Appeal to get in support group

Hi. Good evening to all. I am appealing to get in the ESA support group, with the help of a CPN who I like and trust. I have been in WRAG for a year, and then the job centre (22 miles from where I live) suggested I appeal. I have an autistic disorder and a paranoid disorder.
I can barely get out of the house, and travelling more than a few hundred yards is mostly impossible. Severe anxiety, paranoia, voices, obsessive ideas, confusion. They only tried to send me to this job centre once, the crisis team had to calm me down, and I couldn't have gone anyway.
Am wondering if I can go to a tribunal, and what I can do or say if I do. Since the DWP clamped down on us all, my problems have got a lot worse. But do they understand what they do to people? Several people I used to know are now dead. If I didn't have my parents, I'd top myself anyway.
And I'm lucky compared to a lot of people..

lewis hc wrote: Hi. Good evening to all. I am appealing to get in the ESA support group, with the help of a CPN who I like and trust. I have been in WRAG for a year, and then the job centre (22 miles from where I live) suggested I appeal. I have an autistic disorder and a paranoid disorder.
I can barely get out of the house, and travelling more than a few hundred yards is mostly impossible. Severe anxiety, paranoia, voices, obsessive ideas, confusion. They only tried to send me to this job centre once, the crisis team had to calm me down, and I couldn't have gone anyway.
Am wondering if I can go to a tribunal, and what I can do or say if I do. Since the DWP clamped down on us all, my problems have got a lot worse. But do they understand what they do to people? Several people I used to know are now dead. If I didn't have my parents, I'd top myself anyway.
And I'm lucky compared to a lot of people..

Hi lhc,

If you are going to appeal the WRAG award, you will have to do so quite soon, as once 13 months or more have elapsed since the date of the letter that you received informing you that you were in the WRAG, you will not even be able to make a late appeal.

Once you submit an appeal using the GL24 form, you will then receive an automatic reconsideration.

You can download a GL24 from the link on page. (you only have to print off from around page 20 onwards) :

How to submit an appeal

You should keep a copy of the GL24 and any other documents that you send. :

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

See also:

How long do I have to appeal?

Is there any risk to challenging a decision?

Do I have to attend WFIs while I appeal?

What will I be paid while I appeal?

From our :

Appeals FAQ’s

There is also an ESA Appeals Guide on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

Qualifying for the Support Group

From our :

ESA FAQ’s

You may also wish to request a copy of The ESA85/ESA85A Medical Report, depending whether you had a face to face or not. There should also be an LT54.

This can be done over the phone, but if you have any trouble obtaining them, you can issue a SAR.

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?

ESA Forms

SAR :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/request-for-personal-information.rtf

From this page :

www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/

You should address any SAR, FAO The Data Controller, at the address of the Benefits Office/Centre dealing with your ESA.

Write DPA 1998 SAR on the front, top, left corner of the envelope.

See also :

Disability Rights UK Factsheet - Appeals and reconsiderations

And this video ;

MOJ Video of ESA Appeals Process and Tribunal

Please reply to this topic if you have any further queries.

bro58

Hi. Thank you very much for the reply, and the site in general. I think you are saintly people, I think anybody who helps others is so, I really do. Well, I am now in the ESA support group, and am getting my extra money backdated a year. The decision to put me in WRAG has been reversed, and I have still never had to have any interviews (except a few brief phone interviews in the past year) and no tribunals.
I called my CPN to thank her, and I see her soon. Probably the last time I will see her I expect, she is busy, of course. I have a great psychiatrist too, and see him soon too.
It's nearly ten o' clock, so I'd better post. Love and respect, Lewis.

Great news Lewis, thanks for letting us know.

Yes, good news for me, thanks. Do you think it would be appropriate for me to try to support others on here? I mean, a lot of people are very isolated, aren't they? I haven't really figured out navigation of the site yet, do I click on members forums?
I thought I'd better ask about this, I don't want to stick my nose in where it's not wanted!