ESA Group Questions

jimvon

1) If you are placed the Support group and stay in this group is this
going to be means tested after 12 months?

2) If you are placed in the Work related group and stay in this group is
this going to be means tested after 12 months?

MrsManda

1) No.

2) Yes.

Providing the Welfare Reform Bill is passed in its current form.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-changes-q-and-a.pdf

amus

If you are placed in the support group there is no time limit irrespective of whether you are claiming Contributions based ESA or Income Related ESA.

If you are placed in the WRAG and are claiming Contributions based ESA there is a 12 month time limit applied, if you are claiming Income Related ESA there is no time limit.

However at the end of the 12 month ESA (C) WRAG period you can put in a claim for Income Related ESA if you qualify.

You would be entitled to Income Related benefit if for example you had a partner who was not working, or who was working a limited number of hours and on a low income (this is just an example there are many criteria which may enable you to claim Income Related benefits, the biggie is usually income or savings though).

Cpt.Scarlet

If you have been in the WRAG for more than a total of 365 days then you will lose your entitlement to ESA(CB), this is irrelevant of whether you are currently in the WRAG or the Support Group.

If you are in the Support Group and have been in the WRAG for less than 366 days you will continue to receive ESA(CB) indefinitely, however, if you are returned to the WRAG the count will continue (n.b. it does not restart).

If you lose your entitlement to ESA(CB) you may be entitled to ESA(IR) subject to the associated means test.