Been put in WRAG. Advice on appealing please

I have significant agoraphobia (my GP's words) and social phobia. Thanks to a letter from my GP my WCA took place at my home. Transfer from IB to ESA.
The decision letter arrived today. I have been awarded contribution- based ESA and placed in WRAG.
I am unable to get to the Jobcentre. It is too far for me to go and I am unable to travel by car or bus. If I could get there then I wouldn't be able to go into the building.
My GP has already told me to call her once I get the decision so that we can decide if any action will need to be taken and that she will handle any problems that may arise. I am hoping that she will confirm any claim I make that I would not be able to attend work-focused interviews at the Jobcentre. I also intend to ask if she would give any written support that I can submit with my appeal.
Can you help me with the order in which to make my appeal. I will phone DWP in the morning and also send a written request for the evidence used in making the decision using the info downloaded from the Appeals section.
Do I have one month from the decision letter date to lodge the appeal, submit the appeal form and any additional evidence? Or do I wait for the evidence to arrive then lodge the appeal.
If I lodge the appeal later how long is given for then submitting my evidence.
I have got confused and would appreciate help.

Another question. My letter says that I may also be entitled to Income-related ESA.
I have looked for information about this on the web and all sites say that if the amount you get is less than the government thinks is needed to live on then you may qualify. Nowhere could I find what that amount is. Does anyone know how much it is?
Thank you.

You can ask for a reconsideration or go straight to appeal. A reconsideration is carried out by a different decision maker as the first step of an appeal so we tend to advise that claimants go straight to appeal.

Either way, you need to try and get this in within one month of the date on the decision letter. You don't need to be too specific at this stage, you can send further information and evidence in later. There is no set time scale for the reconsideration, it can take anything from a couple of weeks up to 6 months. However, as the idea is to get the decision overturned on reconsideration, it is best to get things sent in as soon as practicable.

Make full use of our guides and FAQS

ESA claims and appeals

How long do I have to appeal?

[ How to submit an appeal

Appeals FAQs

You do need to be aware that an appeal can result in the decision being downgraded, as well as upgraded

Is there any risk to challenging a decision?

You are still obliged to undertake WCI's while awaiting appeal. However, it might be possible for these to be carried out over the phone or, rarely, in your own home. This is entirely at the discretion of the JobCentre advisor, you should phone and speak to him/her when the first appointment letter arrives. They should take into account your limitations.

The 'amount you need to live on' varies depending on the make-up of your household and other things (such as your rate of DLA and ESA). You can have a look at the 'turn2us' website and put in different figures to try and see what figure would apply to you

turn2us

If you have any further questions, please come back and ask them on this topic thread as it helps us if everything is kept in one place. You will be able to find it in future if you bookmark it, or make it a favourite on your web-browser.

Update - I contacted CAB and they arranged for a Welfare Advisor to visit me at home. She advised that I had a good case for appeal and said that she would send it in immediately.
Following the guidelines on this website I requested all data concerning my claim which I have now received.
On the IB(IS) Reassessment Remote Store Action Sheet it says:
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit interest? YES

I do not claim help with either benefit. Could someone tell me what this means please?
Thanks.

Oll wrote: Update - I contacted CAB and they arranged for a Welfare Advisor to visit me at home. She advised that I had a good case for appeal and said that she would send it in immediately.
Following the guidelines on this website I requested all data concerning my claim which I have now received.
On the IB(IS) Reassessment Remote Store Action Sheet it says:
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit interest? YES

I do not claim help with either benefit. Could someone tell me what this means please?
Thanks.

Hi O,

I could only surmise that it is either an error, or it is intimating that even though it seems that you do not claim, and are not in receipt of HB/CTB that you may be entitled to it if you did.

I am afraid that you would have to contact the DWP, or the HB/CTB Department of your LA for a definitive answer.

bro58

Thank you.