 to fill-in just after 4 months.

I have been filling that in and am nearly finished. In addition to that I have been
sent 12 pages of documents to register me in WRAG and to determine a "course of action"

EACH AND EVERY PAGE OF THESE DOCUMENTS is about FINDING EMPLOYMENT. I told a friend who has a friend who is now on Jobseeker's Allowance and he told me that it sounds exactly like what is being asked of his friend! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

1. Was I imagining things when I thought I might be referred to a pain management counselor? Why am I asked to provide a current CV if they are not supposed to be facilitating work?

The pressure of this has now made me ill with flu-like symptoms. Sorry. 2. Is there anything anyone can suggest that I do? What experiences of WRAG are other people having??

I must add that at this very moment in time I still am under contract with my employer (10hrs/wk over 2 days) but they have referred me to Occupation Health and are now in the process of retiring me on medical grounds. This is after seeing two GPs and one specialist.

Thank you for reading my rant.
cmarie

It's all predicated on the notion certain politicians have that the divide between support group and WRAG accurately reflects if and how soon people will be fit for work. As we have seen here from members' experiences, it is not like that.

So the system is geared up so that if you are in the WRAG, the expectation is that in due course you will be ready for work, and that you are not in work, so you must take steps to find work for when you get better.

All you can really do is to grin and bear it.

However, if you do feel that there are things that could be done to make you work-ready, then do ask for them. You may manage to get a referral.

Right. Understood.

I thank you for coming back to me Survivor.

cmarie

If the processes are making you ill, you need to make this clear to them, and to your GP. If you fail to visit the latter (I didnt used to bother my GP, just put up with problems) then the appeal panel may well say.... 'you claim this and that affected you, but whydid you not see the GP' It's a matter of credibility, in other words, did your actions fit the distress said to be caused.

I was actually put into the support group at the start of this month for 2 years after a medical I had undergone 7 weeks earlier, but I was wondering what would have happened if I'd got put into the WRAG, (which was apparently the other option they had 'for consideration' I was told over the phone) and felt unable to participate.
Obviously I'd have been sanctioned the WRAG element and ended up on the £67.50 assessment rate, but would this element have been returned to me upon a successful appeal to be placed in the SG?