WRAG while at college

fraserh1

Im hoping some of you kind people can give me some advice about the ESA Working group.

My son is 21 years old and is autistic, he is currently at college on an adapted learning course with addition support and has been since he left school at 16. It was a planned transition supported by home, school and college. He still lives at home as he requires a great deal of support and supervision.

We applied for ESA about 7 months ago but didnt actually expect to get it, we had been given conflicting information that college would/wouldnt affect it, but he was put on the assessment phase.

Hes recently had his medical and the letter from DWP arrived today saying hes been put into the work related group. The medical itself was a waste of time, he barely spoke more than 5 single words and was obviously very uncomfortable. When we got home he regressed into many of his 'safety' routines, retreating into his own space, pacing and frequent trips to the bathroom. He was unsettled prior to the interview and the break in routine coupled with the stress of the interview obviously affected him despite attempts to prepare him.

The worrying part is we were told that if he is put into WRAG he will have to leave college as he wont be available for work and if he doesnt attend a work interview because of college he will lose his ESA anyway. (if he misses too may college sessions he will get kicked off the course). College, apart from being educational and giving him something to do most days is the only outlet he has outside of home that provides some, albeit limited, opportunities for socialisation. The other students on the course are people he has been through both primary and secondary school with and all have learning difficulties. The plan was for him to stay at college at least another year.

They have also transferred a fairly large amount of money they say is the difference between the WRAG and assessment phase into my bank account which I dont know what to do with. I dont want to begin transferring this money to my sons account just in case they claim it back. I understood that he would remain on the assessment rate while any appeal was carried out.

Can anyone give any advise if this about college is correct? I intend on Monday to request a copy of the medical report to see what that says and will be lodging an appeal.

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

princessdon

Firstly from a college point of view WRAG is best. No fees!

Many students are in this group with autism and rarely affects study.

DWP are in my experience really good with assisted living/independence courses and rarely interfere. Let JC Know he is doing key employability skills, literacy, numeracy, and work experience as part of his course. They write a letter, college replies and end of.

I hope your son enjoys his course as much as I think he will. If you get any bother from JC (don't anticipate it), feel free to PM and I will give their guidance.

rogerblack

fraserh1 wrote: »

Im hoping some of you kind people can give me some advice about the ESA Working group.

My son is 21 years old and is autistic, he is currently at college on an adapted learning course

Is he in reciept of DLA?
Otherwise, he can't be paid ESA, anyway.

fraserh1

Thank you Princessdon, thats reassuring, the only concern I have is that he does not do work experience as part of his course, college has assessed him as being unable to cope with it. They did try and even with a lot of preparation on his first day of unassisted travel to/from he didnt show up, he was eventually found at the bus station, waiting at the wrong bay soaked to the skin. It was an incredibly tense time for everyone and not one anyone wanted to repeat.

Will he have to attend the work interviews and how much notice is he likely to get? We had 4 weeks notice of his medical, with hindsight it wasnt enough time to prepare him properly. Is it worth appealing the WRAG decision?

Yes Rogerblack, he is in reciept of DLA, and has been since he was 4 after he was diagnosed.

princessdon

fraserh1 wrote: »

Thank you Princessdon, thats reassuring, the only concern I have is that he does not do work experience as part of his course, college has assessed him as being unable to cope with it. They did try and even with a lot of preparation on his first day of unassisted travel to/from he didnt show up, he was eventually found at the bus station, waiting at the wrong bay soaked to the skin. It was an incredibly tense time for everyone and not one anyone wanted to repeat.

Will he have to attend the work interviews and how much notice is he likely to get? We had 4 weeks notice of his medical, with hindsight it wasnt enough time to prepare him properly. Is it worth appealing the WRAG decision?

Yes Rogerblack, he is in reciept of DLA, and has been since he was 4 after he was diagnosed.

He is getting work experience

It's embedded into the curriculum. They make meals and "sell them", have enterprise, update CV, mock applications, skills analysis etc. it's part of the course. Going off site is irrelevant - employers, guest speakers are brought in.

Rarely dO JCP disagree provision is different to work programme, but can't guarantee you won't get a zealous advisor. Ask college for supporting statement (they'll be used to it). From a college point of view support ESA students attract no funding, so they may not want a change of group.

All students like your son are taxi'd with a 1 to 1 worker so he shouldn't have been ever left alone in that position.

fraserh1

princessdon wrote: »

All students like your son are taxi'd with a 1 to 1 worker so he shouldn't have been ever left alone in that position.

Hes never been taxi'd or had that kind of support. Despite the course being adapted and with additional support one of the conditions of acceptance at college was he had to demonstrate a certain level of independence. It took 8 months to get him used to taking the free college shuttle bus (with me lurking behind him in the car to make sure). When they cancelled the shuttle public transport was simply not an option so he had to learn to walk the route first from close to the college increasing the distance bit by bit. That took close on a year.

I dont know if it matters but the course he is doing is ICT. A subject he has always enjoyed because its one of his obsessions. Hes barely scraping by with his functional skills and there is no practical life skills included.

princessdon

fraserh1 wrote: »

Hes never been taxi'd or had that kind of support. Despite the course being adapted and with additional support one of the conditions of acceptance at college was he had to demonstrate a certain level of independence. It took 8 months to get him used to taking the free college shuttle bus (with me lurking behind him in the car to make sure). When they cancelled the shuttle public transport was simply not an option so he had to learn to walk the route first from close to the college increasing the distance bit by bit. That took close on a year.

I dont know if it matters but the course he is doing is ICT. A subject he has always enjoyed because its one of his obsessions. Hes barely scraping by with his functional skills and there is no practical life skills included

Student advisors and support office comms can go Amis, speak direct.

Nope ICT has personal devmpt module - covering all above. A huge percent of ASD do ICT, 18% of current IT Enrolment are ASD (programming skills are fab though!). If you are concerned ring college and speak to student support and ask for transport, support worker in class, and learning mentor, specialist tutor for ASD.

fraserh1

princessdon wrote: »

). If you are concerned ring college and speak to student support and ask for transport, support worker in class, and learning mentor, specialist tutor for ASD.

The only thing he doesnt get is transport. He had a choice at 16, to go to the specialist FE unit until the age of 18, or college. If he had gone to the FE unit transport would have been provided under his SEN but because he chose college the LA said his statement had to lapse and the support under it would be lost.

The only transport the college can provide was the shuttle bus, which was cancelled shortly after it was put in place despite it being very popular. I think many of the students would have happily paid for it to continue but wernt given the option, it was just cancelled without warning.

But back to the ESA. If he goes into the working group what then happens if he comes out of college? Im conscious that hes 21, (soon to be 22) and cant remain at college for the rest of his life. I was thinking he would get another year, maybe two (to July 2014/15) then we would have to sort out an alternative for him. After the next course there is no further ICT course available.

fraserh1

Im going to have to speak to the college about what is available for him in the future. I dont think I could cope with him having to change venue and all the associated preparation that goes along with it, not without significantly more help and support than we have had in the past.

Thanks again Princessdon.