ESA SUPPORT GROUP SURPRISE

My brother who was in ESA WRAG completed his third ESA50 form in April and received the decision yesterday from DWP - he has been transferred to the Support Group without even a face to face medical assessment! We are amazed and delighted as its been a struggle so far for him to get even ESA WRAG. He first made a claim for ESA in March 2011, had a face to face medical assessment in April 2011 and got decision in June 2011 - failed O points. He appealed, appeal was held in January 2012 - he won and was put in WRAG. Two weeks after the appeal he got another ESA50 form to complete, he completed it, had another face to face medical assessment in April 2012 and much to our relief managed to retain his ESA WRAG. When the ESA50 form arrived again we completed it more or less as we completed the two previous ones, so were anticipating another face to face before he received the decision. My brother has mental health problems (bipolar) and there has been no major change in his condition in the period he has been claiming ESA. Seems the most recent DWP Decision Maker was someone with more understanding of the affects of his condition on his daily life.

Without any doubt this successful outcome is due to the help and guidance provided in the B & W guides and the superb moderators who give so much of their time to assist anxious people in this very challenging process - a very big thank you.

Maureen wrote: My brother who was in ESA WRAG completed his third ESA50 form in April and received the decision yesterday from DWP - he has been transferred to the Support Group without even a face to face medical assessment! We are amazed and delighted as its been a struggle so far for him to get even ESA WRAG. He first made a claim for ESA in March 2011, had a face to face medical assessment in April 2011 and got decision in June 2011 - failed O points. He appealed, appeal was held in January 2012 - he won and was put in WRAG. Two weeks after the appeal he got another ESA50 form to complete, he completed it, had another face to face medical assessment in April 2012 and much to our relief managed to retain his ESA WRAG. When the ESA50 form arrived again we completed it more or less as we completed the two previous ones, so were anticipating another face to face before he received the decision. My brother has mental health problems (bipolar) and there has been no major change in his condition in the period he has been claiming ESA. Seems the most recent DWP Decision Maker was someone with more understanding of the affects of his condition on his daily life.

Without any doubt this successful outcome is due to the help and guidance provided in the B & W guides and the superb moderators who give so much of their time to assist anxious people in this very challenging process - a very big thank you.

Hi M,

Congratulations on the SG award.

This does seem to highlight the inconsistencies in The DWP's decision making process.

Thank you for letting us know, and for your kind comments regarding all at B&W.

bro58