ESA Support Group

I have just received a letter informing me that I am now receiving ESA & I am in the Support Group. The letter does not have any 'expirey dates' - how long does one remain in the support group ? Also, there is an offer to attend a Work Focused Group (voluntary basis). This concerns me as I do not feel ready to attend a group but afraid it could be held against me in the future. Do I need to be concerned ?

The Support Group does not have an automatic reassessment date that's the same for everyone, but the DWP does look again at people's entitlement, generally based on what the Atos HCP says in their report.

You are under no obligation to attend WFIs. I cannot see any reason for concern if you choose not to attend them, since one of the main aspects of the Support Group is that you have specifically been found unfit for work-related activity, which would include WFIs.

Danny wrote:

I have just received a letter informing me that I am now receiving ESA & I am in the Support Group. The letter does not have any 'expirey dates' - how long does one remain in the support group ? Also, there is an offer to attend a Work Focused Group (voluntary basis). This concerns me as I do not feel ready to attend a group but afraid it could be held against me in the future. Do I need to be concerned ?

Hi Danny,

Congratulations on getting into the support group.

To get an idea of your expected review date, you should request copies of your ATOS medical reports, ESA85 if you had a face to face, or ESA85A, if you didn't have a face to face, you can also request a written statement of reasons ESA65.

Request these documents from the ESA DM at the benefits office that deals with your ESA.

As for attending any WFI's WRA voluntarily, that is entirely up to you, and cannot be held against you if you don't want to, for as long as you remain in the support group.

There is a danger that if you attend voluntarily, pressure may be exerted on you to do things that you are not really well enough to do.

The decision is yours.

Cheers

bro58

Thank you for the quick response. This group is an amazing "support group" in itself

Hi

I also recieved my letter informing me I'd been placed in the Support Group for ESA (without having to attend a medical- thanks to your guides, I suspect as well as a helpful GP and nearly killing myself to fill the forms out) having been on IB for years.

However, I was left with a couple of questions.

This has answered the first- where is the review date? My Mum (and carer) was going to phone the Job Centre office and ask for the documents you mentioned but, having read a few other posts on here, I'm wondering if it would be best to send a letter requesting them?

The second thing in their letter which left me wondering was, on the last page, following the (frankly incomprhensible!) breakdown of how my total benefit has been calculated, it says: 'The amounts on this page apply from 4 October 2011 to 28 November 2011.' Does anybody know what the second of these dates relates to and what will happen then? (The first date is the day it says I will start to be paid ESA but I'm concerned about the second!)

Thanks

Rae198 wrote:

Hi

I also recieved my letter informing me I'd been placed in the Support Group for ESA (without having to attend a medical- thanks to your guides, I suspect as well as a helpful GP and nearly killing myself to fill the forms out) having been on IB for years.

However, I was left with a couple of questions.

This has answered the first- where is the review date? My Mum (and carer) was going to phone the Job Centre office and ask for the documents you mentioned but, having read a few other posts on here, I'm wondering if it would be best to send a letter requesting them?

The second thing in their letter which left me wondering was, on the last page, following the (frankly incomprhensible!) breakdown of how my total benefit has been calculated, it says: 'The amounts on this page apply from 4 October 2011 to 28 November 2011.' Does anybody know what the second of these dates relates to and what will happen then? (The first date is the day it says I will start to be paid ESA but I'm concerned about the second!)

Thanks

Hi Rae,

So you understand that you must request copies of the documents mentioned in my other post, to get an idea of your expected re-assessment date.

It is best to do this in writing, keeping a copy, or if by phone, back up in writing.

With regards to the "from/to" dates that you mention on your letter, many members have asked the same question.

We have come to the opinion that it does not hold any real significance, and is not the length of the award, we think it is merely for admin purposes.

cheers

bro58