Hi I am new on this site ,I am looking for a bit of help with ESA .

[cutchie]

I was getting esa in the wrag group ,it was paid for the 365 days then I was only getting my stamp paid ,I have phoned for an update that I was placed in the support group from 31st march does this mean I will now get my benefit again ?any help would be good my head is buzzing with it .

[TheAuthor]

Hi cutchie

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum, and I genuinely hope that you find it as useful as I do? I have never personally claimed ESA, however, I have pasted you the link to benefits & work website page that explains all about the difference between WRAG and Support, so I genuinely hope that you find this useful:

benefitsandwork.co.uk/emplo...

I was wondering if you had ESA, have you ever put in a claim for PIP? I have pasted you the GOV.UK link on how to claim PIP below, so I hope that you find this useful also:

gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim

I am also pasting you the link for our mother site, FibroAction, as it contains a lot of information relating to Fibro, benefits and groups and much more ....

fibroaction.org

I want to wish you all the best of luck and I look forward to bumping into you around the forum.

Ken

[fibro10]

Hi cutchie I am also waiting to find out if will get any money my 365 days were up in dec so had no money since gotto wait for a letter to find out the stress cant sleep as the bills are piling up. Some people didnt want to get finished from their jobs because of illness Do hope you here some think soon and its good news for you Good Luck

[cutchie in reply to fibro10]

Hi fibro 10 ,thanks for your reply ,its a minefield ,I wouldn't have known that I was placed in the support group on the 31st of march if I hadn't of phoned for the up-date,i haven't had any money since year past feb because I am married they said after 365 days hubby has to look after me ! We are not well off and because I was working its been a huge drop to us and the strain is takeing a toll on hubby to now ,Anyway I did get a nice adviser that said I was to request re-look at my case because my condition has deteriated that was in Jan ,so heres hopeing I get somewhere now .I will look for your update also ,

[Offcut]

Were you on contribution or Income based? Income based is means tested but you can get other benefits Contribution is based on at least 24 months NI Payments before the claim. Support means you do not have to attend WRAG meetings as you are deemed unfit to do so. Your claim is based on the information you first gave them and if the condition has worsened then in theory you may have to reclaim if they require it. Common sense does not seem to come into it I am afraid.

[cutchie in reply to Offcut]

HI ,I was contribution based,have only been getting my stamp paid since year past feb after 365 days were up ,it was the questionnaire that was sent as routine ,since that iv been placed in the support group 31st march but still not received any money or a letter ,it was only through a phonecall yesterday that I made to thenm they said advisor would phone me either yesterday or b4 12 today to explain ,I haven't slept last night ,its just all to stressfull ,but iv defo been moved into the support group my claim has never lapsed just receiving my stamp paid ,does this make sence I babble a bit but your opinion would help .

[kmc-cudsleepforaweek]

Morning all, I was moved from the WRAG to the support group after 3mths!! the only notification I received initially was an increase to the money paid into my account. I rang them and they explained all. I am truly sorry for those of you being messed around by the DWP (no surprise really is it?). All I can suggest is relentless telephone calls to them, they're only human after all and will help you a lot more readily if only to get you off their back. I changed my landline package to include free 0845 no.s so at the times I need to call them I know i'm not going to get a huge bill for it at the end of the month. I cannot understand why it is taking so long for you but from my understanding if you have it in writing that you are in Support Group then you should be receiving money from that date and if not it should be backdated.

Bit of ramble but am moved by yet another plight to battle when all we could really do with is a good nights worry free sleep. Good luck. K x

[cutchie]

Hopefully things will be clearer after today fingers crossed if they haven't phoned by 12 I will ring them ,its been a huge battle but mybe there now ...hopefully

[Offcut]

I was in appeal and they did the same to me after 365 days but I won appeal and was put in Support but my money was backdated. I would think that if yours is a review they will pay you from the date of the positive decision.

up to £108.15 a week if you’re in the support group is what you should be at now.

gov.uk/employment-support-a...

This is the Gov site which is in more or less plain english.

Good luck and be well

[cutchie in reply to Offcut]

Hi thankyou ,I would be happy with money starting again a positive for a change I will post an update to let you know how I get on .

[Offcut in reply to cutchie]

Fingers crossed it all goes well

[Punchy]

Yes this means you will now recieve £105 a week backdated to the date you were placed in Support Group and for the length of tiime thay have given you. For me its Aug 2016....Then go argue all over again.

[cutchie in reply to Punchy]

Just had a phonecall and yes money is going in the bank £108 a week from the 24 th april its for a year but it will be good not to have the stress as you say it starts all over again ,but at least iv got them to understand .

[TheAuthor in reply to cutchie]

Just wanted to say congratulations and well done on ascertaining your ESA.

[cutchie in reply to TheAuthor]

Thankyou ,it helps to have it sorted less stress ,please people if you are mid-way through a claim stay with it ,it will work out .

[fibro10]

Hi cutchie Brill news so happy for you im still waiting and hoping as i am so stressed and tied I need just one nights sleep of worry free to recharge my batteries