esa-criteria for work or support group?

johnsmi

Hi all,

Just wondering what is the criteria to be placed on either the support group or work groups of ESA?

Is it points based or just the examining doctor on the day's medical opinion?

Or is it possible for someone to have scored a good number of points and be placed in the work related group, whereas someone else scores a lot less points and be placed in the support group?

Just wondering how this is decided?

thanks for any help

John

Katykat

Anyone needs at least 15 points to qualify for ESA. You are generally placed in the work focused group. Certain medical conditions automatically qualify for the support group, but these are usually filtered out at the claim stage & generally you are not sent for a medical. These medical conditions are not specifically noted and very few people are initially placed into this category. I believe the criteria is quite high & although the number of points is not determined, its generally felt that anything over 30 would usually go in the support group. It is not the ATOS personel who carries out the medical who decides which group you are placed in, or even if you fail the medical. They just follow a computer programme ticking the boxes and then the results go to a decision maker at DWP. The medical test is becoming more difficult to pass at this stage. However, it is not unknown for someone to score no points at the medical and then go on to appeal and for the tribunal to award ESA and place immediately into the support group. It has also been known for someone to be placed in the work group to appeal because they think they should be in the support group, and for the tribunal to decide they dont qualify for ESA at all. Basically, its hit and miss.