I have been put in the work related activity group for ESA and have just received my appeal turned down. What next? Help!

[DEBBIEWILLS]

I have Rheumatoid Arthiritas, Fybromyalga, HB pressure etc.. I received Incapacity for 5 years because they said I was not fit to work!

[Mazz64]

Hi Debbie

Did you have a "medical" with Atos? or have they just put you in WRAG? What reason have they given you for not putting you in the support group? if they haven't given you a reason, write and ask them for a statement of reason (I think that's what its called fibro fog head today) I'm not sure what to advice sorry I'm not much help I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you more advice

Hugs Mazz xx

[DEBBIEWILLS in reply to Mazz64]

I had no medical they just put me in the WRAG. My appeal was looked at by somebody who is not in the medical profession. It is just so annoying that my Doctor, specialist and RA nurse is telling me not to work. The report doesn't make sense as in one paragraph it states not able to work and the next one it says limited capability to work!!!! x

[bluebell99]

Hi

I have been put into WRAG without a medical too. My appeal has been in since May and based on because I have not had a medical!. I don't understand how someone who does not know you, has never seen you or how you handle your condition can arbitrarily put you in that group.

Can I ask if you are married or have a partner? If you are in WRAG your contribution based ESA stops after 365 days, when it goes to income based. If you have another income coming into the house then effectively that person has to keep you. I am very angry about that, your illness has not changed so why should your money disappear?

Sorry, I digress. I read a government document, (I think someone here put a link online) about how assessors manage the assessment and what they look for, like, are you sitting in a chair with armrests, or how you walk up the corridor. In that very long document, (help me with the name please my fellow forum friends) there is a list of conditions that are not called in for assessment, RA is one and lupus, (which I have as well as fibro) is another. There are several others as well. The trouble with that is there are varying degrees of these conditions and to put everyone who suffers into WRAG is unfair.

If your appeal failed I do not hold out much hope for mine.

By the way, the reason I could go to work were given as I can eat and drink in public and I am not incontinent.

How ridiculous!

[DEBBIEWILLS]

I am married and have been told when ESA stops you go for job seekers allowance and then apply for ESA again. Wonder what job will fit around my doctor appointments etc.... Also I get higher level DLA so am entitled to a carer, do I take them to work with me! One of the points stated that even though I stated I could not walk far there was no evidence! Do I send them a video of me falling over?!!! It is so annoying that I am ill enough to have Humira injections and Methotrexate 25mg injections but not ill that I can work! It actually said that other people work that take medication! I worked with my illness for 7 years before I had to give up! So annoying x

[DEBBIEWILLS in reply to DEBBIEWILLS]

Also as above mine also stated that as I could eat and drink in public without difficulty that I was not incontinent and had no mental illness! Even though I told them I have thickening in my hands and have to have steroid injections into my palms! Aaaaarrghhh!

[bluebell99]

Hi

Please don't think me rude but is your source of information reliable? I understood if you applied for jobseekers it was like admitting you were fit for work.

At my jobcentre review I was warned my benefit would definitely stop after 365 days. I think they give everyone contribution based ESA regardless of when they last worked as it is like a warning that the benefit would stop and to adjust your finances accordingly. Only those on income based ESA would continue, so effectively cutting out all those with a working spouse.

By refusing to put us into the support group where benefit is paid regardless, then the DWP are cutting a huge amount of people from the benefits bill. Then it will be portrayed as efficiency savings and all of these claimants were scamming the system!

My husband looked into being a full-time carer but the amount is atrociously small. He is 5 years from retirement so needs to keep working so we can pay the mortgage off, loans etc. I am unhappy to be a "kept woman" for the next five years when I worked and paid a full stamp for so long.

Sorry for the rant, it just makes me so cross!!!!!!!!

[DEBBIEWILLS]

I know what you mean, I worked for 30 years before I gave up. I worked with Disabled children so can't see me going back to that! I read it on here about Job seekers. Will be going to citizen advice for help. It is a horrible situation, we can't afford for me to loose my benefits but I can't work, physically impossible! I had a social service assessment had modification done to my house including disabled path played, how can they say I can work! I feel like I am a fraud! So upsetting x x

[bluebell99]

Yes, I am registered with social services and had an assessment too.

I asked the local council about adaptions for the house and was given a lengthy form wanting to know about every bit of income we had, even down to the pitiful amount of interest on our paltry savings. What they didn't want to know was about outgoings, mortgage, council tax, gas, electric, water, all those things you HAVE to pay for. How is that a fair means test?

If we had too much income, (it's my husband's fault, he earns just under the average wage!) then we would have to pay for alterations ourselves or alternately have a charge put on the house, to be paid back with interest when we sold the house.

In the end we took out a loan and had it done ourselves. Fortunately I found out you don't pay VAT on disabled goods and services, so that saved a fair bit. The builders had to check as no-one had said this to them before, but it is all above board. It was the only thing in our favour.

I don't understand why ATOS refuse to believe doctors letters, social services reports, specific prescription items, disabled equipment services and the like. How can a form ticker know our daily difficulties just to get by. I think my mistake was not to wildly exaggerate my condition!

[DEBBIEWILLS]

I had an occupational therapist do a home visit and they recommended what was needed and provided workmen. I am getting another letter from my doctor and as I g them to look at my appeal again.