ESA - what help can you realistically get in WRAG?

NorthernLights_2

Thanks to everyone here whos posted about ESA, I now know what questions and things to expect when I get assessed in the next few weeks. I'm not VERY VERY ill, as in can't bend, wash or do up my shirt, just too ill to work right now but that should improve with treatment and i think I'm going to get put in the work related action group, so can anyone in it tell me what they get (for better or worse) please?

I was doing freelance work before I got sick but with the economy in this state i'd rather be in more secure employment (wouldn't we all say several million other people) but is there any genuine retraining or education offered?
I have trade specific qualifications (would rather not go into detail here, never know when some possible future client might be reading this or something) and they don't translate across a wide range of employed roles.

I'll be honest and admit I want to make the most of any free training or whatever I can get as a result of being on benefits, I struggled badly (no food on occasion) for the past two years freelancing and being ill and in pain until ooh let me see three weeks ago, when I started to get the quite amazing sum of £65/week paid direct (okay single guy no dependents, but i'd been living on a tenner a week) and I want to be a bit greedy and get whatever I can to help me get back to a more stable workplace.

I'm asking this because obviously a lot of threads are from people who shouldn't be in the WRAG and don't talk a lot about any upside, but it will probably suit me, so any help or advice please would be wonderful.:T

Gemstar30

NorthernLights wrote: »

Thanks to everyone here whos posted about ESA, I now know what questions and things to expect when I get assessed in the next few weeks. I'm not VERY VERY ill, as in can't bend, wash or do up my shirt, just too ill to work right now but that should improve with treatment and i think I'm going to get put in the work related action group, so can anyone in it tell me what they get (for better or worse) please?

I was doing freelance work before I got sick but with the economy in this state i'd rather be in more secure employment (wouldn't we all say several million other people) but is there any genuine retraining or education offered?
I have trade specific qualifications (would rather not go into detail here, never know when some possible future client might be reading this or something) and they don't translate across a wide range of employed roles.

I'll be honest and admit I want to make the most of any free training or whatever I can get as a result of being on benefits, I struggled badly (no food on occasion) for the past two years freelancing and being ill and in pain until ooh let me see three weeks ago, when I started to get the quite amazing sum of £65/week paid direct (okay single guy no dependents, but i'd been living on a tenner a week) and I want to be a bit greedy and get whatever I can to help me get back to a more stable workplace.

I'm asking this because obviously a lot of threads are from people who shouldn't be in the WRAG and don't talk a lot about any upside, but it will probably suit me, so any help or advice please would be wonderful.:T

Hello,
Now is the time to be realistic about the future. Not what you would like to happen, but what is more likely to happen.

For a start, the 'medical' will in more cases than not leave you being told that there is little wrong with you and that you are capable of doing some type of work.

This will give you two options - appeal or accept the decision.
From the sound of it, you would seem to be a better candidate for JSA than ESA. At least that way, you will have the help available to find what you are looking for.

If however you want to appeal, then yes you will continue to get the assessment rate until that appeal is heard. In the meantime, and to be totally honest, there is really very little in the form of help to get back into the workplace. Of course you will have meetings to go to, but as regards good practical advice and help with the funding of training - very unlikely.

If you do get into the work group, not much will change either except that your money will go up to £91pw.

To be frank, you are going to be probably better off looking after yourself and taking responsibility to go forward.

Sorry but ESA is really nothing more than a 'holding camp' for those that JSA turn away as not being fully fit. The only good thing about it is that you don't have to dance to the tune of JC+ directives and possibly lose benefit if you transgress.

In my humble opinion, there are no benefits that are fit for purpose despite all of the hype over the years about helping those that need help.

God helps those that help themseves is the better way of looking at it!

Gemma

NorthernLights_2

Erm okay thanks.... I've had NO dealings with benefits since I was 21 and spent a few months on the dole (years ago!) so maybe I am a bit naive, in this "new era" etc BS!

Why do you think I'd be better off on JSA - I am in so much pain and need an (not to go into details, though it's not anything funny! ) operation, there is NO way I can work now, or for at least the next 10 weeks, maybe more?

Gemma have you been through this? I hate to ask but obviously, reading these forums a LOT of people get pushed into WRAG that aren't suitable, and then have a (very reasonable) bad opinion of it.

My GP rushed me to an emergency referral when she first saw me, I'm not a borderline case, but I DO want to get back to work asap. BUT I am going to be sick, and limited in some ways, for at least the next eight months, although there is probably some work I can do in that period.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit odd but is it really as bad as all that - JSA or long-term sick, and nothing in between?

What HAPPENS to people on WRAG?

How did your assessment go (if you don't mind outlining what was wrong with it)?

I've already experienced forms being filled in incorrectly over the phone and so on, I'm not starry eyed about this.

mum-of-3

Northern Lights you say that you should be over the illness in 10 weeks, going by your posts I wouldnt be suprised if you were found fit for work. You said you can sit, bend, get changed etc- al of these things I am unable to do and I am in the work related group and have been for over 12mths and I am just learning to adapt and getting used to being disabled. I had a sick note signing me off for 12mths.

As said above you may find the JSA a little easier.

The disability advisor's and centres are all incredibly busy. I enquired about funding for training and courses and most of the funding has recently been cut so there was nothing available to me. The normal learndirect courses are available but if you want anything specialised you will need to pay. The courses they offered me are things I have done through my normal work place many years ago.

What ages are you have you thought about princes trust? If you are under 30

The JSA advisor's may have funding for courses and training but it is area dependant so worth making an appointment to find out!

MrsManda

I think what is available really depends on what is wrong with you.
I've been put in WRAG because at the moment I am too ill to work but not so ill that it's unlikely I'll ever be able to work.

I had my first appointment with an advisor a few weeks after being put into WRAG. Because I'm not really safe leaving the house alone I called the jobcentre when I got my letter and they changed my appointment to a telephone call. The appointment was a chat about what it is which is stopping me from working and whether there is anything which they can do to help me overcome those hurdles and get back to some sort of work.

As I am unsafe going out alone and have confusion issues I didn't feel there was anything the JCP could do to support me getting back to work, at least until I get a diagnosis and treatment. The advisor agreed and said he'd make a note on my file to leave contacting me again until after my next doctors appointment when hopefully I'll have more of a clue what can be done.

However if it had been the case that I was unable to do what I am qualified/have experience doing but if I retrained I would be able to do something else the advisor would help me gain those new skills.

For example a builder permanently damaging his arm so he cannot no longer lift heavy loads may be unable to continue in his current line of work and thus claims ESA, could do some courses so he can become an admin assistant.

I don't think you're likely to get new training immediately as there's likely to be a waiting list but if your condition means you cannot work in your current role but can work at something then retraining is an option. It really is soemthing to talk to your advisor about in your first appointment after you've been assessed.

Is there something specific you want to retrain for? Is it something you can do whilst you're ill?

NorthernLights_2

Thank you both!

MrsManda wrote: »

I think what is available really depends on what is wrong with you.
I've been put in WRAG because at the moment I am too ill to work but not so ill that it's unlikely I'll ever be able to work.

That sums up my situation too, I'm not sure what I'd like to retrain in exactly but it's something that if I can get it now then it's an opportunity to make the best of a bad situation. I''m looking at 3 - 6 months of being really sick but improving at some poiint, hopefully and not to tempt fate.
I used to notice (without goiung into a Daily mail tizy) that so many things like training I wanted before were at reduced rates for benefit claimants so if I get that opportunity I plan to take it for all its worth, I completely cleaned out my meagre savings trying to do anything but claim help so i figure I'm entitled, or at least as much as anyone else. I'm 36 so not eligible for most "ounger persons" help, only upside is I'm above the proposed cutoff on housing benefits too, which btw I think is brutal and wrong....

Thanks - I''ll look into it a bit more, see what happens, and any other replies welcome. And it might sound odd but best of luck getting better/getting what you should it sounds like the pressure to get people off ESA is ridiculous

Marcus-H_2

Im in the wrag group, I'm not Ill, but I have a disability with my leg.
There seems to be quite a few things going on so waiting for the specialist to make a decision and tell me exactly whats wrong. I enquired about training because I think I can manage 1 or 2 days a week because I have the rest of the week to recover. Basically my joints flare up when I use my legs (even if I stay seated for a long period of time), so I spend all my days just managing my condition.
I was told that I would be able to do 1 day a week courses because they are not full time. I aimed for a bookkeeping course - but couldn't get funding - but that's a separate issue. There quite a lot of access courses you could look at, most colleges do a reduce fee for people on benefits. My local college had some courses as cheap as £10.