Advice on Support Group for ESA

Hello

I am a MS sufferer.. and have been placed in the Limited capability for work section of ESA.. As I have progressed quite considerably since my assessment in Feb 2010.. Is there a way of launching my appeal via the internet.. or by phone... My writing is like that of a 5 year old.. Even typing is a problem.. but I can just about manage it.. albeit very slowly.. I wee myself on a weekly basis and I cannot turn on a tap.. I need help getting out of a chair.. Is this enough for the support group.. THank you.. Tim

So far as I am aware, you must use a GL24, but in providing its service, the DWP must make reasonable adjustments under the DDA, so I can't see what harm there would be in asking them.

But if your writing is like a five-year old and you submit the appeal in writing, they're just going to have to put up with that.

Could you type a reply or dictate a reply to a friend or to someone at an advice centre to type for you?

If you want to know what the criteria are for the support group of ESA, pages 25 and 26 of the guide to ESA in the help for claimants section explain it.

hello survivor

I have looked and looked again at the descriptors for ESA.. and I fulfill at least two or three of these.. maybe four.. Yet why was I put in the work related part.. I do not wish to appeal for the simple fact that I do not want to be kicked off ESA altogether.. Surely my medical would have picked up on these facts.. or is an appeal the only way to get into the correct support group.. Thank you.. a very worried Tim..

They don't want to allow us into the Support Group because it is non means tested and they won't be able to make their savings.

I was going to appeal being placed in the WRAG myself but decided it wasn't worth the risk of losing everything, i have no savings and the difference is only about 6 quid a week.

It depends on your circumstances i think, If you have savings over 6k or a working partner you obviously have more to lose than a single divorcee with no savings such as myself.

Ranald

whilst the Government is
intending to impose a means test after 12 months for work related activity ctontribution based ESA customers it is not yet the law and no precise date arrived at. I doubt this change is having much influence at this stage on support group allocation. You say its only 6 quid a week difference and yet you have no savings. If you might qaulify and dont persue it then you are missing a potential £300 a year

Obtain a copy of your ESA report and see an advice centre to see if you ought to appeal for the support group. I beleive there is a time limit of one month so you may need to act quickly if you choose to explore this.