ESA Appeal

Hello.
My husband has been on ESA since last February. He is normally self-employed but had a bad fall which resulted in injuries requiring surgery. We had to appeal as the DWP stopped his ESA after a telephone assessment, despite the fact he had no use in his right arm and was in constant pain. He was offered an appeal date in November but this had to be cancelled as it was literally the day after the proposed date of his operation (ironically the op was cancelled by the hospital two days beforehand due to staff shortages but eventually went ahead just before Christmas).
He has not been given a new appeal date. We have been told his ESA will end at the beginning of March as he will have been receiving it for 12 months. In the appeal, I have requested that he should be put in the Support Group, as we have been told IF his operation is successful the recovery time is at least 6 months. (There is a significant risk it will not have been successful due to the nature of the injury and the length of time he had to wait for surgery due to NHS waiting lists). I should add my husband will reach retirement age in October.
I contacted the court as I am concerned the appeal will not be heard before his claim ends. A judge ruled that there were not sufficient grounds for the appeal to be heard urgently since it is on the list to be scheduled. The reply suggested we should contact Citizen's Advice should he not get a date before the claim ends.
Is there anything else we can do?
Thanks in advance.

Hello Gordon,
Many thanks for your reply.
I am aware of the criteria for ESA SG and the fact that only having the use of one arm does not necessarily meet them. However, my husband is in a level of pain (still, even after the operation) which would render it impossible for him to work. The surgeon has given a recovery time of at least 6 months and as I mentioned my husband will be 66 in October so it all seems bit ridiculous really.
We made an application for PIP as a result of his condition which was successful (I know the criteria are different but to give you some idea as to how badly he is affected).
Thanks again-I will try and speak to CAB about the date of the appeal, although as you say I doubt there will be much they can do to help in that respect. I was really just wondering what the legal position is if the claim expires and the appeal has still not been heard.

OK I understand, many thanks for that Gary.