Is This a Record??

[anniea]

Have been in ESA Support Group since Sept 2009.

 

Received the dreaded ESA50 in August, had to be returned by 17 sept 2012.

 

Received call yesterday 24th Sept to inform me that I have been put in the Support Group for a further 3 years.

 

Thats one week from when form had to be returned to receiving phone call!!

 

Huge relief - I know that I am disabled and unable to work but its getting the DWP/ATOS to agree!!

[della2]

Have been in ESA Support Group since Sept 2009.

 

Received the dreaded ESA50 in August, had to be returned by 17 sept 2012.

 

Received call yesterday 24th Sept to inform me that I have been put in the Support Group for a further 3 years.

 

Thats one week from when form had to be returned to receiving phone call!!

 

Huge relief - I know that I am disabled and unable to work but its getting the DWP/ATOS to agree!!

 

Wow!!! what a result!!

 

There wasn't a crisp new £50 note tucked inside the ESA50 was there??

 

Just wondering.

 

 

If that is a record, then my dad's case must surely be then, 6 months in the support group then ZERO points at the next 6 monthly assessment!!

[count orlok]

Thats what happened to me, almost exactly the same, but 1 year ago I was on IB before though.

 

I was quite shocked. My wife was the one who answered the phone call and she said "you're not going to bother him are you, he's just coma out of hospital after a heart op", the women said not and she told me I was in the support group for 3 years.

 

I then had a worrying wait for the letter convinced they had made a mistake. I did get it though.

 

I don't think it will happen again, but one thing I am sure of is I'm not going for a WCA (as I can move and breath). So if I get called for one after my next ESA50 I'll just come off ESA and go onto carers allowance.

 

I suppose they have to put some people in the SG so they can deny it's all rigged.

 

BTW it took me a hour or so to fill out the ESA50 and I sent it off within a couple of days of getting it (about 6 weeks early I think), I just wanted to get it all over as quick as poss.

[fightingback99]

Yes that's pretty fast I would say. I waited 13 weeks from sending in my form (2 weeks early to return date) to get a letter to say put into support Group. I didn't send any medical info with the form, as everyone said they don't read it. I didn't get a phone call to tell me, just a letter.

 

Feel this ESA is a bit of a lottery process, when you read the things which have happened to people. .

 

I'd already decided if I was put in the WRAG group I wasn't attending any of the WFI's, and would take the penalty. I already have to ask family and friends to take me to numerous hospital appointments as it is. And I have an OH who works full time, so was only going to qualify for 12 months .

 

I did wonder if the system would target people with OH's who work full time, or have say a pension, as easy options, but it seems not in my case. Well so far there's always next time.

[Lillibelle]

I had a similar thing,,form came,filled it in,got told all was ok and job done..never had a thing since,OH became my carer,no problems,,DLA needed increasing to high rate,,again no problem,only one hiccup when payday moved from a Thursday to a Friday,,made call,,money in bank 2 hours later..I'm either incredibly lucky or they know I'm on the scrapheap lmao

[worried33]

Thats what happened to me, almost exactly the same, but 1 year ago I was on IB before though.

 

I was quite shocked. My wife was the one who answered the phone call and she said "you're not going to bother him are you, he's just coma out of hospital after a heart op", the women said not and she told me I was in the support group for 3 years.

 

I then had a worrying wait for the letter convinced they had made a mistake. I did get it though.

 

I don't think it will happen again, but one thing I am sure of is I'm not going for a WCA (as I can move and breath). So if I get called for one after my next ESA50 I'll just come off ESA and go onto carers allowance.

 

I suppose they have to put some people in the SG so they can deny it's all rigged.

 

BTW it took me a hour or so to fill out the ESA50 and I sent it off within a couple of days of getting it (about 6 weeks early I think), I just wanted to get it all over as quick as poss.

 

It seems most people who get the SG get their bypassing the medical nearly every report I see on forums and such people in the SG have not had a medical. I am very curious what makes them decide who needs a medical or not.

 

I have had welfare rights tell me they had 2 similiar cases, one was SG no medical, other was medical with 0 points, same condition.

[della2]

It seems most people who get the SG get their bypassing the medical nearly every report I see on forums and such people in the SG have not had a medical. I am very curious what makes them decide who needs a medical or not.

 

I have had welfare rights tell me they had 2 similiar cases, one was SG no medical, other was medical with 0 points, same condition.

 

Yes that interests me too!

 

For the Tribunal to agree that my dad should be in the support group, 4 times since 2010, yet the DWP/ATOS always call him for an assessment every 6 months or so, and find him fit for work, I would be very interested to know how they decide who should and who shouldn't go for an assessment.

 

It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the illnesses either as you make that point. Additionally I have read many times that they (ATOS/DWP) don't even read what you put on the ESA50.

[estellyn]

I must be one of the rare few that got into the support group after having an ATOS assessment. I don't think it hurt that when she asked me what my usual occupation was, I said 'benefit advice worker specialising in appeals', I think it probably encouraged thoroughness and honesty in the assessor's report. But yes, I expect few get into the support group via assessment.

[worried33]

Yes that interests me too!

 

For the Tribunal to agree that my dad should be in the support group, 4 times since 2010, yet the DWP/ATOS always call him for an assessment every 6 months or so, and find him fit for work, I would be very interested to know how they decide who should and who shouldn't go for an assessment.

 

It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the illnesses either as you make that point. Additionally I have read many times that they (ATOS/DWP) don't even read what you put on the ESA50.

 

even worse welfare rights told me they filled in the forms for both people using the same wording on almost the entire form.