Nov 052016
We want to collect evidence to try to get the cut for people in the ESA WRAG Stopped.
The cut is only being applied to new applicants, but we would like people who are in the ESA WRAG now to tell us, if the cut happened to you, what would it do to your finances, what would it mean to your way of life and would it increase or decrease your ability to find work
I’m on ESA-WRAG now, my re-assessment is coming up and as an Autistic person there’s a higher than average chance I’ll be found fit-for-work – if this happens and my appeal fails I’m in trouble, I can’t apply for Job Seekers Allowance due to the fact I can’t follow job seekers agreement due to my disabilities, but also of course it looks highly likely that I’d need to reapply and if I do I’ll be looking at this £30 cut as a ‘new claimant’.
It’s not just new claimants at risk, anyone who is found fit-for-work in assessments are also at real risk.
I was put in the WRAG group when i submitted details of a new diagnosis for a chronic illnes with no hope of recovery.
my previous position was in the support group due to a mental health condition. This was ignored in my assessment as was my new physical health condition.
Awaiting surgery i had to attend A4E . I took my daughter who acts as my carer, she had to miss school. The attitude of the staff at A4E was very provocative. Having been employed in benefit offices & jobcentres in the past i was surprised at the way they handled a disabled client. With disdain. All my requests for a private room etc were ignored. I was expected to give confidential information sat in the centre of a bustling office. I felt my “specialist”advisor” had no knowledge of disability & was hostile to the point of rudeness.
Only my experience of dealing with the public & the presence of a 14 yr old in school uniform diffused a situation that could easily have resulted in sanctions.
When i related my disabilities i discovered that the DWP had neglected to inform A4E of any apart from my mental health one.. Confirming my suspicions that mental health clients were being targeted. Even to the point of ignoring any of their physical disabilities.
I was threatened on all sides from Dwp to Jobcentre to A4e even to the Citizens Advice who claimed i had no chance of moving to the support group & could even lose all my benefits ?
I had been sold to A4E for 2 yrs by the DWP & that was immutable. I was told that i was on a 2 yr contract by A4E themselves when i told them of the dates for my surgery & they were quite prepared to sanction me if i missed my appointments.
I learned about a supercession as my health had by now deteriorated. Citizens advice were unhelpful by telling me i had to fulfill all the descriptors & i might lose all my benefits. I was merely following the DWP’s own instructions to inform them if your health conditions get better or worse. I did this on my own by letter with evidence.
I was moved into the support group. For six months according to the DWPs letter. 12 months later i was still in the support group. I had spent the last 6 months worrying that i would be assessed agaiin.
The strain this evidence based assessment puts on the NHS is never mentioned. Iam always at the Drs so i can accumulate evidence for my next medical. As my condition can only be managed not cured i will soon run,out of people to pester. And will probably end up back in the Wrag
Hope this helps
I am in the WRAG for mental and physical issues. I got cancer last year and knowing how the DWP will remove all benefits at a whim I was too afraid to inform them of the new diagnosis which entitles me to be in the support group.
The chemotherapy has left me with movement restrictions in my arms and legs so getting to the jobcentre to go through the torturing’advice’ drill is excrutiating.
I will not chance applying to be put into support….I cannot risk losing everything. And as with a lot of people I just feel too ill to fight.