ESA Appeal Advice

Hi,

I'm appealing on behalf of my wife (this is her forum name by the way!!) against a decision to put her in the WRAG group when we both think she should be in the Support Group. She's had her back condition for 7 years and lost her job because of it. She's in constant pain in her lower back and down her right leg. She has very low moods a lot of the time, not helped by the cocktail of tablets she takes every day just to function.

In making the appeal I've so far found the appeal guides here very useful but have a question about qualifying for the support group. Do you have to meet at least one of the top scoring descriptors or can you qualify if your total points from a number of the lower scoring descriptors exceeds a certain amount?

Also, I've been over the evidence pack that the DWP sent to us and the Tribunal Service and have noted a number of discrepancies (the medical assessment notes contradict themselves several times). I want to highlight this and send it in as supporting evidence along with a medical assessment she had recently which shows she's suffering with Post Traumatic Stress. Who would I send the supporting evidence to - the DWP or the Tribunal Service?

Any help would be gratefully received

Hi Mr Jilly,

Unlike WRAG, being allocated to the Support Group is not points based but depends entirely on meeting the specific descriptors

Qualifying for the Support Group

As you have heard from the Tribunal Service, you should send any further correspondence directly to them and they will pass it on to DWP. Don't forget that you should spend the majority of your time and effort clearly showing which Support Group descriptors Jillybaby meets, and why, rather than discrediting the ESA85.