ESA help!

Smitten18

Hello everyone!

I really need help! I was moved last year from the ESA support group to the work group. I have sent a man Mandatory reconsider & then requested a tribunal to go back to the support groups as I am not well enough. I received a letter saying the ESA will run out this year due to being in the work group.

Firstly if I go back into the support group will the benefit still only lasts a year or will it continue as long as I need it?

If they say that I still have to be in the work group benefit is going to end what will I be entitled to after as I have bills to pay! My partner works full time but we will still need financial help to pay our mortgage etc I basically feel I am being punished for being mentally ill!

If anyone could help me I’d be so grateful as this is really stressing me out & not helping my health!

Ames

If the tribunal put you back in the support group then you'll start getting the money again, with any back pay.

If the tribunal keep you in the WRAG then you won't be entitled to any money. I think (but could be wrong) you'd still have an open claim so would keep getting your NI credits towards your pension.

Do you claim PIP? That's not means tested so won't be affected by a working partner. It's for any care or mobility needs you have.

poppy12345

Smitten18 wrote: »

Hello everyone!

I really need help! I was moved last year from the ESA support group to the work group. I have sent a man Mandatory reconsider & then requested a tribunal to go back to the support groups as I am not well enough. I received a letter saying the ESA will run out this year due to being in the work group.

Firstly if I go back into the support group will the benefit still only lasts a year or will it continue as long as I need it?

If they say that I still have to be in the work group benefit is going to end what will I be entitled to after as I have bills to pay! My partner works full time but we will still need financial help to pay our mortgage etc I basically feel I am being punished for being mentally ill!

If anyone could help me I’d be so grateful as this is really stressing me out & not helping my health!

Ames, is right. Unless you're put back into the Support Group you will not be entitled to any money because you have a partner that works.

poppy12345

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Personal-Independence-Payment/What-is-PIP

poppy12345

Do you know the reasons why you were in the Support Group previously? It would help to know this for the Tribunal. Here is the descriptors for the Support Group, you have to satisfy at least one of them, or reg 35.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1353-support-group-descriptors

and reg 35 here.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/2955-regulation-35-2-b-is-now-the-main-route-into-esa-support-group