Contribution Based ESA Changes (Work Related Group) Letter

shackalak

I've been off sick due to Anxiety since November last year (long story but basically been the victim of a serial conman who has absolutely ruined my life, possibly my career of 25 years and completely devistated my family. As a result we are currently in the middle of a big complicated police fraud investigation). My employers are keeping my job open and I have regular contact with my Human Resources Department keeping them posted of the situation.

I have been in the assessment phase of ESA since May and went for my Work Capability Assessment on 11th October. I didn't cope very well at the assessment and had a full blown panic attack in the middle of it. I haven't yet had any confirmation of my medical results but today I received one of the standard letters confirming the proposed changes to contribution based ESA for people in the Work Related Group from April 2012.

Does this mean I passed the medical and have been placed in the Work Related Group? I will ring them on Monday to see if they have had any results yet but the lines are closed today. I just wondered if anyone else was in a similar situation and if the letters have gone out to other people in the assessment phase as well.

Thanks for your help.

amus

If you have recieved that letter it is likely you have been placed in the WRAG as they are being sent out to all WRAG customers.

shackalak

Well, I've rung the ESA people this morning and it looks like I did get through the medical and have been placed in the Work Related Group. I haven't had any actual confirmation of this yet but she said the decision was only made on Friday so a letter will be on its way in the post. It seems I am also due to some back pay because I should have come off the assessment phase in August and that should be in my bank by tomorrow!

I've worked for the last 25 years since leaving school and this is the first time i've ever had to claim benefits so all this is completely new to me. My company are also keeping my job open to go back to as soon as i'm better. I did tell them this in the medical and I did say that I did want to go back to work as soon as I am able to.

I think i'm still in shock. After reading other posts on here and other forums about the Atos Medical, I didn't think i'd have any chance of getting through it (even my doctor told me he didn't know that many people who had got through with mental health conditions!). For anyone else out there who is due to go for the medical and suffers from Anxiety - don't give up and don't write yourselves off. You can still get through this medical.