Emplyment & Support Allowance

Debtworry_2

For a few years i have been recieving income support due to depression, i was sent to have a medical at the jobcentre, and today recieved a letter saying my benefit will change from income support to ESA, the letter states i will have to attend another medical, and have an advisor to help me back to work.

I have my Autistic and ADHD son living with me and i am a single parent, so can anyone give me more info on this benefit, i have looked on google but nothing really answers my question

Thanks

spikeripley

Are you on income support with incapacity benefit at the moment, how old are your sons if you dont mind me asking

Debtworry_2

Yes currently on income support with incapacity benefit and my son is soon to be 11

The letter also states that i will have been placed in work related activity group, so have to take part in work focused interviews, what worries me is i take my son to school and pick him up, if he has a moment at school i have to collect him

spikeripley

I'm in the same boat as you, being changed to ESA. Had my letter on Thursday. I wouldn't have thought you were given a medical at the job centre, did they do to you what they did to me call you in and go over your claim ask what medicines you were on etc. Are your sons receiving DLA, are you claiming carer's allowance because I'm sure they can't make you work if you are. Sorry for all the questions.This change over is so worrying for so many people, I myself am dreading the medical cos you read so many scare stories around and about

Debtworry_2

It is worrying, yes i claim DLA and carer's allowance, I had to fill out a medical form which was posted to me, then received the phone call to attend the medical, and asked questions about sleep, moods, medicine etc

spikeripley

one point is until they send you for the medical that gives you points they cant put you in any group, this is decided on how many points you get at the medical

spikeripley

I don't know much about the system its so complicated, but I don't understand how you can be classed as a carer for your kids and then be expected to go out to work. Who's the carer whilst your working? I would advise you contact the CAB see if they can help, but the way this governments acting they wont exist much longer the way their cutting the grants. I really hope everything works out for you. God help us all is what I think

nannytone_2

as far as i am aware, the fact that you receive carers allowance for looking after your son should mean that you wouldnt need to go onto ESA.
as a carer you are entitled to continue claiming income support.

it is possible that the reason the DWP have, for you being entitled to IS is your own illness, and not the fact that you are a carer.
when my youngest child turned 16, i was told that i had to come off IS and apply for the then incapacity benefit... get turned down through lack of contributions and then reclaim IS as a disabled person.
this was because my original claim for IS was based on the fact that i was a lone parent NOT the fact i was disabled.

so in your case, the IS claim shouldnt be based on the fact that you are ill ( meaning a migration to ESA) but because you are a carer for a disabled child.

hope that makes sense!

rogerblack

spikeripley wrote: »

one point is until they send you for the medical that gives you points they cant put you in any group, this is decided on how many points you get at the medical

On IS - if you're in reciept of carers allowance, you are entitled to IS. (if you meet the other provisions)
You should phone and tell them about this, and get them to revise the decision to migrate you.

On ESA.
The medical can be on paper only, based on the documentation they have.
As I understood it, they only did this for people in the support group, though there is nothing in law I think stopping them doing it for people in the work-related group.

The original poster has 4 weeks to request a reconsideration of the decision to give him ESA, from the date of the letter telling him he's been placed in the WRAG.

First, call them up, ask for a statement of reasons on the decision, and get any further evidence about medical conditions from professionals or other people who know you.

However.
If the entitlement to IS is still there, then the correct way to go may be to appeal the decision to convert you, as it's wrong.

Income support is payable to people with children under 7 (now), so that is out.
I don't see any section in the conditions of entitlement for disabled children.

Debtworry_2

Thanks for the replies everyone,

They know I am recieving carer's allowance as on the back of the letter it says :

Your Living Expenses - £67.50
Extra Money Because You Are A Carer - £31.
Extra Money Because You Are In The Work Related Activity Group - £26.75
Which Gives A Total Income-Related Amount - £125.25
Carer's Allowance For You - £55.55
Your Total Income - £55.55
Your Income-Related Amount Is £125.25 Less Total Income of £55.55
So Your Income-Related Entitlement Is £71.80

So it clearly states I am a carer and receive carer's allowance

nannytone_2

they may well know you get carers, but when you originally applied for income support, were you receiving it? or did you apply because you were ill?

DWP knew i was receiving DLA, but when i initially claimed it was because i was a lone parent, not because of my disability. so my reason for entitlement was as a lone parent. once i didnt meet that criteria any more, they stopped the claim and re started it as a disabled claim.