does electric wheelchair user go into support group

savingsusie

I am an electric wheelchair user and have been sent the forms for the transfer of my benefit from Incapacity to Employment Support Allowance.When ESA was first introduced I recall reading something to the effect that if you could not propel yourself in a manual wheelchair you would be considered eligible for the Support group. Does anyone know if this is still the case and what ESA ruling it comes under as I cannot find that information now, I also receive Higher Rate DLA Care and Mobility. Would really appreciate any help available.

schrodie

The relavent Support Group descriptor is "1. Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used:-

(a) Cannot either
(i) mobilise more than 50 meters on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant
discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 meters within a reasonable timescale because of significant
discomfort or exhaustion. 15 points


However if you read the ESA50 form that you're sent it says something different i.e. if you usually use one. The form doesn't tell you that you can be assessed as being able to use a hypothetical wheelchair even if you don't use one. Sneaky or what!!!

So if you can show that the above descriptor applies to you you stand a good chance of getting into the Support Group. However after watching the 2 programmes exposing the behind the scenes at Atos it seems they have targets for how may people they place into the Support Group. Something denied of course by Grayling!!

savingsusie

Thank you Schrodie much appreciated

sunnyone

Is it a NHS powerchair?

Mine is and that means I have gone through a three part assessment and which proved I needed a powerchair because the NHS dont hand their chairs out like candy, because of that and three other support group conditions which I fulfil I was transfered directly to the support group without a medical.

Anyone can buy a powerchair or other disability aid to become an ebay crip, having a proper assessment via the NHS validates the need for a powerchair because they only supply them to a very small minority of the disabled community that really needs them.

Richie-from-the-Boro

schrodie wrote: »

The relavent Support Group descriptor is "1. Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used:-

(a) Cannot either
(i) mobilise more than 50 meters on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant
discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 meters within a reasonable timescale because of significant
discomfort or exhaustion. 15 points


However if you read the ESA50 form that you're sent it says something different i.e. if you usually use one. The form doesn't tell you that you can be assessed as being able to use a hypothetical wheelchair even if you don't use one. Sneaky or what!!!

So if you can show that the above descriptor applies to you you stand a good chance of getting into the Support Group. However after watching the 2 programmes exposing the behind the scenes at Atos it seems they have targets for how may people they place into the Support Group. Something denied of course by Grayling!!

- more than 13% and they get a slap .. .. which means 87% don't get into the support group