ESA for the blind/dead - a MUCH more generous interpretation?

rogerblack

Previously, ESA was not claimable by many blind people.
This seems to have been somewhat overturned.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/m3-12update.pdf - is recent guidance that popped up in my email today.

If I'm understanding this correctly, it means that anyone who is blind enough to not be able to read 16 point type, and does not read braille, will be granted the support group.

"This means a person with normal hearing ability who understands the spoken word
without difficulty but has visual impairment to the extent they cannot read 16 point
print nor read Braille would meet Support Group criteria in this activity."

As will someone with profound deafness, who can't read lips.

emsywoo123

I'm so sorry to giggle, but please check the title of your thread

rogerblack

emsywoo123 wrote: »

I'm so sorry to giggle, but please check the title of your thread

Argh.
Regrettably, the dead still have to pass the WCA to get ESA.
Sorry for misleading any zombies out there.

sunnyone

Thats interesting, Totals cant lip read as they have no comprehension of speech as they cant talk and up till now that wasnt enough to get into the support group.

Muttleythefrog

Damn... thought I'd finally found a thread relevant to my circumstances..lol

paddedjohn

Well there are quite a few dead heads claiming round this way.

Ninko

rogerblack wrote: »

Previously, ESA was not claimable by many blind people.
This seems to have been somewhat overturned.
- is recent guidance that popped up in my email today.

If I'm understanding this correctly, it means that anyone who is blind enough to not be able to read 16 point type, and does not read braille, will be granted the support group.

"This means a person with normal hearing ability who understands the spoken word
without difficulty but has visual impairment to the extent they cannot read 16 point
print nor read Braille would meet Support Group criteria in this activity."

As will someone with profound deafness, who can't read lips.

Has this been confimed?

As I am registered blind (have been since I was a child), I'm terrified they will put me in the Work Group.


Ninko

kingfisherblue

I'm beginning to read more about ESA, as my son will have to claim it in the future. He has complex needs and will be unable to work.

He currently needs glasses, but still struggles with smaller print. He also needs a hearing aid in his left ear, and is awaiting the fitting of an aid in his right ear. Even if he could read and hear, though, he still has learning difficulties and a long list of health problems and physical disabilities.

I don't really want him to be dead to qualify

Ninko

Ninko wrote: »

Has this been confimed?

As I am registered blind (have been since I was a child), I'm terrified they will put me in the Work Group.


Ninko

Does anyone know?

Everywhere I've read online, it says being only blind, regardless of how bad won't get you in the Support Group.

Please help if you know, this whole thing is really worrying me.


Ninko

nannytone_2

being registered blind will NOT get you into the support group. in fact, if you cope too well with your sight loss, wou will fail the medical and be expected to claim JSA.

to get in the support group, you would need to have other disabilities/ ilness'

rogerblack

The document remains on the DWP website, and is still in the decision-makers-guide, with a note that it should be added to existing training materials, and that it will be incorporated in the next revision.

As I understand it, this is a matter that requires no change in the law - it can be done with simply a change in DWP policy.

You could either try to get escalated up to a decision-maker from calling the helpline, or make a specific query in writing.

Decisionmakers are supposed to follow the DMG - them not doing so may be grounds for an appeal.