ESA Moved from support group to WRAG

Chris_Rabbit

poppy12345 said:

Did you have a face to face assessment before the first lockdown last year?

No I didn’t.. Last face to face, would have been roughly 2017.. 

poppy12345

It just seems very odd that a decision was made without any assessment at all. I'd do as others have suggested and ring DWP tomorrow morning.

Chris_Rabbit

poppy12345 said:

It just seems very odd that a decision was made without any assessment at all. I'd do as others have suggested and ring DWP tomorrow morning.

My “Problems” prevent me from doing that. The letter has sent me into a real tailspin today.. I have just been moved into the “At Risk” for Covid-19 too.. This has sent my health anxiety into overdrive.
Today has not been a good for me.. 😏

Rubyroobs

Maybe if you cannot attend a face to face assessment they have done a paper based assessment and it has taken over a year to get the decision. This sounds like the most feasible explanation?

poppy12345

Then i'd advise you to request the MR as your next step and put it in writing, stating the reasons why you think you should be in the Support Group. Don't worry about the timescale for this either because you actually have 13 months to request this with good reason and you definitely have good reason.

Chris_Rabbit

poppy12345 said:

Then i'd advise you to request the MR as your next step and put it in writing, stating the reasons why you think you should be in the Support Group. Don't worry about the timescale for this either because you actually have 13 months to request this with good reason and you definitely have good reason.

That looks like what I’ll have to do.. Thank you. 

Robbie64

It would be also helpful for you to ask for a copy of the assessment report from the health care provider (HCP). As it is a paper based decision it will be form ESA85A (with form ESA85 being for face to face assessment reports). This will show what was recommended by the HCP as well as justification for the findings. The problem is if you can't phone then you will have to request this in writing and it could take weeks to arrive.

Although a face to face assessment has to take place before someone can be found fit for work (and these are still on hold at present) I do believe it is possible to move someone to / from Support Group from / to WRAG.

Spoonie_Turtle

Yikes.  I can understand that they wouldn't have wanted to send out another ESA50 because for a majority of people there would be nothing new to report so it would be a waste of everyone's time and energy, but it's unfortunate that your health has declined in the meantime (although if you were already in the Support Group without any improvement, the decision to move you out of it is questionable anyway, regardless of the recent deterioration).

Definitely request the form so you know what's actually going on, and I wish you the best with getting the right decision.

Robbie64

Robbie64 said:

It would be also helpful for you to ask for a copy of the assessment report from the health care provider (HCP). As it is a paper based decision it will be form ESA85A (with form ESA85 being for face to face assessment reports). This will show what was recommended by the HCP as well as justification for the findings. The problem is if you can't phone then you will have to request this in writing and it could take weeks to arrive.

Although a face to face assessment has to take place before someone can be found fit for work (and these are still on hold at present) I do believe it is possible to move someone to / from Support Group from / to WRAG.

Quoting myself here but I meant to write "I do believe it is possible to move someone to / from Support Group from / to WRAG on a paper assessment".

Alice_Holt

One aspect to stress on the MR is if participation in WRAG activities would present a substantial risk to your mental health. If anxiety prevents you using a telephone, then explain this.  If going out to get to a meeting with the job coach would cause severe stress, then explain this. if being in a training meeting...., etc,etc. 
(See - https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/2955-regulation-35-2-b-is-now-the-main-route-into-esa-support-group)

If your conditions and limitations are documented in your medical records over the last 3 years - then request a copy from your surgery under GDPR. If helpful this could be then included as medical evidence.

I would be inclined to make the MR two pronged -
Firstly on the basis that you still meet the SG descriptors,
Secondly that a flawed decision has been made solely on a ESA50 c.14 months old,