ESA....Why is it so complicated??Help please

rodeo

Hi I have some questions about ESA so I am hoping someone can answer them for me as I dont seem to be able to get my head around how this benefit works.
My partner as mental health problems, Agraphobia mostly, along with other issues, he as been on IB since 2001 and DLA for 3 years I am his carer and I receive carers allowance topped up with IS.He received the dreaded form to fill in to change his IB to ESA I filled it in for him sent it back for the 26/4/12 and he received a decision letter on 5/5/12 which is very quick it would seem by most standards this said he had been placed in the contributory based work related group without a medical. So here are my questions:

As he hasnt worked and paid NI contributions since 2000, how can he be in the contribution group? as I said above I dont work, worried about this as I know its only for 12 months.
I know he is probably very lucky that he wasnt given a medical but all his previous medicals have been done in our home due to his condition and I did say this on the form so now how is he expected to go to a local job centre for interviews and go on training courses when he doesnt go out of the house?
is there any provision for these interviews to be conducted at home?
Ive read that most people in the support group are terminally ill or very physically disabled so is it worth trying to appeal the decision?
I hope someone can answer my questions as its all very confusing.
Just to add if the DWP have some sort of magic wand that makes people better my partner would be at the front of the queue as he hates his condition and the fact that he cant work and has to claim benefits. I think its ridiculous that they think just because they say he as to, that he will venture outside,do they not think I have been trying this for years? it doesnt work like that in the real world !!!!!:mad:

[Deleted User]

they may well have based the decision on information they already had plus the esa50,if you have been on i/s as a couple then you should get transitional relief and the esa may have an income based top up
the cb based esa only last 12 months if you have a partner that works and earns around £150 or you have savings above the limit
it may be possible that wfi could be done by telephone,and i doubt he would have to take any action unless his condition improves

Richie-from-the-Boro

- if he hasn't worked for 12 years, he will have received class 1 credits for the period
- there are both Class 1 & class 3 credits

ineed

Hi, I'm no expert but from what I've read online about ESA:

yes you can appeal, Agoraphobics have been put into the support group, I've read on threads like this. You should also be able to request a home visit for an ATOS medical if one is required on appeal, they do not like doing them I've read so you'd have to request it I guess.

As someone else posted you might be able to do the interviews on the phone.

Is your boyfriend not seeing any mental health professionals or on any medication? If he had any recent (last 12 months) assessment reports or medication prescriptions provide these.

Good luck .

Horseunderwater

Agorophobia is seriously awful condition and you do have my full sympathy on that.
Ring them straight away and ask for his case to go on appeal. He should be on income related support group ESA. He should not be forced to leave his home to go seek work, but they may think that there is some work that he could do, even if he is in the home for which he could be trained to do in some way which is why it called Work related assessment group. He obviously needs full time care of 35+hours a week or you'd not get carers allowance. Google the mental health descriptors for ESA and look at the wording of them see which ones would score him 15 points and use that wording to fire back in the new form that will be sent out. Link added below. The good news is that when you win, (will take time), it will get backdated to original date of wrag decision, so you will get anything not paid - paid. Get his GP to come out and visit him and do a medical assessment of your own. They should be willing to do this as he cannot go out at all. Describe a typical day in his life and what happens if he tries to go out where others and crowds are or just outside. All this will help. Word it simply and in real plain english. Have they awarded ESA income related WRAG or contributions WRAG? Both are same amount, but your award letter should say.
http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/brates-1.html rates
http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/f31.htm - descriptors - I sincerely hope that this will help.