ESA - work related to support group?

Steveglw

I had a call from my local job centre for a catch up call last week. The woman was lovely and she said I should be in the support group due to my health deterioration. At present I get enhanced PIP for daily activities and standard (10 points) for mobility. I was always under the assumption that both benefits were linked similar to housing benefit and ESA for example. 

I'm very wary of contacting DWP as I spent years fighting to get the PIP I was due and in the past I've had all my benefits stopped due to an "administration" error and it took me 3 months without benefits for the DWP to admit they made the mistake and not me. 

Can I ask if anyone has experience in applying for the support group part of ESA and can it be backdated to match my PIP award? The lady from JC+ said it was my responsibility to notify them of changes to my health and that PIP was administrated by a different department! They don't make it easy, do they? 

Thanks for any assistance. Steve 

Alice_Holt

Here are the ESA Support Group descriptors:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

Note the difference between PIP mobility (standing then walking), and ESA (which includes the use of a manual wheelchair). 
I'd be wary on going on the word of a JC+ employee, and have a careful look through the descriptors (and maybe a discussion with your local advice charity first).

If you do decide to notify ESA of a worsening condition, then get supporting medical (and other) evidence ready first.
If it is less than 13 months since your last assessment - think about doing a Mandatory Reconsideration request of that decision.

It won't be backdated to your PIP claim. 

More info here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/

Spoonie_Turtle

Steveglw said:

Can I ask if anyone has experience in applying for the support group part of ESA and can it be backdated to match my PIP award? The lady from JC+ said it was my responsibility to notify them of changes to my health and that PIP was administrated by a different department! They don't make it easy, do they? 

No it can't be backdated to match your PIP award, and yes that's correct.  They are two different benefits with different criteria.  There is some overlap but not enough to actually be equivalent.

If you want any chance at being put in the Support Group, you will have to ask for a reassessment.  Before you do, it would be good to work out what descriptor you meet to qualify for the Support Group https://www.dapwales.org.uk/support-group-descriptors/

huckster

Due to the large numbers of  new assessments and also reassessments waiting to be processed, ESA will need to receive convincing information to justify an early reassessment.

  It would not be up to the Job Centre Work Coach whether ESA arranged an early reassessment. It would be up to the ESA Service Centre and they will need information about deteriorating health or new diagnosed health conditions before arranging the reassessment.

I would strongly agree with the advice from Alice above, that you should get advice first before making the reassessment request.

In regard to asking for mandatory reconsideration on a decision made less than 13 months ago, this would only be if there was a problem with the original assessment and therefore the decision was not sufficiently based on how your health conditions impacted on your work capability.  And as you could end up making a Courts Tribunal appeal, you would really need medical reports that commented on your health related work capability at the time of the assessment.