I am claiming ESA and due to my diagnosis I have been put in the support group. I am hoping to get back to work in the near future and wondered how I am transfered to the work related activity group (wrag) - do I inform them I want to start looking for work and be moved to the wrag, persuade my doctor to put fit for work on my sick note or do I wait for them to review my case?
More importantly, I might not find work immediately so if I transfer to the wrag am I entitled to stay on it for up to the full one year or does the one year deadline start from when I first started claiming ESA? i.e. when i was allocated to the support group last July?
Whilst the wrag payment is less than the support group I was told that it may be beneficial to move to the wrag as that opens up new college training opportunies to help me update my skills and get a better job.
Welcome to the forums, I’m sure other users will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime, maybe you would like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer practical information as well as emotional support. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.
I know it’s been a while since you posted, how did you get on with your ESA.
I have just finished rads and have been looking at jobs I can appy for. What did you decide to do in the end. I have been thinking about applying for jobs and waiting to see how I get on.
Hi i have only just seen your post re: ESA. What a palaver it was in myself getting sorted into the right group when my SSP ran out from work (which I have now left as the job I did was too physical and I didn’t think I could do it now). I started out on the basic ESA which should have been for the initial 13 week phase until being medically assessed by the medical doctors within the DWP. Of course nothing ever goes to plan with any government department and I remained on the basic phase level from July 2012 until finally being assessed this past February and informed that due to my illness I am in the Support Group until my next review next Feb 2015! Oh and this also included an unexpected rebate backdated to last year which was very gratefully received! I am presuming that because i no longer have to provide a doctor’s fit note until my review next Feb that they are aware of my not being able to seek work - so if i was to change over to the wrag group as you say, it would be very difficult to change back if this didn’t work out for me. that is a worry to me at times as i would love nothing more than a nice part time job close by (we have all manner of shops in our area) and start being “normal” again! As far as i am aware, if you are unfit for work through illness or disability and are in the support group, when your review comes around and your circumstances remain the same then you continue being paid in the support group? ~If so then it does relieve the pressure and worry about not being fit for work and having no money. I am hesitant to jump off the illness benefits train until i am feeling more or less 100% fit and confident to hold down a job and not have to worry about not feeling well enough to do so. Cheers, Michele x