ESA - adding descriptor scores

Will DWP add my explained scores of 6 or 9 for mh descriptors, to get to more than 15 points and so make me eligible for support group?, if they do not accept my claim for exceptional circumstances due to mental health condition? Am seeking GP & consultant evidence for all to accompany form.

anxiousgirl wrote:

Will DWP add my explained scores of 6 or 9 for mh descriptors, to get to more than 15 points and so make me eligible for support group?, if they do not accept my claim for exceptional circumstances due to mental health condition? Am seeking GP & consultant evidence for all to accompany form.

Hi AG

This is the B&W guide to how you might qualify for the support group -

Qualifying for the Support Group

You can only score once for each descriptor but all descriptor scores are added together to get the total.

Don't forget that you can score far more than 15 points and still be put into the WRAG. 15 points are the amount needed to confirm limited capacity for work, there are other descriptors which need to be met in order to be put into the support group (I say this because your post reads as if you think that more than 15 points will automatically put you into the support group. Please forgive me if I have interpreted this wrongly).

You will be able to find the support group descriptors in the link michaelg has given you.

I have a print out of the B&W ESA Guide.
But to be absoloutely clear, to qualify for the Support Group, if DWP don't accept my claim under the exceptional circumstances rule,(backed by medical evidence), are you saying DWP will only count me as eligible for the Support Group if I score 15 points on any ONE descriptor? So adding 6's and 9's to make more than 15, DWP will still place me in the WRAG?

This seems horrendous!

anxiousgirl wrote:

I have a print out of the B&W ESA Guide.
But to be absoloutely clear, to qualify for the Support Group, if DWP don't accept my claim under the exceptional circumstances rule,(backed by medical evidence), are you saying DWP will only count me as eligible for the Support Group if I score 15 points on any ONE descriptor? So adding 6's and 9's to make more than 15, DWP will still place me in the WRAG?

This seems horrendous!

Hi AG,

It is possible to score many points on the different descriptors, and still be put into the WRAG, because you have achieved the 15 points required.

However, unless you receive the maximum of 15 points in at least one of the "Support Group Descriptors" as listed on page 24 of the guide mentioned in this link :

Qualifying for the Support Group

you would not gain Support Group status, unless under Exceptional Circumstances.

bro58

thank you bro58 and others for quick replies