WRAG ESA - What happens next?

93123

How long can I expect to stay on it? I have no idea what will happen at my appointment with a personal advisor in a few days. Do they send me for interviews, make me apply for jobs.. or what?

Muttleythefrog

You'll get these work focussed interviews WFIs at jobcentre with your advisor. They could send you on work related activity such as work programme in due course. You cannot be forced to seek work or take paid work.

How long will you be on WRAG. Well ESA is regularly reassessed... at reassessment you could be found 'fit for work' or to meet WRAG criteria or Support Group criteria.

You'll stay on ESA as long as you continue to pass your reassessments.. but payment in ESA for WRAG if getting contributions based ESA are only made for a year.

If you want to know when next assessment is likely then call the DWP on number at top of DWP ESA letters and ask for the ESA85 ATOS medical report (if you had a face to face medical) or ESA85A ATOS report (if no face to face medical)... the prognosis given will probably be used to time next assessment. 'Could be considered for a return to work within x months'.

dizzy11_2

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

They could send you on work related activity such as work programme in due course.

Do you have to attend this work programme, or can you refuse?

rogerblack

If you do not participate in 'work related activity', you can be sanctioned the 'work related activity' component.
You carry on being entitled to the base rate of ESA.
Additionally, you have some right to request a reconsideration of 'work related activity'.

epitome

You will be on ESA WRAG for as long as you continue to pass the medical assessments (WCAs) which can be 3, 6, 9months, 1 year or 2 years apart.

dazza-mac

epitome wrote: »

You will be on ESA WRAG for as long as you continue to pass the medical assessments (WCAs) which can be 3, 6, 9months, 1 year or 2 years apart.

I don't understand this. I thought you are only on WRAG for one year and then you go on JSA, but if you have savings over a certain amount you get nothing. I thought this has been the worry for a lot of people as they were concerned that after a year they would get nothing (depending on savings).

But it seems that you can continue to get WRAG. I'm totally confused now!...........

nannytone_2

its only a year for contributions based ESA.
if you are eligaable for income based ESA. you can potentially stay on it until retitrement age ( as long as you continue to meet the criteria)

dazza-mac

nannytone wrote: »

its only a year for contributions based ESA.
if you are eligaable for income based ESA. you can potentially stay on it until retitrement age ( as long as you continue to meet the criteria)

So does that mean that if I'm put in the WRAG group (waiting to hear) and I get contributions based ESA (I'm currently on contributions based Incapacity Benefit) then after a year I'll get nothing due to having compensation savings?

It seems there's so many variables. I reckon it's to confuse people - well dimwits like me, so that they'll not appeal decisions etc!!

Muttleythefrog

dazza-mac wrote: »

So does that mean that if I'm put in the WRAG group (waiting to hear) and I get contributions based ESA (I'm currently on contributions based Incapacity Benefit) then after a year I'll get nothing due to having compensation savings?

It seems there's so many variables. I reckon it's to confuse people - well dimwits like me, so that they'll not appeal decisions etc!!

It's important to draw a distinction between being in WRAG and getting ESA (WRAG) payments. Contribution based ESA is limited to 12 months in the WRAG.. it's unlimited for Support Group and income related ESA is unlimited for either group.

If you use up your 12 months in WRAG then you can remain on the benefit in WRAG but you may not get payments if it is determined that you fail means testing (savings, income, partner earnings etc are looked at). If you've significant savings (£16k) then you would fail means testing as example. There are some potential benefits to remaining on ESA while in WRAG if getting no payments... for one you could deteriorate or be found eligible for the Support Group at reassessment (reassessments are regular).

epitome

dazza-mac wrote: »

I don't understand this. I thought you are only on WRAG for one year and then you go on JSA, but if you have savings over a certain amount you get nothing. I thought this has been the worry for a lot of people as they were concerned that after a year they would get nothing (depending on savings).

As post #9 points out, if you are not eligible for ESA IR and you are in WRAG on ESA C payments, those payments will stop after 365 days, you will, however still be "in the WRAG" getting NI credits and going to the jobcentre to get help to look for work.

If you satisfy the contribution conditions for tax years 09/10 & 10/11 and you claim ESA C again before Jan 2013 and you leave a gap of more than 12 weeks from your old claim payments exhaustion date....You should get another 365 days of ESA C WRAG payments

But if you don't think you will pass the contributions requirements, you should be careful to check that reapplying (and failing) will not lose you, your right to ESA C Support Group in the future....

Morlock

dazza-mac wrote: »

I don't understand this. I thought you are only on WRAG for one year and then you go on JSA, but if you have savings over a certain amount you get nothing. I thought this has been the worry for a lot of people as they were concerned that after a year they would get nothing (depending on savings).

(Usually) Most people will receive contribution-based ESA for a year, where no income or savings are taken in to account. After that year, savings, but more prevalent, a partner's earnings are accounted for as income-based ESA kicks in, and the claimant may lose all ESA payments.