Changed form ESA WRAG to Support Group

Hi there,

I received a letter today saying that I had been moved from ESA WRAG to the Support Group. No reason has been given and I have not been given a recent medical by them. Does anyone know why this has happened? Clearly, I am delighted, I would have appealed the original decision when it was taken a few years ago but just did not have the capacity to do so. It just seems weird and I'm worried they might turn round and say it's a mistake and reclaim the money.

Stephsie wrote: Hi there,

I received a letter today saying that I had been moved from ESA WRAG to the Support Group. No reason has been given and I have not been given a recent medical by them. Does anyone know why this has happened? Clearly, I am delighted, I would have appealed the original decision when it was taken a few years ago but just did not have the capacity to do so. It just seems weird and I'm worried they might turn round and say it's a mistake and reclaim the money.

Hi S,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

Have you filled in another ESA50 since the time of your original WRAG award ?

Have you reported a change or deterioration in your medical conditions ?

Have you been struggling to comply with any WFI's or Work Related Activity, and discussed this with your JCP Adviser/Works Programme Provider, and they have supported the fact that you should be in The SG ?

Are you sure that the letter is not the normal annual benefit uprating letter that all benefit claimants receive this time of year, and you are misunderstanding it ?

The only way for you to confirm that The SG Award letter is legitimate and correct would be to contact ESA :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

They should be able to access your ESA file on-screen.

Or you could write to them at the address on the letter :

Sending Documents to the DWP.

If you do ring, and they confirm that the SG Award is correct, you may still wish to write to them, reiterating what you have been told over the phone as a record of events.

That way, if the information that you have received over the phone is incorrect, (which is not beyond the realms) you will have proof that you have also queried the SG Award in writing, in case it ensues that there has been an error.

bro58

Hi bro58,

Thank you for your answer. I rang them and they said that I had been moved into the Support Group for a year, but that it did not state a reason why! I asked if it was because I have just had a PIP medical but she said it would;t be because of that as the two aren't connected in anyway. I didn't like to push it anymore in case they changed their minds! They have paid me the extra amount for the last two weekly period as a separate payment.

I haven't filled in a new form, or reported a change or deterioration to them.

I have had a large number of different advisors within the work programme provider. They had been ringing me and conducting a phone 'interview' (just checking in really as my circumstances weren't changing at all. They haven't rung me now for months and months at all, so I wonder if they have reported this to save having to keep me on their books? It does seem strange though as the JCP advisor couldn't find a reason.

I might write to them as you suggest, but I'm currently appealing my IIB decision and awaiting the result of my PIP application, so feel like I have enough happening as it is.

Thank you so much for your help though, I really appreciate it.

Steph

Stephsie wrote: Hi bro58,

Thank you for your answer. I rang them and they said that I had been moved into the Support Group for a year, but that it did not state a reason why! I asked if it was because I have just had a PIP medical but she said it would;t be because of that as the two aren't connected in anyway. I didn't like to push it anymore in case they changed their minds! They have paid me the extra amount for the last two weekly period as a separate payment.

I haven't filled in a new form, or reported a change or deterioration to them.

I have had a large number of different advisors within the work programme provider. They had been ringing me and conducting a phone 'interview' (just checking in really as my circumstances weren't changing at all. They haven't rung me now for months and months at all, so I wonder if they have reported this to save having to keep me on their books? It does seem strange though as the JCP advisor couldn't find a reason.

I might write to them as you suggest, but I'm currently appealing my IIB decision and awaiting the result of my PIP application, so feel like I have enough happening as it is.

Thank you so much for your help though, I really appreciate it.

Steph

Hi S,

We are aware that The DWP are using PIP Medical Reports as evidence in making ESA decisions and vice-versa.

So your recent PIP Assessment "may" be relevant.

As you are legally entitled to a "Wriiten" ESA Decision Notice letter, as with any "Benefit" decisions, I would simply write and request that they send you a Decision Notice Letter confirming which group of ESA that you are currently in.

As you have had your PIP Assessment, you should be able to gain an update regarding that by ringing the PIP Helpline :

PIP helpline :

Telephone: 0345 850 3322

Textphone: 0345 601 6677

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

The DWP PIP Decision Maker (Case Manager) may well have made a decision !

Good luck with the IIDB Appeal, please keep us updated.

bro58