the dreaded brown envelope

Hi everyone,

I was somewhat stunned - though I realise I was being a tad naive - to receive another ESA50 last week. It was only in May 2011 the tribunal allowed my appeal to be placed in support group. I didnt even go to the tribunal, the clerk rang me on the day to tell me not to go to the appeal as the judges had found in my favour on a prelimary reading of the papers. My condition has detoriated during the past year - I have just had a bereavement too and now I have to go through all this again. What a farce! I know that they are entitled to send the form whenever they want but from here it feels like persecution. Ive fought so hard during this year with the appeal and a massive administrative error on my claim for which they paid me 50.00 compensation but then demanded the overpayment they had created without ever giving me a complete answer as to why the errors occurred. The dice are loaded!!
Apols for sounding off, but just when I need to be grieving I have to bite the bullet and do all this again.
Merry Christmas one and all!

Many thanks, I shall let you know how it progresses. Incidentally, my son who also has Ehlers-Danlos and had a failed spinal op earlier this year was thankfully put straight in the support group without any WCA, although I have it in writing from DWP that this never happens!!

This is terrible news it really is, i was always under the impression that once you got into the support group you were left alone,
at this time i am on IS, have been for 20+ years and have never been asked for any kind of medical evidence (am registered as blind since 86), what really concerns me is if someone like yourself is having this kind of trouble what chance do i have?
i wish you well.
stuart

stuart52 wrote:

This is terrible news it really is, i was always under the impression that once you got into the support group you were left alone,
at this time i am on IS, have been for 20+ years and have never been asked for any kind of medical evidence (am registered as blind since 86), what really concerns me is if someone like yourself is having this kind of trouble what chance do i have?
i wish you well.
stuart

Hi,

Just because a claimant is put into the Support Group, it does not infer that they will be subject to any less, or longer review periods than those put into the Work Related Activity Group.

Also, the government have pledged that those on ESA will be subject to more frequent reviews than under the Incapacity Benefit and/or Income Support on the grounds of disability regime.

Pete

it doesn't make it right though pete what they are doing, at this time i haven't had any migration letter, i am somewhat concerned, on paper i should get the 15 points, in reality we all know different, if i fail ESA and am forced onto JSA then i will not be able to comply with that regime due to the fact i cannot meet the criteria for meeting the labour market conditions 'actively seeking work', so i have no idea what will happen to me, even if i get ESA its only a matter of time before they will try to take it off me, i hope the OP gets a good result.