Are points needed to get into support group?

I should score 15 points for weekly episodes of unconsciousness, however this descriptor does not get one entry to the support group to which I hope to gain entry under the 'exceptional circumstances rule' because of several health problems I have. It might be possible to get a 6 more points but I am wondering if the 15 will be superfluous anyway if the exceptional circumstances argument works. What do people think?

Sparrow wrote:

I should score 15 points for weekly episodes of unconsciousness, however this descriptor does not get one entry to the support group to which I hope to gain entry under the 'exceptional circumstances rule' because of several health problems I have. It might be possible to get a 6 more points but I am wondering if the 15 will be superfluous anyway if the exceptional circumstances argument works. What do people think?

Hi,

No, the points count towards getting placed into the WRAG. Once placed in the WRAG (by scoring at least 15 points from the descriptors) there are a further set of descriptors which one must pass one of to get into the Support Group.

It is explained from page 15 onwards of the guide entitled: Employment & Support
Allowance claims on Physical Health Grounds - A guide to the Work Capability Assessment

accessible in the members area from this page:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

Pete

So would I be right in thinking that if I do not get into the support group via wrag because I do not pass on one of the descriptors I can still get in, in fact I can only get in, by the exceptional circumstances route?

Are any examples on site of claimants using the exceptional criteria?