WRAG to Support Group at reconsideration

In October last year I received a WRAG decision on paper scrutiny and decided to appeal to be placed in the support group (posting my appeal in late November). Today I received a phone call from the DWP to say that they had reconsidered the decision and that I was to be placed in the Support Group (woopie) and they would send a letter out in due course.

Question 1: As this is my only income and will be entitled to IR after 365 days, will I have to wait til then to get the enhanced disability premium (think its £14 something).

Question 2: I also began claiming underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance since 31st December 2012 as I care for my mum.. how will this affect the Support Group payment if at all?

Hell.. lets face it - I'm asking am I entitled to any more money than I was receiving as WRAG ESA(CB)!

I though forum users would like to know that my main illness is ME. I know some people are worried about appealing to be in the support group with this illness.. but please be assured, if you provide plenty of information it is possible. I didn't have any additional medical evidence to send with my appeal - I reiterated how the illness affects me on a day to day basis, my symptoms and how being involved in WFIs, training etc., or going back to work would affect me.

Additionally, I would like to say how useful this site was, in the initial stages, and for giving me the courage to appeal.

Should have mentioned I was migrated from IB.. so received the transitional top up on ESA. In other words I already receive the £105.05 limit on ESA

AngeYorks wrote: In October last year I received a WRAG decision on paper scrutiny and decided to appeal to be placed in the support group (posting my appeal in late November). Today I received a phone call from the DWP to say that they had reconsidered the decision and that I was to be placed in the Support Group (woopie) and they would send a letter out in due course.

Question 1: As this is my only income and will be entitled to IR after 365 days, will I have to wait til then to get the enhanced disability premium (think its £14 something).

Question 2: I also began claiming underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance since 31st December 2012 as I care for my mum.. how will this affect the Support Group payment if at all?

Hell.. lets face it - I'm asking am I entitled to any more money than I was receiving as WRAG ESA(CB)!

I though forum users would like to know that my main illness is ME. I know some people are worried about appealing to be in the support group with this illness.. but please be assured, if you provide plenty of information it is possible. I didn't have any additional medical evidence to send with my appeal - I reiterated how the illness affects me on a day to day basis, my symptoms and how being involved in WFIs, training etc., or going back to work would affect me.

Additionally, I would like to say how useful this site was, in the initial stages, and for giving me the courage to appeal.

Hi AY,

Yes I remember, you were in two minds on whether to appeal or not.

Well done on being placed into The SG !!!!

Thanks for your positive comments about B&W.

1) There is no 365 day entitlement limit to payment of CB ESA whilst you remain in The SG. As the decision to place you into The SG is a remaking of the original WRAG decision, it will now be as if you have not been in the WRAG at all.

Therefore as you were transferred over to ESA into The WRAG, and had not previously been in The WRAG, you will still have your full 365 days entitlement to payment of CB ESA, if you are again placed into The WRAG, at some future reassessment.

See : 12 Month Limit for ESA(CB)

2) I gather that you have been receiving The carers premium as an IR ESA top-up, this should continue. Something to bare in mind here is, do any of your caring obligations conflict with the limitations that placed you into The SG ?

bro58

That's great news, so pleased for you. i too have ME so its great when I hear of someone else getting into support group. Enjoy.
best wishes
Sue

I've not received any extra money for the Carer's premium. I was told it would be an underlying entitlement. It made a slight difference to my applicable allowances on HB but thats all. Not sure whether I should have received an IR top up so will ask DWP.

I did state in my appeal letter that I was caring for my father (who has since died) and as he cared for my mum, this had put an additional strain on me . I indicated this is what was making my ME even worse.. Ive really just transferred his caring role officially to me. It did concern me that they may assume I was fit for work if I was a "carer" but when I talked to the Carer's Department of DWP they said that there was no definition of what caring entailed.. i.e. I could be sat just keeping mum company, having a cup of tea.

Just to point out.. thats not all I do! I know that there are physical and supervision elements to being carer, which I do.. but I meant not constantly.