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Had a letter that I don't understand
- Scaredycat
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10 years 10 months ago - 10 years 10 months ago #122414 by Scaredycat
Had a letter that I don't understand was created by Scaredycat
Hi, I am totally confused. I appealed against the decision to put me in the work activity group (not sure what it was called but it was not the support group) as we believed I should be in the support group. I thought that we’d be sent a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice once they’d looked at our appeal. I have not had one of these. We appealed about 3 months ago.
Today I got a letter from DWP outlining the amount of money I get is changing and it states the following on the breakdown
Your Living expenses
Limited capability for work addition
Extra money because you are in the Support Group
Which gives a total income-related amount
Income and Benefits
No income will be taken off your Employment and Support Allowance
Your income-related amount is £XX less £0.00 so you would have been entitled to
However because you are entitled to contribution based Employment and Support Allowance we will pay you
Top Up payment
Included in your Employment and Support Allowance entitlement is a to-up payment which ensures you won’t see a reduction in the level of your benefit entitlement as a result of the change to Employment and support Allowance
The amounts on this page apply from 27 March 2014 to 9 April 2014
Yours sincerely
This letter also gives me the option to appeal against the decision and it says I only have one month to do this.
Does this mean I am now in the Support Group but only till April 2014, ie a date that has past? The front page says I will get £108.15 per week from April 2014 which seems to be the Support Group amount. But I’ve not had a letter confirming this or is this the letter telling me, in which case its not said how long I am in the Support Group
Should I get a letter confirming I am in the SG (the letter I have had seems to suggest this is the case)? Sorry to sound so odd but I am totally confused as to which Group I am in – was my appeal successful or not?
Thanks for your time
Today I got a letter from DWP outlining the amount of money I get is changing and it states the following on the breakdown
Your Living expenses
Limited capability for work addition
Extra money because you are in the Support Group
Which gives a total income-related amount
Income and Benefits
No income will be taken off your Employment and Support Allowance
Your income-related amount is £XX less £0.00 so you would have been entitled to
However because you are entitled to contribution based Employment and Support Allowance we will pay you
Top Up payment
Included in your Employment and Support Allowance entitlement is a to-up payment which ensures you won’t see a reduction in the level of your benefit entitlement as a result of the change to Employment and support Allowance
The amounts on this page apply from 27 March 2014 to 9 April 2014
Yours sincerely
This letter also gives me the option to appeal against the decision and it says I only have one month to do this.
Does this mean I am now in the Support Group but only till April 2014, ie a date that has past? The front page says I will get £108.15 per week from April 2014 which seems to be the Support Group amount. But I’ve not had a letter confirming this or is this the letter telling me, in which case its not said how long I am in the Support Group
Should I get a letter confirming I am in the SG (the letter I have had seems to suggest this is the case)? Sorry to sound so odd but I am totally confused as to which Group I am in – was my appeal successful or not?
Thanks for your time
Last edit: 10 years 10 months ago by Gordon.
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10 years 10 months ago #122415 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Had a letter that I don't understand
Scaredycat
It sounds as if they have moved you to the SG but you will need to phone the DWP for confirmation.
Were you previously on IB? If you were, when were you transferred to ESA?
I suspect that this is one of a number of letters involved with a potential change of the original Decision.
I believe the dates on the letter correspond to the date of the annual increase in benefit dates, I would expect further letters relating to the period prior to 27 March (assuming that you were receiving ESA before this date), and for 10 April to today, there should also be a Decision letter notifying you of the change.
I am afraid that the correspondence from the DWP is often confusing and difficult to decipher, hence the suggestion you give them a call. Let us know how you get on as there may be additional payments due to you if you are in the SG.
Gordon
It sounds as if they have moved you to the SG but you will need to phone the DWP for confirmation.
Were you previously on IB? If you were, when were you transferred to ESA?
I suspect that this is one of a number of letters involved with a potential change of the original Decision.
I believe the dates on the letter correspond to the date of the annual increase in benefit dates, I would expect further letters relating to the period prior to 27 March (assuming that you were receiving ESA before this date), and for 10 April to today, there should also be a Decision letter notifying you of the change.
I am afraid that the correspondence from the DWP is often confusing and difficult to decipher, hence the suggestion you give them a call. Let us know how you get on as there may be additional payments due to you if you are in the SG.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Scaredycat
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10 years 10 months ago #122416 by Scaredycat
Replied by Scaredycat on topic Had a letter that I don't understand
I have been on Incapacity Benefit for 12 years
I was put in the work group but we appealed
This is the only letter since we asked for the reconsideration (the 1st part of the appeal process)
I will get my husband to call them tomorrow
Is it ok to ask if I am in the support group and for how long?
I was put in the work group but we appealed
This is the only letter since we asked for the reconsideration (the 1st part of the appeal process)
I will get my husband to call them tomorrow
Is it ok to ask if I am in the support group and for how long?
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10 years 10 months ago #122417 by Gordon
Yes it's fine to ask, that is what the ESA Call Centre is for
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Had a letter that I don't understand
Scaredycat wrote: I have been on Incapacity Benefit for 12 years
I was put in the work group but we appealed
This is the only letter since we asked for the reconsideration (the 1st part of the appeal process)
I will get my husband to call them tomorrow
Is it ok to ask if I am in the support group and for how long?
Yes it's fine to ask, that is what the ESA Call Centre is for

Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Scaredycat
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10 years 10 months ago #122418 by Scaredycat
Replied by Scaredycat on topic Had a letter that I don't understand
sorry, didn't answer the question, I moved over in March from IB to the new benefit
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10 years 10 months ago #122419 by Scaredycat
Replied by Scaredycat on topic Had a letter that I don't understand
thank you
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