What does WRAG actually mean?

Please can someone explain what WRAG means to a disabled person like myself?

Firstly I have been classed as disabled by the DWP/ATOS, as having significant disability. Then I was placed in WRAG and I am appealing to be placed in the support group.

Right, so I am classed as unfit for work and placed in WRAG and Chris Grayling and IDS both say that the WRAG is a temporary placement for people who can do work of some kind and eventually come off benefits and into work. Now correct me if I am missing something here...I have been deemed to be unfit for work/disabled but then expected to come off benefits and support myself?? I am certainly not fit enough to be a jobseeker and sign on or work away from home, nine to 5 each day.

I haven't any other income just ESA and DLA and no partner to support me. If I were able to do any work it would be a very limited number of hours per week and certainly not enough to pay my bills and live of. If I did do a little work, what would happen, as I am sure I wouldn't be able to stay on my current benefits and earn a few pounds per week.

None of the current WRAG rulings make sense and to people like myself we face a constant battle to live as well as fight our corner. I would very much like to work, but nothing is there to support me long-term, as I either have to be placed in support or eventually pushed onto the work programme. What happens to all of us?

Many thanks

TCP

Thanks, Gordon

Surely you cannot be allowed to stay in WRAG indefinitely, as there is pressure to move people out of it into work or training of some sort, even if you cannot progress in that direction?

Secondly if I were able to work part-time, and could not support myself and come off benefits, what help would I get financially? I am currently in WRAG and on higher rate mobility and lower rate care DLA? Is there any help for people in this situation or is it purely support group or work?

Kind regards

TCP

TCP wrote:

Thanks, Gordon

Surely you cannot be allowed to stay in WRAG indefinitely, as there is pressure to move people out of it into work or training of some sort, even if you cannot progress in that direction?

Secondly if I were able to work part-time, and could not support myself and come off benefits, what help would I get financially? I am currently in WRAG and on higher rate mobility and lower rate care DLA? Is there any help for people in this situation or is it purely support group or work?

Kind regards

TCP

Hi,

It is possible to be placed in the WRAG for an extended period, just as it is equally possible to be placed into the Support Group only for a short amount of time. As Gordon tried to explain it is down to meeting the descriptors for either group - length of award (despite what politicians may say in public) is rather irrelevant.

If one is deemed as having a limited capability for work (ie in the WRAG) they cannot be forced into work but maybe required to partake in 'work related activity'.

If one does get a job, then other things such as Tax Credits can be explored to increase income provided one qualifies. However this is not something we can advise on here but it is worth checking out with such as the CAB in advance, as is checking whether or not would continue to be entitled to such as Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit (in the future Universal Credit) etc.

Pete

Thank you for your reply. I still find it totally absurd that I have been found to have significant disability, but the idea that being placed in WRAG means that I would at some point be able to go to work full-time and some off benefits. I've been told I am unfit to work, per se, to go onto job seekers, but then told not! That is what I am being told by the DWP and agency workers, even though I shall be able to prove that this is far from the case and I have too many issues to completely come off benefits and work 9 to 5.

Thanks for all of your advice, you do a sterling job.