Hello, do you mean diagnosed with depression? surely you have seen your gp and they can back that up? as they tend to do a question and answer thing which gives them an idea if someone if depressed or not, if you are on medication for depression then it doesn't matter if you haven't seen a psychiatrist as of yet, it's not your fault you're having to wait for an appointment. Don't be worried, you'll just end up making yourself more ill and they are not worth it, hopefully you have someone to go with you to the assessment for support, remember that if you don't score enough points, it doesn't mean it's over, you can appeal and with medical support from your gp and anyone else you are seeing then you have a good chance, you just need other people fighting in your corner with you, so don't worry and don't take anything personally because they mess a lot of people around.

I had to go through the appeal process too and after many many months keeping me waiting I was placed in the support group, I do recall reading something in the "assessment" documents that it was thought I would make a full recovery in 6 months, not only do they not overly have extensive knowledge in the illnesses they are assessing but apparently they think they can see the future too. On my appeal papers it does state how long I would be placed in the Support Group for, mines was 6 months, which I guess was based on what I said previously, it's not been 6 months and they sent me the ESA50 after 4 months, how they work that one out, I don't know! my doctor found it quite amusing when he was writing me medical reports, I think my doctor would love to be honest in letters he writes for me to tell these people to buzz off and leave me alone because they clearly exacerbate peoples problems.

Relevant in terms of my illness then yes, which is backed up by recent medical reports too, does that mean that I should copy it?

Also, should I note/send copy of my appeal decision? because i've been sent this ESA50 2 months before the amount of time they stated I was being placed in the Support Group for.

Hello, i've had a look but it just seems to be the first part of the form that there is help with?

You think it is a good idea then? my last form wasn't filled in very well and I didn't really have a clue what to do, went to Citizens Advice and unfortunately didn't get very good advice even with my appeal so this time round I won't be going to them or asking them for advice, I understand a lot of people find them very helpful as well.... I recall them saying to me "we can't represent you at your appeal because we only take on cases that we can win" which isn't that great when you have no hope and no where to turn to!

Hello, just looking for some advice, not long ago I won my appeal to be placed in the Support Group, just at the end of November but I got another ESA50 in the post a couple of weeks ago and will be sending it soon but what I want to know is, I have recent medical reports from my doctors but is it worthwhile sending copies of previous medical reports as they have text in them which states my illness was exacerbated by the previous atos assessment and all the hassle and strain from being placed in the WRAG, I know this new questionnaire is to do with my condition now but i'm just wondering if it's worthwhile to send the previous reports?

Hello, looking for some information, if anyone knows, will try keep it as short as possible! Claimed ESA, was on assessment rate then had to go through the whole ATOS WCA, the outcome of that was me being placed in the WRAG, once I had been placed on that I was given a back dated payment, I think it was the extra money that a person gets from being placed in WRAG, anyway, I appealed being placed in WRAG and after many many many months of waiting I got to the Tribunal phase, sent off all my evidence to them and i'm guessing they sent that to DWP to re-consider then received a letter from the Tribunal stating that the appeal has now lapsed because i've been placed into the Support Group, now my question is, should I be due any back dated payment from now being placed into the Support Group? only reason i'm asking is because Citizens Advice said I should and that my benefit should increase a little but none of that has happened and it's been roughly around 5-6 weeks since I received the letter saying I had been placed into Support Group, I know the amount will change a little but i'm not sure about the Support Group element of the payment being back dated or if it just starts from when the Tribunal says I was placed in it, I did call the benefit place but they didn't seem to have a clue......... which I found odd so i'm going to write a letter, just not sure what to write and if the above makes sense to anyone else?

The revised descriptors apply to anyone who is assessed for their ESA on or after the 28 March 2011. They also apply if the claimant was sent an ESA50 questionnaire based on these descriptors before the 28 March. Claimants who received an ESA50 questionnaire based on the descriptors up to 27 March 2011 will be assessed on those descriptors. I don't understand the above, I was seen by atos on 01/04/11, the ESA50 form was sent 03/03/11 and received by them on 08/03/11, which descriptors would I have to use?

I should be able to go to the tribunal then? it's just on the mass pages that was sent to me today, on a page someone has typed that they request the tribunal service just to confirm that I don't fall into any of the descriptors, so it's implying that they just want them to do that ............ I took it all with me to a doctors appointment today and my doctor even said it made no sense and that there were a lot of conflicting statements by them. Do you know if there's a template for appealing wrag? or is it just the template on the sticky but I think that's for not scoring enough points?

Hello, does anyone have a link to the exact descriptors which have to be satisfied to qualify for the support group? don't know if they have changed recently, thought I had a bookmarked page but can't find it. I'm appealing being placed in the WRAG, got my appeal papers today which are full of inconsistencies and complete contradictions, the DM states they have looked again but because there was no supporting evidence they won't be changing it, so called health professional at ATOS has stated one thing then scored me no points for it! I know it's not about points as I scored enough points to be placed in WRAG but I/my family and my doctor feel that I should be in the support group. The letter states it's been passed onto the tribunals service, can they reject the appeal though? what can I do if they reject the appeal? I did not know I had to initially send in supporting evidence, I wasn't asked/told/my doctor wasn't asked, I do not even know what exactly they mean by supporting evidence. Any help would be appreciated.

It's disgusting how they are treating people, prisoners get treated better than people on benefits. Not too sure what you could do to be honest, maybe speak to your doctor? surely if a doctor writes a letter stating that working or doing whatever they are expecting you to do will make your illness worse then it should matter to an extent? have you tried going to citizens advice?

which benefit are you on?

Yeah it is at the local JCP, not much point putting a complaint in, they go in one ear and out the other, I don't think I have the energy or motivation to do it anyway, dealing with these people just drains the life out of me, I spoke to my doctor about it and they can't even do anything about it, it's like doctors opinions don't matter, he said he sometimes will get something to fill in about a patient, with questions like "how can we help this person, is there anything we can do?" and he said he feels like writing "yes, leave them alone to get better and stop harassing them" i'm sure doctors feel like they are in a no win situation too, they can give out medication but at the end of the day, if people are being harassed and constantly stressed about what's round the corner then no one is going to get better even with medication, probably just end up with more problems or other health issues! anyone dealing with these people for a long time I could see being driven to insanity.

Does that mean if they think you're fit to go back to work within 3 months then you'll fail anyway? I got told my re-assessment date was in 3 months, although it's a little over 3 months, i'm guessing i'll get another question form through soon! my advisor when I went, basically was rude, patronising, gave me the news of my re-assessment date when i'd just got the letter stating about getting put into the WRAG group, then went on to tell me how i'll have to do courses and look for work and that ESA will pretty much be treated like jobseekers if you're in the WRAG, I think she got a kick out of being nasty and stressing people out even more, she wasn't helpful in the slightest, asked her if she could e-mail or call to request my medical report, she said call this number, I said I don't use phones, her response "oh well then" so she basically didn't tell me anything good at all or informative and she certainly didn't care about my health issues or what's best for me, she also had an attitude regarding me going there with someone.

I guess you had a civil advisor, i've only been to one of those and she was rude and arrogant, amongst other things. I don't even know what's going on with the appeal so it's a complete nightmare right now, for all I know they might have not received it given the amount of mail they claim to not have received. I don't know if you're supposed to tell them if your medication has changed or any other parts to do with treatment and no point talking to the advisor because she was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot and not very nice and after going to CAB and not getting very good advice i'm not sure where to turn to.

"considered within 3 months of being 'fit for work'" Is that considered fit for work by them and their joke corrupt atos so called professionals or by your own doctor? what if you are awaiting treatment but there is a waiting list of more than 3 months, is that taken into consideration? since my "assessment" I have been forwarded for treatment but have been told it will be a long wait and my medication has also got higher in dose, should I inform them of this?

Good luck.

I'm worried about this work programme thing, not sure on the facts about it to be fair but I got put into the WRAG after my atos assessment, I have appealed that I should be in support group, CAB sent in the appeal form but I haven't heard anything back............ wasn't sure what exactly I had to do, went to CAB who said the first step was to send in the form which they just wrote basic things on and then said you just wait but now i'm thinking that person may not have had a clue, she told me that if I get any more letters for work focused interviews then just don't go and get a medical cert from the doctor but after talking to my doctor about that he said that it was very bad advice, that they won't accept the med cert and will just stop the benefits, i'm just confused about everything and really worried basically! I had an appointment for another work focused interview but they called and cancelled it and said they would re-arrange in the next month or two.... which is confusing, could that be because of the appeal? Does anyone know what exactly the work programme entails for people in WRAG? I really don't see how they can say yeah you've been found ill BUT you can also work, you're either ill or you're not, even my doctor thinks it's a complete joke, you know there's something wrong when a doctor rants about it for 20 minutes during an appointment! I honestly think they are just trying to anger/sicken people so much to the point that people will be forced/worried so much that they will just go try look for work to not be made any more ill by these people and their games, that's honestly how I feel right now, which isn't right when you're genuinely ill. Sigh

how do i unsubscribe from this thread? as I keep getting e-mails about new replies and it's not for me.

I'm just baffled by it all.

leemack, I got the impression today it was for everyone put into the work related group that they will be expected to do that at some point, I just find it odd that they have no firm information on it yet are talking jibberish at these silly interviews stating it's to be rolled out from next month, how are they allowed to just post this news to people with no warning, it's shocking.

I'm unaware altogether with appeals to be honest, does all evidence have to be sent with the appeal form or can this be forwarded on? it's to appeal the work focused group as i'm sure I fit descriptors for the support group, I will be seeking CAB advice though.

What about doctors letters and waiting time for them being a reason? obviously they must know that doctors can't just drop everything and do things there and then.

Does anyone know what the terms are for an appeal being sent in later than 28 days? all these bank holidays haven't helped. I also asked the most helpful worker ever (sarcasm) if she could request me a copy of my medical report as I did not get one, she told me I had to ask ATOS, ATOS were asked, guess what, they said ask DWP, I feel like i'm on the magic roundabout when dealing with these people and to top if off, the envelope they give you for sending in an appeal has a 2nd class stamp on it, given that they put time limits on when things have to be sent I just find it hilarious they give you an envelope with that on it!