Sanctions While Claiming ESA Support Group

bigshorty40

Hi All
Hoping someone can clear up a query I have with regards to benefit sanctions while claiming ESA and being in the support group.
I currently claim ESA for my partner and I, and I was put in the support group. We have just received letters today saying that my partner has to attend a work focused interview in eight days time. She is currently appealing a declined PIP decision which is in the mandatory reconsideration stage. The letters received today concerning the work focused interview state that if my partner does not attend without good reason then sanctions could be applied to our ESA claim. I've done a bit of research and I see on the Citizens Advice website that ESA claimants in the support group cannot have sanctions applied to them. Can someone please clarify for me that this statement is still true? Would this mean if my partner could not attend her interview because of her health conditions, then we not be subject to benefit sanctions?
Thanks for reading this and any comments on this would be greatly appreciated.

45002

Are you sure your in SG ?

One of your previous threads you say ESA was stopped !

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.php?searchid=194419374


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bigshorty40

Definitely in support group, I had a benefits letter a couple days ago and it showed I was getting the support group element.

bigbill

You cannot be sanctiond but your also claiming Income Based ESA with your partner so she is required to attend a work focused interview taking part but not required to do anything other than that.

Call and ask them to use discretion and defer it as she feels it would not be of any benefit for her to attend.

45002

Have you had your CAB appointment yet ?

Which seems the best way forward for Both of you.

bigshorty40 wrote: »

Excellent and informative news, thank you so much.

I think we'll wait for our CAB appointment to see which routes are available to us and which one we will take, we can cope for a short while, but the way I'm seeing it is that I would probably re-apply for ESA based on a new condition as I'm pretty sure I am likely to score more, and my partner would claim the Carers Allowance and do the Income Support claim should we not be able to follow the ESA route. Either way, it's nice to know it's not all doom and gloom yet.

Thank you all so much for your help, I do appreciate it.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5953970/stopped-employment-and-support-allowance-payments






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Plantation7

Work Focused Interviews only last about 15 minutes so to be on the safe side get them to attend, just in case.

bigshorty40

Yes we did have our CAB appointment. They were extremely helpful in getting me back onto ESA and in the support group. As for whether to claim Carers Allowance or the extra support group elements, it looks like the support group elements would make us slightly better off, but we're not talking a great deal, but as both of our PIP claims are now under review and as such Carers Allowance has been stopped, we will be sticking with the ESA support group elements.
I appreciate all your comments, I think I'll explain our situation to the Jobcentre before the work focused interview and see what they suggest, as I see it they aren't in a position to add sanctions, but would need to hear that directly from them before we decide what to do.