Alternative to ESA for Severly Disabled?

skare44

Hey Guys, i'm writing this on behalf of my friend, i'll stick to the facts as not to waffle on - 21 years ago he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that resulted in the total loss of his left leg through the hip, so no chance of wearing a prosthesis, he was getting around on crutches for the first 15 years, but recently he's been confined to a wheelchair as the arthritis in his shoulders & right knee make it impossible to get around on crutches anymore, he can propel himself in a wheelchair but not for any great distance.. He is getting DLA & severe disablement allowance, he was also getting IB, but that has all changed to ESA. The last month or so, he's been getting letters/appointments to go to a back to work interview in order to qualify for ESA. The guy can hardly get himself out of bed in the morning, how is he going to get a job?

Is there anyway around this? Or does he now have to start looking for a job to qualify for the ESA, Is there another benefit for ppl in this situation where they genuinely can't work? any advice would be great ... Thanks ... G!

Dunroamin

The back to work interviews are about preparing for looking for a job (writing a CV/letters etc) rather than actually looking for a job.

skare44

So whats the solution? is there a solution, does he have to go to this interview regardless of his inability to work?

mummyofonechild

if he wants to appeal the decision to place him in the work group and feels he should be in the support group he needs to contact DWP within 4 weeks of receiving their letter and ask for a GL24 form.

Thomas_Hardy

If he is in the Work Related Activity Group, he will need to attend the meetings. There is no compulsion on him to apply for work, but rather to see if there is anything he can do with assistance. Perhaps office work would be suitable with transport and a suitable work station?

KxMx

Yes there is no compulsion to look for work, but the advisor's can put claimants onto the mandatory work programme which lasts 2 years, in which time he will have to do all that is asked to keep the benefit. My Cousin who was put onto the WP has to attend frequently another place that deals with benefit claimants and is being pushed into volunteer work quite strongly.

He could appeal to be put into the support group, but you need compelling grounds not to have done so within the time limit of putting him in the WRGA (a month I think) and there is a small risk of loosing ESA all together.

skare44

Thanks for all the info guys, big help .. Great stuff

epitome

No worries on the appeal being more than 1 month late, just explain in the appeal or in a covering letter why it is late, late WRAG appeals are generally accepted. As long as they are not later than 13 months. Just say you had no idea there was another group called Support and what the criteria were, now you have been told to appeal by xyz.

When on appeal he will still need to comply with jobcentre appointments but he should tell them he is on appeal and that getting to the JC would be very difficult, the JC advisor has the discretion to do the interview by phone and can decide on a very long interim period before the next interview.

You should also read this, and if you think it applies, use it in his appeal.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2013/jan-2013/dwp014-13.shtml

janiebquick

skare44 wrote: »

Hey Guys, i'm writing this on behalf of my friend, i'll stick to the facts as not to waffle on - 21 years ago he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that resulted in the total loss of his left leg through the hip, so no chance of wearing a prosthesis, he was getting around on crutches for the first 15 years, but recently he's been confined to a wheelchair as the arthritis in his shoulders & right knee make it impossible to get around on crutches anymore, he can propel himself in a wheelchair but not for any great distance.. He is getting DLA & severe disablement allowance, he was also getting IB, but that has all changed to ESA. The last month or so, he's been getting letters/appointments to go to a back to work interview in order to qualify for ESA. The guy can hardly get himself out of bed in the morning, how is he going to get a job?

Is there anyway around this? Or does he now have to start looking for a job to qualify for the ESA, Is there another benefit for ppl in this situation where they genuinely can't work? any advice would be great ... Thanks ... G!

Whoever told him he can't have a prosthesis is just plain wrong.........