Should I appeal ESA WRAG?

Hi

After many years of IB I have been transfered to ESA. I didn't need a medical and was placed in the WRAG. Before I received the letter confirming this, I got a phone call explaining the decision. The man told me that is was good news and that I would probably have just one phone call WFI instead of going in to the Jobcentre. This is because I have chronic pain due to a spinal injury, and the fact that I have irregular and unpredictable bouts of being sick, partly due to medication and partly due to nerve damage.

However, I was called into the Jobcentre (yesterday) instead of the phone call interview. The adviser was actuall very good and soon recognised the significant barrier to me finding work because of the unpredictable nature of my condition. Often I get very little notice of the onset of sickness, which can incapacitate me for one or two days, so an employer would need to be extreamly adaptable with regard to my work pattern.
Interestingly, she did suggest that I might want to appeal the decision placing me in the WRAG, when the Support Group might be more appropriate given the limited scope for help she would be able to offer. I asked her directly if she thought I was in the wrong Group, but unsuprisingly she didn't want to commit herself, but very deliberatly pushed a leaflet explaining the appeals process towards me, I guess that was her way of giving me a big hint.

So, my questions are these:

As I have come this far with little stress, am I opening up a whole can of worms by appealing?

Apart from not being required to attend WFIs, are there any significant benefits to being in the Support Group?

Will I need to have a medical by Atos? (not a happy thought)

Could I actually end up worse off if the appeal doesn't go my way?

I should also add that I currently receive DLA high rate mobility and low rate care componant (both indefinate awards) which will need to change to PIP sometime in the future. Will being in the Support Group rather than WRAG have any bearing on this?

Hope that's not too many questions, but it's all a bit confusing and a little scary thinking about rocking the boat when I think things are going (sort of) smoothly.

Many thanks

Woody

woody wrote: Hi

After many years of IB I have been transfered to ESA. I didn't need a medical and was placed in the WRAG. Before I received the letter confirming this, I got a phone call explaining the decision. The man told me that is was good news and that I would probably have just one phone call WFI instead of going in to the Jobcentre. This is because I have chronic pain due to a spinal injury, and the fact that I have irregular and unpredictable bouts of being sick, partly due to medication and partly due to nerve damage.

However, I was called into the Jobcentre (yesterday) instead of the phone call interview. The adviser was actuall very good and soon recognised the significant barrier to me finding work because of the unpredictable nature of my condition. Often I get very little notice of the onset of sickness, which can incapacitate me for one or two days, so an employer would need to be extreamly adaptable with regard to my work pattern.
Interestingly, she did suggest that I might want to appeal the decision placing me in the WRAG, when the Support Group might be more appropriate given the limited scope for help she would be able to offer. I asked her directly if she thought I was in the wrong Group, but unsuprisingly she didn't want to commit herself, but very deliberatly pushed a leaflet explaining the appeals process towards me, I guess that was her way of giving me a big hint.

So, my questions are these:

As I have come this far with little stress, am I opening up a whole can of worms by appealing?

Apart from not being required to attend WFIs, are there any significant benefits to being in the Support Group?

Will I need to have a medical by Atos? (not a happy thought)

Could I actually end up worse off if the appeal doesn't go my way?

I should also add that I currently receive DLA high rate mobility and low rate care componant (both indefinate awards) which will need to change to PIP sometime in the future. Will being in the Support Group rather than WRAG have any bearing on this?

Hope that's not too many questions, but it's all a bit confusing and a little scary thinking about rocking the boat when I think things are going (sort of) smoothly.

Many thanks

Woody

Hi w,

Before we go any further, are you aware that as you have been placed into The WRAG, that if you are paid Contribution Based (CB) ESA only in The WRAG, that you will only be paid this for 365 days, then payment would cease.

If you were not entitled to IR ESA on being financially assessed, then the only way that payment of CB ESA would be reinstated would be if you could gain access to The SG.

So, this is the most blatant advantage of being in The SG, there is no 365 days limit to payment of CB ESA in The SG, as there is with being in The WRAG.

As you were previously in receipt of IB, then you would be paid CB ESA.

12 Month Limit for ESA(CB)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

What will I be transferred to?

What will I be paid?

Many people have been placed into The WRAG in receipt of CB ESA only, have not appealed the decision as their money has remained the same and they have not really been bothered by WFI's or WRA requirements.

Only to the find that payment of their CB ESA ceases after a year and they are not entitled to IR ESA.

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

bro58