ESA claimants next Monday - Heads Up !

Richie-from-the-Boro

92,000 claimants will receive the bad news sometime next week. They are writing to all those receiving contribution based ESA who are in the WRAG group, that's 280 poor sods in my own little town.

see here

System

I feel bad for those affected

CouponWoman

Disgraceful isn't it.

CWxx

Richie-from-the-Boro

CouponWoman wrote: »

Disgraceful isn't it.

CWxx

More than very .. .. affects a lot more than the obvious

Natty68

I suppose the DWP are doing what they think is right by letting people know in advance, so they can put a plan of action into place i.e. save money.

Personally I think it is totally wrong and I have just had an arguement with my OH over it saying that are we all supposed to get better after 12 months because I might as well book my bed in the MH unit now.. Ok I know I will get 12 months from when I am assessed - assuming I can get this if I don't get the support group. But to know that I am limited to this time won't do my mental health any good. And I won't qualify for IESA due to the household income being over limits. So basically what am I supposed to do, go on the scrap heap or go back to work and get so bad that I know I won't be able to cope. It will set all the good my therapy has done by gods knows how long, and I am already getting panicky about it now.

If this is how I feel I can't begin to imagine how others are going to feel when they get these letters.

Although OH says that Spring 2012 is being very optimistic to get it implemented IF it is passed through parliament. It takes ages to set a law up like this so can't see it being Spring, more like the following year..hopefully..

dane-katie

I think its wrong, especially where if its implemented and you have already been on it for 12 months or more they will stop your benefits, they need to get this right otherwise many people will end up even more ill from the stress.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

There is a PDF at the bottom of the DWP site and it says this:

Q: How will you ensure that vulnerable claimants, such as Young People and claimants with mental health conditions are not placed at risk?
A: Those with the most severe health conditions or impairments and who cannot be expected to work will be in the Support Group and will not be affected by the introduction of time-limiting contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

So by this statement if you have mental health conditions you should be in the Support Group anyway

Richie-from-the-Boro

They, the DWP did not let people know in advance, the info came out via an FOI request. The 52 weeks actually starts when the ESA claim starts, and includes the 13 week assessment period.

In a nut-shell :

* New claims ~ from April 2012, a time limit of 1 year is to apply to all contributory ESA claims who are placed in the WRAG.

* Existing claims ~ people in the WRAG already receiving contributory ESA as at April 2012 will have the period of time already spent on that benefit before April 2012 taken into account in calculating the 1 year period - for example, someone claiming contributory ESA on 1st January 2012 will have received 3 months benefit by April and will be entitled [ subject to other conditions of entitlement being met ] to a further 9 months benefit.

* The 13 week assessment phase will form part of the calculation of the 1 year period.

* Those who have already received a year or more contributory ESA as at April 2012, their entitlement will cease immediately.

* Those who are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit who are reassessed and qualify for ESA (C) before April 2012 will have their benefit time limited – with the 12 months period running from the point of conversion / and / those who are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit and are reassessed and qualify for ESA (C) after April 2012 - will also receive 12 months ESA(C) from the point of conversion.

* Those in receipt of income-related ESA and all those in the Support Group [ see the ' A Flock Of Sheep ' post ] are unaffected by this change.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

I would be interested to know which mental health conditions the DWP class as "severe".

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

This ESA is a load of bolloxxxx. It should be 2 categories. Fit for Work or Unfit for work. You should also be able to claim the unfit benefit for as long as you need regardless of whether you have capital. Particularly if you have paid in NI contributions.

This stupid WRAG is a load of nonsense. Even if you are predicted to be fit for work in the future you are still unfit for work until the point of fitness arrives.

bobajob_1966

salarine wrote: »

I cannot see that!

The question was asked about and amonst other things, mental health conditions.

The answer to me is quite clear:
Those with the most severe health conditions or impairments and who cannot be expected to work will be in the Support Group (which may or may not include those with mental health problems)

You can have severe mental health issues as well as mild/moderate ones.

This is andyandflo - best to ignore!