Confused about ESA WRAG and Support Group

lukieboy96

I was wondering why people in the Support Group are allowed to do 'permitted work' I thought the group was for for people who can't work now or in the future?

rogerblack

You are wrong.
Don't feel bad, IDS thinks this too.

The cartoon descriptions are:
'The support group is for the most severely ill who are not expected to work in the future'
'The work group is for the less severely ill, who are likely to be able to with support find work in the near future'.

The unfortunate part is that the policy is formed on the basis that the one sentence descriptions are accurate.


On this basis - it's not quite unreasonable to time-limit the benefit to a year if it's contributory.

But there are many who will be in this group for life due to their condition (absenting legislative change), and whos likelyhood of employment is tiny, even if they are 'encouraged' by stopping their benefits. (only if they have no other income, and are not part of a couple), or reducing the ongoing money which helps with day-day living costs when you may be unlikely to be able to ever work again.

The group names and short descriptions are basically meaningless.
What is important is the legal tests to get into each group.

They may have had the intent of making the descriptions accurate when they started out on the legislative process - but it's very much not this way anymore.

For example - if you have an injury and can't put your hands into either shirt pocket, you are entitled to the support group.

But if you have multiple complex disabilities that will essentially prevent you ever working, if you don't quite meet the criteria for the support group, you can end up at best in the work-related group.

Someone can be found fully fit, for example if they use a wheelchair, and can't walk, can slowly wheel themselves over 200m. Only work for 90 minutes at a time before becoming utterly exhausted. Have difficulty conveying or understanding more than simple messages from strangers. Once every couple of months has a sudden accident where they lose control of their bowels. Can barely operate a washing machine. Several hours a day can't cope with trying to talk to new people.

Nowhere does ability to work come into it - or the chance you might ever realistically be employed.
It is quite legal for employers to refuse to employ you if you can't do the job - with help.

pmlindyloo

Interesting thread on this here:

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/7689/