Support Group at last!

Just wanted to share the good news that it is possible to be transferred from IB to the ESA support group without a medical and without having to appear at a tribunal, even when your problems are mental health ones that seem intangible/ hard to demonstrate. Hurrah!!

Just to explain a bit -I filled in the ESA50 on my son's behalf using B&W's excellent guide on mental health ESA claims, giving lots of real examples, as recommended. Thought we'd made a strong case on initiating personal actions and probably on social contacts. Gutted when the answer came back that he was put in the WRAG (tho' relieved this was without ATOS medical). Not sent explanation of reasons or full release of documents in response to data request. All we got was ESA85A form which only said what descriptors didn't apply - which seemed to be all of them! No indication of where he had scored points. Put in an appeal - and waited!!!
Next thing he is invited to attend a Jobcentre interview (by phone despite us always saying please write don't phone). He starts talking about preferring to be dead. I ring the Jobcentre to find out if he absolutely has to go - and they are BRILLIANT. Put interviews on hold. Email appeals section to ask them to fast track his case. Appeals section ring me back to confirm they'll deal asap once the papers arrive from another office. After a while they send a letter confirming that they'll look at it again before sending it to the Appeal tribunal. Also invited us to send more evidence, so I spend several days composing more stuff. It's excruciating because it's so dismal having to admit how ill he really is, instead of trying to be upbeat and positive which is our usual mode.But posted it Sat - only to find today it has crossed in the post with the decision letter we wanted all along. He's in the support group for 2 years. Still no indication of which descriptors or exceptional circumstance apply but I'm beyond caring now.
It's like the whole family has come out from under a huge black cloud. Many many thanks to the B&W community.
Lets hope we get a bit of a pause before they start on his DLA !!

That was meant to be a smiley face attached to this post!! You can tell I'm a two finger typist who's just not up to speed with modern idioms can't you!!