exempt from the Pathways to work

jox_2

sharski wrote: »

I never said that Jox was exempt from the WCA (Work Capability Assessment) process.... I said he was exempt from PATHWAYS.... completely different thing!

Jox... If you are receiving high rate CARE component of DLA, I am pretty much certain that you will fall into the 'support group' - please, please,please ring up the JC & tell them (don't ask them) that you want your WFI 'deferring' until your WCA outcome has been determined. They may say they can't do this but they CAN............. please don't just not show up or else it can mean a reduction in your benefit (depending on your health condition)...

Don't take 'no' for an answer - the JC do not currently have targets for when they need to see ESA customers by so they ARE able to defer it for you...

Please ring in the morning first thing.......

thanks i have done a bit of googling and found a few threads saying the same thing. i think the person i spoke to last time was just trying to fob me off or was confused beween the work capability assesment and theese wifis. someone mentions on another forum the dwp told him he was exempt too. ill get on the phone in the morning and hopefully sort this out.

nogginthenog

jox wrote: »

thanks i have done a bit of googling and found a few threads saying the same thing. i think the person i spoke to last time was just trying to fob me off or was confused beween the work capability assesment and theese wifis. someone mentions on another forum the dwp told him he was exempt too. ill get on the phone in the morning and hopefully sort this out.

The old Rules went out of existence on the 15 DEC 2008 you can be exempt on the higher rate DLA but it is no longer automatic. There is no pathways to work anymore! (new claiments)

Employment & Support Allowance


What is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is the name of a new benefit which was introduced on 27 October 2008. It replaces both incapacity benefit and income support for people who are incapable of work.
Find out more in our new guide to Understanding Employment and Support Allowance.
And don't forget that everyone is welcome to take our free ESA Self-Assessment Test.

What are the main differences between Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and current benefits?
The biggest difference is that claimants are divided into three groups: an Assessment Group; a Work Related Activity Group and a Support Group.

Who will be in the Assessment Group?
All claimants who are eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will be in the Assessment Group for the first thirteen weeks of their claim. Eligibility for this group is based on having sick notes and either having paid enough national insurance contributions or passing a means test similar to the current test for income support.

Who will be in the Work-Related Activity Group?
After the thirteen week assessment period the vast majority of claimants who pass the assessment will be placed in the Work-Related Activity Group and receive an additional amount of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which should raise their income to above the current level of incapacity benefit. Members of this group will have to attend work-focused interviews and draw up an action plan setting out the steps they are willing to take towards moving into work. Failure to do so will result in cuts in their benefits.

Although actually undertaking work related activities and participating in condition management programmes will not be compulsory initially under Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), the government has indicated that it will consider making such activities compulsory in a few years' time.

Who will be in the Support Group?
A much smaller number of the most severely disabled claimants, perhaps 10%, will be put in the Support Group. Claimants in the Support Group are paid at a higher rate than those in the Work-Related Activity Group and they will not have to do anything in return for their benefit.
Take the test
You can find out whether you think you will qualify for ESA and which group you should be in by taking our ESA Self-Assessment Test.

Is that the only major difference?
No, one other major change under Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is that the Personal Capability Assessment - the test of whether you are incapable of work - is to be renamed the Work Capability Assessment and made much harder to pass. The physical health test has been tightened up, with many fewer opportunities to score points. The mental health test has been rewritten completely and will also be very much harder to pass. There will be no exemptions from the test except for terminally ill people, some pregnant women and people receiving chemotherapy. (See Employment and Support Allowance medicals for more about this).

Will existing incapacity benefit claimants have to go on to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
The DWP have said that they intend to 'migrate' all existing claimants onto Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Claimants under 25 may be migrated in 2009, with the majority of claimants being migrated between 2010 and 2013 .