ESA wrag advice.

[Menacingstar]

Hi

Looking for advice suffer with chronic fibromalgia and costocondritis and just received a call today to say they have excepted me on to the ESA with the working related group worried as to what will happen can anyone advise me please.

[Hidden]

You will receive ESA for 365 days , after that time you will either be migrated onto income related ESA or if you have a partner or savings above a certain limit your benefit will stop.

During the next 365 days you'll be expected to attend work focused interviews when told to do so with a view to getting you into work. These are held at Job centre plus .

You can ( if you feel the decision is incorrect ) ask for reconsideration ( or by appeal ) to be placed in the support group , however this group is very difficult to get into by all accounts with only around 20 % of people being placed there .

My advice would be to talk to a welfare advisor or the CAB to see what your options are and also so they can give you more info of what to expect over the coming months.

Hugs

xx

[Hidden]

Here's some info for you Menacingstar about ESA and WRAG, hope it helps familiarise you -

direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAn...

benefitsandwork.co.uk/emplo...

[Menacingstar]

Thanks guys, Surely if you can't get in the support group but you have enough support of your doctor and phycologist that at the end of the 365 days and they access your illness they can't just say do a full time job there you go.

[Nance in reply to Menacingstar]

Oh yes they can and they do !

I got the 365days ESA after being paid off from my job due to illness. My husband works and we have a mortgage, wasn't entitled to anything else after ESA payments ended.

I have FMS/CFS & Osteoarthritis........but I work full-time now and I am extremely tired even though I have a sit down job, the only thing I get from this government after slogging my guts out for 30years is a Blue Badge, which I have only just been granted because the car park in my work is more than 200 metres away, and it allows me to park outside the door.

I am glad I haven't given into my conditions, yes it's hard and I have my really bad days, I am lucky enough to have a boss who understands and will let me have 10mins to chill if things get too much.

I am out amongst the living again...........we can all do it !!! ( before anyone says my conditions can't be that bad, you are very wrong.......I am a fighter and not dead yet !)

[nutty09]

Hi Menacingstar. I have just received my letter telling me I have to attend the interview again, I have been on income related for 4 yrs and in the WRAG but hoping to be put on the SG . I am scared that they will force me to look for a job as I can not sit for long periods of time or stand for long periods either, As if we don't have enough to worry about.

Gentle hugs Nutty x

[Menacingstar]

I can only say it has to be ok for us all as we are genuine cases my god if we could sit and stand and do a full time job we would be there no doubt..as we all have payed into the system but the reality is weve got chronic sporadic illnesses that flare at any time. They can swap with my body anytime and I'll have there fully functioning one. What is the world coming to..thanks for your communication greatly appreciated.. Night night..

[cobweb]

I consider myself very fortunate. After leaving my husband I had to apply for ESA. We had been receiving Income Support for many years due to us both being disabled, however I was told that I would need to attend an assessment, to see whether I could work & to be honest, I was scared stiff! I knew that I wouldn't be able to work, much as I'd like too.

I was first sent a form to tell them about my medical problems, which I filled out as honestly as I could. Then waited. Then I received a letter telling me that I was entitled to a much higher amount of benefit & no mention of any further assessments!

I was shocked but very happy. So I get DLA & ESA at the higher rate & can now concentrate on looking after myself.

Sometimes good things happen. Try to stay positive, good luck

Fibro hugs & care x Cobweb

[Davlad]

fibroaction.healthunlocked....

hope you can open this link up there is some useful information on what points you have to score to get into the support group............

[Menacingstar]

Hi

Thank you everyone for all your advice and I'm so angered by what I'm reading on the Internet my goodness what can we all do to change this disgracefull policy. All I no is we need to change the damn government. The way I see it is the future is looking bleak depression and chronic pain is one persons battle and can not be measured to an Olympian in a wheel chair I will not be told if he can I can I'm living in my body. I feel really sad by the looks of things there's not a lot we can do but all stand together to make our voices heard.