ESA/ Support group

poppy12345

pope said:

 So just to give a update Phoned DWP this morning they have told me that I have been put in the ESA support group for a year next assessment review 7th July 2024. I have also requested the assesors report which they are going to post to me.

I will give another update when I get the assesors report perhaps it will show why I have only been put into it for 1 year?

Thanks

That timescale they gave you is just a guide and nothing more and you may not even be contacted at that time. Support Group is an ongoing award until a new decision says otherwise.

The report will tell you the reasons why you've been placed into that group. It's unlikely to tell you why the reivew is in the short term. Mine never says anything about that.

HillStreetBlues

My PIP letters just state "I have awarded you PIP for a set amount of time as your needs may change"  or "Although your needs might change I have decided not to review your award to (date)" so you might get something like that in your award letter.

Robbie64

It's not uncommon for the review date to be set at one year for people who are put in the ESA Support Group. Partly it depends on whether the assessor (who makes the recommendation) and the Decision Maker (who makes the decision) thinks that there may be a chance of an improvement in the period of time.

Unless the person meets the Severe Conditions criteria (when the WCA date is currently set to 01/05/2030 to inhibit further WCA reviews) then the WCA is usually set at one of 12, 18 or 24 months. It can be set at less than 12 months if there is a known outcome or at 36 months if the person has a lifelong condition which is not expected to improve but which doesn't meet the Severe Conditions criteria.

For further guidance see the ESA and PIP reassessments report which can be downloaded from https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7820/

Muttleythefrog

pope said:

 So just to give a update Phoned DWP this morning they have told me that I have been put in the ESA support group for a year next assessment review 7th July 2024. I have also requested the assesors report which they are going to post to me.

I will give another update when I get the assesors report perhaps it will show why I have only been put into it for 1 year?

Thanks

A little disappointing... setting it exactly a year from the actual assessment it appears... but not unusual. As above... no guarantee they'll look to review at that time or even if they did how long it could take as clearly system faces pressures and backlogs. Plus of course there is a political backdrop of benefit changes and an election. The assessment report might shed light on why they set it for a year rather than say medium or longer term 2-3 years... they may for example indicate they think condition may improve and why... having such knowledge might be useful at any future review plus of course will be the LCWRA descriptor(s) they felt applied to you as you may at future date want to impress on them same view.

HillStreetBlues

I expect once the letter comes it will say something like  "after" or "not before"  so OP is looking at minimum of a year, but with reassessments just restarting I feel it will be ages after that.

pope

As said in my last post today I have received my ESA report. On page 9 of 10 towards the end of the page it says.

Considering the evidence a severe functional disability is likely regarding initiating personal action.
The available evidence suggests review in the medium term.
Client has been told surgery will require 6-12  months for recovery minimum. With further mental health input and surgery some improvement could be seen within 12 months.

I'm disappointed that my assessment was carried out by a Physiotherapist 

Muttleythefrog

pope said:

As said in my last post today I have received my ESA report. On page 9 of 10 towards the end of the page it says.

Considering the evidence a severe functional disability is likely regarding initiating personal action.
The available evidence suggests review in the medium term.
Client has been told surgery will require 6-12  months for recovery minimum. With further mental health input and surgery some improvement could be seen within 12 months.

I'm disappointed that my assessment was carried out by a Physiotherapist 

It is however useful information..... especially if you do face a review in future as now you know the support group (LCWRA) descriptor they felt applied to you (I assume this "Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions")  and if it still is relevant you can make case that remains true... and in terms of the prognosis again as relevant you could counter any claim of limited duration of disability if what they propose may result in improvement has not had that impact or was never engaged.

Unfortunately yes a lot of physios involved in assessments.... I got a nurse for my last face to face ESA assessment and they were actually superb in understanding my mental health problems to a degree even experienced NHS psychiatrists didn't get... so it really is hit and miss.

Chalk it up I'd say... save the document and decision in safe location... and get on with life. It's really up in the air if and when you'll next get reviewed due to backlogs and potential changes... and your award remains in place indefinitely pending any new decision. If you aren't contacted in the next say 12 or 13 months perhaps come back here to ask what is the general status of re-assessments for ESA.

pope

Muttleythefrog said:

pope said:

As said in my last post today I have received my ESA report. On page 9 of 10 towards the end of the page it says.

Considering the evidence a severe functional disability is likely regarding initiating personal action.
The available evidence suggests review in the medium term.
Client has been told surgery will require 6-12  months for recovery minimum. With further mental health input and surgery some improvement could be seen within 12 months.

I'm disappointed that my assessment was carried out by a Physiotherapist 

It is however useful information..... especially if you do face a review in future as now you know the support group (LCWRA) descriptor they felt applied to you (I assume this "Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions")  and if it still is relevant you can make case that remains true... and in terms of the prognosis again as relevant you could counter any claim of limited duration of disability if what they propose may result in improvement has not had that impact or was never engaged.

Unfortunately yes a lot of physios involved in assessments.... I got a nurse for my last face to face ESA assessment and they were actually superb in understanding my mental health problems to a degree even experienced NHS psychiatrists didn't get... so it really is hit and miss.

Chalk it up I'd say... save the document and decision in safe location... and get on with life. It's really up in the air if and when you'll next get reviewed due to backlogs and potential changes... and your award remains in place indefinitely pending any new decision. If you aren't contacted in the next say 12 or 13 months perhaps come back here to ask what is the general status of re-assessments for ESA.

I'm a bit confused the assessment does not mention which descriptor I have scored 15 points on. I'm new to these assessments and been getting very good advice on this forum by very knowledgeable people. Do you think DWP have scored me 15 points on mental health or mobility as I can't walk far as I can't figure it out?

poppy12345

You wouldn't have scored anything for Support Group, you need to meet at least one of the descriptors. It should recomend that at the back of the report. This here...

pope said:

Considering the evidence a severe functional disability is likely regarding initiating personal action.

Suggests potentially descriptor 11.

11. Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).

Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 sequential personal actions.

See them all here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

Muttleythefrog

pope said:

Muttleythefrog said:

pope said:

As said in my last post today I have received my ESA report. On page 9 of 10 towards the end of the page it says.

Considering the evidence a severe functional disability is likely regarding initiating personal action.
The available evidence suggests review in the medium term.
Client has been told surgery will require 6-12  months for recovery minimum. With further mental health input and surgery some improvement could be seen within 12 months.

I'm disappointed that my assessment was carried out by a Physiotherapist 

It is however useful information..... especially if you do face a review in future as now you know the support group (LCWRA) descriptor they felt applied to you (I assume this "Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions")  and if it still is relevant you can make case that remains true... and in terms of the prognosis again as relevant you could counter any claim of limited duration of disability if what they propose may result in improvement has not had that impact or was never engaged.

Unfortunately yes a lot of physios involved in assessments.... I got a nurse for my last face to face ESA assessment and they were actually superb in understanding my mental health problems to a degree even experienced NHS psychiatrists didn't get... so it really is hit and miss.

Chalk it up I'd say... save the document and decision in safe location... and get on with life. It's really up in the air if and when you'll next get reviewed due to backlogs and potential changes... and your award remains in place indefinitely pending any new decision. If you aren't contacted in the next say 12 or 13 months perhaps come back here to ask what is the general status of re-assessments for ESA.

I'm a bit confused the assessment does not mention which descriptor I have scored 15 points on. I'm new to these assessments and been getting very good advice on this forum by very knowledgeable people. Do you think DWP have scored me 15 points on mental health or mobility as I can't walk far as I can't figure it out?

As above.... Support group is qualified for by triggering one of the Support group descriptors.. points scoring descriptors are only relevant to WRAG group and if you qualify for Support Group then WRAG becomes irrelevant. It is possible more than one support group descriptor applies to you but if an assessor finds one they may not bother with further enquiry or assessment 'scoring'. Poppy provides the link to the support group descriptors and it should be spelled out in the report which applies to you... almost certainly it is as she and I specify and that will be due to mental illness/function.