Successful ESA Appeal!

After almost a year from first appealing being placed in the ESA WRAG group, and following a tribunal on Tuesday, I'm overjoyed to say that I received a letter today confirming that I had been placed in the Support Group. I had a lot of support from my GP and consultant, but I couldn't have done it without all the fantastic advice and guides on this website. So, B&W, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

I also have two questions. Having been placed in the WRAG group in May 2012, and having been ill for over 365 days, and not being eligible for Income Related ESA, my ESA was stopped on April 30th.

Now that the tribunal has ruled that I should have been placed in the Support Group, am I eligible for back pay or will any payments be dated from this week onwards?

Also, should I contact the DWP to confirm that payments will be forthcoming, or do I wait to hear from them?

Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.

That is great news! Thank you for letting us know, and for your kind words about this site

Was the original decision actually made in May 2011? There has not yet been 365 days since May 2012!

The tribunal have remade the original decision that placed you in the WRAG. The clock has, in effect, been 'reset'. If you had not been in WRAG previous to this then you are back to zero. You will be paid the difference between the WRAG and Support Group for the whole time since May (2011?) and also the Support Group payment for the time that you were without money.

It can take a couple of months for DWP to catch up with this and pay the arrears. You can speed up the process by sending in a copy of the tribunal decision notice.

Hi wordgirl
Congratulations on your award, news like this gives us all hope.
I too had to go to appeal after decision In 2011, finally had my appeal heard on March 1st 2013, won appeal and backpay was in my account on 11th March.
Best wishes for the future CM