Work Related Activity Group

Bevmw63

Hi,

My mother has been placed in the Work Related Activity Group on claiming ESA. However due to her illnesses and the fact she has received 30 points (9 points in mobilising unaided, 15 in Manual Dexterity and 6 in Conciousness during waking moments) and the fact it states in in her ATOS report that 'By reason of her illness, she is significantly limited in regards to activities of daily living', I feel that she should have been placed into the Support Group. I don't see how someone who cannot use their hands, struggles to walk a short distance and who suffers fits and blackouts can be. Her illnesses are also degenerative so this will continue to get worse.

I have tried to look into what factors are taken into account when placing a claimant into a group but have struggled to make sense of it.

Does anyone know how which group a 'claimant' is placed in is decided? Or can anyone advise me of a website that this information is in layman's terms?

Thanks in advance

rogerblack

Points are irrelevant if you are to be put into the support group.
Only if you get one or more descriptor in the 'support group' do you meet this.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1353-support-group-descriptors

Does she have significant difficulties, doing this safely, repeatably, as and when required most days?

cliffandsue

rogerblack I wasn't aware of the mobilising condition. Why is it then that we hear of claimants who are placed in the work group, yet receive the high rate for mobility under DLA? The same distances seem to apply.
I know of two such people who have conditions affecting their legs that qualified them for High Mobility (in fact both have a motability car), yet they were declined a move to the Support Group for the same condition?

rogerblack

You can mobilise for the purposes of ESA entirely in an (unpowered) wheelchair.

cliffandsue

Rogerblack Ah yes I had forgotten all about the 'pretend' wheelchair that is used for ESA. Still seems a bit unusual to be able to get DLA because they can't walk more then 50 metres, yet the same person would fail the Support Group as they could use a wheelchair instead of walking?