ESA-work related activity group?

DizzyDave

Hi everyone, I have only just found this forum and find some of the comments very useful. I attended my medical less than 12 Months ago and was placed in the support group.yesterday I received the medical form through the post. I rang the ESA and they said I will have to fill it in again and if I don't it will affect my benefits. I was under the impression like others on this site that if you "passed" the medical and were placed in the support group they would leave you alone for a few years but this is obviously not the case.

rogerblack

In very few cases will you not be required to - at least - fill in an ESA50 each year, and perhaps go to a medical.

smileytiger

My OH has never had one of these work focused interview things - he's in WRAG on ESA - should we be asking why not? We've mentioned this at his medical assessments that no one from DWP has ever contacted him about getting him back into work - but still nothing - he has been on ESA for over 18 months now??
He would love to work absolutely hates being stuck at home all day long - but i think that due to his condition being random & striking without warning & lasting varying lengths of time - there's not much chance he could ever hold down a job again.
I've even taken him for job interviews he's applied for - just to get him out the house

Limana68

Smiley tiger
My hubby has been in the same boat as you - hes been in the wrag group for 2 and a half years with no contact whatsoever, even after calls from us!
I have just sent a letter of complaint............after advice from CAB.

rogerblack

From the end of this month - lone parents with care of children under one, and some couples with a child under one in the house aren't required to take part in WFI.
Most others (on income related ESA WRAG) can be.

You're less likely to be called for WFI (though IIRC you should still be called at least once every three years) if you've got a long 'prognosis' date - this is the time at which you are supposed to be reassessed.

smileytiger

Thanks Roger - OH's condition has no propspect of improving so maybe that's why they've not bothered. I keep panicking thinking they'll turn round and say he hasn't done everything he should have. Never had to have dealings with DWP before and it's a tad confusing!

suecjames

jess8905 wrote: »

Hi, didn't want to start another ESA thread, so apologies for highjacking this one.

I was wondering, has anyone ever bi passed the medical and been awarded the benefit, just by filling in the form at the first stage?

I've just got a date through for my medical and am very anxious (sp?)

I didn't have a medical was put into WRAG. I want to be in the support group so will have to appeal.

rogerblack

You don't even need to fill in the form, if they happen to hold enough information on you, and they decide to award you it without sending you the form.
This is unlikely for most of course.

bostones

I have been told that I will be placed into the wrag group after sending my esa50 form back. I have been disabled for over 20 years following an industrial accident and have been for many medicals for the DWP yet on this occasion I have not been requested to go for any medicals I have always passed medicals in the past, I have also discovered that no one has requested any medical records from my GP how can anyone make an informed decision regarding my disability solely based on information in the ESA50? I am about to make an appeal, should I mention the fact about my medical records or hold back until I go to the appeal.

Kind regards

geriann

bostones wrote: »

I will be placed into the wrag group after sending my esa50 form back.
no one has requested any medical records from my GP.

same here. no one contacted my GP and didn't have a medcal. just got a letter to say i'm in the WRAG group.
i've been unfit for work for over 5 & a 1/2 years...suddenly that counts for nothing.

i'll be appealling...but if i ended up having to go to the WRAG monthly interviews i wonder what state i'd be in.
if i take my normal daily medication i'll still have panic attacks, fits of crying, possibly hallucinating aswell.
if i take extra anxiety medication...which i know i'd have to...i'd have to take so much to stop me being ill that i'd be "out of it" cause of the sedation!
surely that's a health & safety risk?!?