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Benefits - A Matter of Life and Death?

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For many, survival without benefits is impossible. Knowing what's changing and what to do is vital. With 110,000 subscribers our FREE, fortnightly Bulletin is the UK's most trusted source of benefits news & info. Subscribe now, be amongst friends.

Professional Members

We support both claimants and professionals.  These are just some of the organisations who have subscribed to Benefits and Work:

  • Royal College of Nursing
  • Spinal Injuries Association
  • Chesterfield Law Centre
  • Stephenson’s Solicitors
  • Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau
  • Manchester City Council Sensory Provision Team

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Feedback From The Forum

100+ Professional Members 

We support both claimants and professionals.  These are just some of the organisations who have subscribed to Benefits and Work:

Royal College of Nursing

Spinal Injuries Association

Chesterfield Law Centre

Stephenson’s Solicitors

Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau

Manchester City Council Sensory Provision Team

St Mungos

Coventry Mind

Colchester Borough Council  Welfare Rights

Fibromyalgia Association UK

Employment Support Service, Coventry City Council

Union of Brunel Students

DIAL, Basildon & South Essex

Rethink North Devon

Stonham Housing Association

London Borough of Newham Client Affairs

The Fire Fighters Charity

Welfare Rights Service, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Macmillan Benefits Service, Glasgow

Ty Arian (Solicitors)

Camberwell ME Support Group

Headway, Ayrshire

Second Step Housing Association

Independent Living Centre, Trowbridge

Coventry & Warwickshire Mind 

Brooksbank Money Advice Section, Dundee

Autism Anglia

National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society

Blyth Valley Disabled Forum

Cornwall Blind Association

Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau

Carers advice and Resource Establishment, Sandwell

Purbeck Citizens Advice Bureau

Mind in Taunton and West Somerset

CATCH UP Ltd Llanelli

Disablement Association, Hillingdon
   
Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People

London Borough of Merton, Welfare Benefits Service

South Bradford Community Network

Dorset Residential Homes, Dorchester

Stockport Advice

Meridian Money Advice

Mind in Haringey

React Disability Group, Stevenage

Julian Housing Project, Oxford

Cerebra

Intowork

Helena Partnerships Housing Association

West Leicestershire Mind

Education Otherwise

Edinburgh Welfare Rights Advice Shop

Teesdale Citizens Advice Bureau

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association

CMT United Kingdom

Perth & Kinross Council Welfare Rights Team

Wallich Clifford Community

Maldon Essex Mind

Money Advice Unit, Hertfordshire

Surrey Association for Visual Impairment (SAVI)

Irish Support & Advice Service

Norwich and West Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau

Plymouth Guild Disability Information & Advice Centre

Brighton & Hove Federation of Disabled People

Canterbury District Citizens Advice Bureau

Disability Information Service Huntingdonshire

Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau

Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust

Hillcrest Housing Association

Inverness CAB

Sarsen Housing Association

Fibromyalgia in Tonbridge Support Group

Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust

Bury EST

Together (Working for Wellbeing)

Different Strokes

North Tyneside Disability Forum

Rochdale MBC Advice Service

Warwickshire Network for ME

Benefits Made Simple

Disability and Social Care Advice Service, Balham

Salford Welfare Rights & Debt Advice Service

Notre Dame Centre, Glasgow

CLASP, the Carers Centre

Disability Resource Centre, Dunstable

Enfield Clubhouse

William Flack, Solicitor

Welfare Benefits Unit,York

Braintree Halstead & Witham Citizens Advice Bureau

Ryedale Citizens Advice Bureau

Sunderland and South Tyneside MECFS Support Group

Westcountry Housing Association

North Staffordshire Warm Zone

North Kensington Law Centre

Mind in Taunton and West Somerset

Toxteth CAB

Citizens Advice Rural Dorset Service

Huntington’s Disease Association


Mental Health Advocacy Scheme, Bangor

Inspiration’ Mental Health service user group

Stafford and Rural Homes

Open Arms Five Towns Drop In

Merstham Community Facility Trust

HPTH UK (Hypoparathyroidism)

Rochdale Gateway Leisure Ltd

4 Winds

Birmingham Settlement

Better 2 Work Team

Hillingdon Carers

The Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments

Federation of Local Housing Associations in Renfrewshire

Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services

Morecambe Bay ME group

Disability Arts Cymru

Richmond and Kingston ME Group

Fife Employment Access Trust

Dimensions for Living

The Active Community Team Ltd

Open Road, Chelmsford

Trafford Benefits Advice

Connect DRA

The New Freedom Project

West Lancs Disability Helpline

North London M.E. Network

North Ayrshire Council Criminal Justice Support Service

Middleton DIAL


Successful ESA appeal
“Just wanted to say a BIG thank you for this amazing site!”

Successful claim for DLA – higher rate mobility, low rate care

“Thank you so very much for your wonderful site!”

DLA supersession, high rate mobility and high rate care awarded indefinitely
“I am shaking and crying but for once with happiness and relief . . . I cannot thank you all enough for what you do”

DLA awarded at renewal for 2 years and at same rate, low rate mobility and middle rate care
“Would just like to say a massive THANK YOU for all your help”

Decision revised to ESA Support Group after appealing against IB to WRAG
“First of all i would like to say a big thank you to benefits and work”

Placed in ESA Support Group
“Thanks to the guides on the site they made filling In the ESA50 form a lot easier.”

Successful DLA claim, high rate mobility and high rate care awarded for 5 years
“I just want to thank everyone here, and especially the people who wrote the guides, for my DLA application being successful.”

Migrated from IB to ESA Support Group without medical assessment and DLA increased from low rate care to middle rate care and high rate mobility
“Thanks to everyone on the team at Benefits and Work.”

Unable to attend, but went from 0 to 15 points at ESA appeal

“Thank you for all the information and advice given by everyone at B&W.”

Placed in ESA Support Group after medical assessment
“Without the help of the guides and advice from members I would have been totally lost. I am a 51 yr old bloke but I cried when I put the phone down after getting the news yesterday.”

ESA reassessed without medical, staying in Support Group for another 18 months

“Thanks to all on this site - Steve, the wonderful Mods and all members.”

Success at ESA appeal, an extra 12 points awarded
“I just want to thank the creators of the site.”

Remaining in ESA Support Group for two years following reassessment, no medical
“A big thank you to all Mods for their invaluable advise, and also thank you to all members for their support.”

Moved from ESA WRAG to Support Group after requesting appeal
“Thanks to benefitsandwork for their great help.”

Placed in ESA Support Group after medical assessment
“Thank you so much to all at B&W.”

Placed in ESA Support Group for 18 months
“Please pass my thanks on to steve for this site, we would all be lost without it”

Successful migration from IB to ESA Support Group, for 3 years after recorded medical
“A huge heartfelt thanks for your dedication to helping members cope with an unfair and mean-spirited system.”

ESA decision revised after request for appeal, placed in Support Group

“Many thanks to everybody on the team”

DLA awarded indefinitely

“Could not have managed without your help.”

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“would like to thank benefits and work forum for such good info.”

Migrated from IB to ESA Support Group without medical assessment for 3 year period
“I just wanted to say thank you for your excellent guides and moderators who have helped me get what I am entitled to.”

Moved from IB to ESA Support Group, no medical assessment
“I would like to thank the forum mod's and members for their support and the authors of the excellent b&w guides.”

Placed in ESA Support Group without a medical
“I could not have done it without the help from the guides on your website”

From IB to Support Group without medical
“I am absolutely certain this would not have been possible without your website and guides.”

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical
“my subscription ..was well worth it”

ESA reassessed, placed in Support Group for 2 years
“Thank you every one. Your advice and support so valued.”

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical assessment or having to supply extra medical evidence
“a humungous thank you to all the Mods on here”

Success at ESA appeal, nil to 15 points and placed in WRAG
“thank you very much for the help your guides gave to me”

Successful DLA supersession, awarded high rate mobility and high rate care for an indefinite period
“I can't recommend the excellent b&w guides enough.”

ESA Support Group again with no medical
“A HUGE thank you to everyone involved with this site, I've found it to be a professional and factual source of information. Keep up the good work ... you really do make a difference”

Success at IB to ESA appeal, from no award to Support Group
“We would like to say a very massive thank you to the moderators, advisers and everybody else who contributes to this community.”

From IB to ESA WRAG with no medical
“received letter today transferred from ib to esa without medical thanks to b&w”

DLA decision revised, high rate mobility and middle rate care awarded indefinitely
“Thank goodness for Benefits and Work, it really did help with anything I was unsure of. Thank you.”

Success at ESA appeal
“don't give up keep going and use B and W to help you”

Successful migration from IB to ESA on appeal after 0 points awarded
“Many thanks for all the help that this site has given me from the very start in completing my ESA50”

Transferred from IB to ESA Support Group without medical and for 2 years
“Just want to say what a great job B&W does as I followed everything they advised within the site. Great job moderators.”

Placed in ESA Support Group and DLA high rate mobility and low rate care awarded for another 2 years on renewal
“Just want to say thanks very much for all the advice from this forum, and the ESA and DLA guides.”

ESA Support Group after Healthcare Professional suspends medical assessment
“I would like to thank this site for the help and guidance”

High rate mobility and middle rate care awarded at DLA appeal
“you do a wonderful service for everybody and thank you again could not have done it without all your help”

Placed in ESA Support Group
“Just wanted to say a "huge thank you" to all moderators and members on the site, for all the help and support.”

DLA successfully renewed, award of high rate mobility and high rate care continued
“just like to thank everyone for their help and support, and the info and tips on this site.”

ESA Support Group without medical
“Just want to say a big thank you to this site and everyone here.”

Success at DLA appeal, low rate care awarded
“Thanks for all your good advice”

ESA appeal success, moved from WRAG to Support Group
“although I had my local welfare rights team support me. The guides on here and the advice from others here was far more useful.”

Placed in Support Group for ESA
“The information on this site and advice from forum moderators and members has been invaluable.”

ESA decision revised, moved from WRAG to Support Group
“Just a quick thank you to benefits and work for their sound advice.”

Moved from ESA WRAG to Support Group for 2 years
“transferred to esa from ib without a medical, using the wonderful guides”

Placed in ESA Support Group with no medical assessment
“Thanks to the great information on this wonderful site i was automatically placed in support group and no medical”

DLA middle rate care and low rate mobility and ESA Support Group

“Thank you all once again the guides were priceless in my case”

Migrated from IS to ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“Thank you all at benefits and work for the excellent guides”

DLA success, high rate mobility and middle rate care
“Many thanks B&W, well worth the subscription”

Placed in ESA Support Group and not called for medical assessment
“just wanted to say thank you to this site & the online guides”

Son’s DLA successfully renewed after reaching age 16

“Have used your fabulous guides and my son's DLA has been renewed for post 16”

From IB to ESA Support Group for 3 years
“I cannot thank your website enough, I studied your information guides and know that this would not have happened without your help”

Moved from IS to ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“I just wanted to say thanks for the helpful guides you offer.”

Indefinite award of high rate mobility and middle rate care DLA on renewal
“Just proves your guides really do work as all I did was follow the guide to the letter”

Transferred from IB to ESA Support Group
“Thanks Benefits and Work”

Placed in ESA Support Group for 2 years
“Thank you to benefits and work for helping me word the form in the correct way”

After 3 years of “hard struggle” placed in ESA Support Group
“a big thank you to you all for your help and advice”

0 points to Support Group on revision
“I am a bit disappointed if I am honest as I wanted to be in the WRAG group.”

Successful DLA claim for high rate mobility
“I couldn't have done it without using your guide to claiming DLA. I can't thank you enough!”

Migrated from IB to ESA Support Group
“Thanks to the wonderful guides and also the information provided by the Members and Mods/staff on the forum.”

ESA appeal success, 0 to 18 points
“Thanks for all the tips and help on here.”

DLA renewal, high rate mobility and low rate care awarded for indefinite period
“Once again thanks to everyone on this brilliant site.”

ESA support group after 2 years
“Thank you to everyone on this site for all your help, support and your advice.”

Placed in ESA Support Group in 11 working days

“I would have been lost without your great guides.”

Moved from WRAG to support group until 2015 after lodging appeal on IB to ESA transfer.
“May I take this oppertunity of thanking Steve,bro 58, and Gordon for their help.”

IB to ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“Thank you, thank you”

Successful ESA appeal, 0 to 18 points
“I would like to thank this site for the assistance the manuals and other comments provided”

Placed in ESA Support Group after 10 minutes at appeal
“sooooo tired but sooooooo happy”

Success at ESA appeal
“Thanks to the excellent advice on this board, I have just won my appeal for ESA”

IB to ESA: 0 points to Support Group with 5 minute appeal
“Many thanks to Steve, Holly and everyone else for the guides and all the excellent advice here which were a massive help in preparing all the paperwork for the appeal. This resulted in the hearing being only 5 minutes, with a similar wait for the decision notice to be prepared.”

DLA high rate care and mobility on new claim
“This is better than I could possibly expect, and was due to a mixture of your wonderful advice for filling in the form, and an understanding ATOS Doctor (didn't know they existed)."

Support group award
“I have just been awarded ESA in the Support Group and found the information and advice you provided invaluable . . . I also had my medical recorded in case I needed to appeal and this was no problem.”

From fit to work to support group after complaint
“For this, I owe everything to B&W. Thank you all!”

Migrated from IB to ESA WRAG with no medical assessment
“Thank you for much for your great and very helpful website - £20 very well spent.”

DLA high rate mobility and low rate care
“together with the B&W advice I got a result”

WRAG without medical, DLA high rate mobility and middle rate care renewed indefinitely

“A big thank you to B and W”

DLA high rate mobility, middle rate care on appeal
“Thankz 4 all help and advice I got from this website”

ESA Support Group after medical assessment
“I would like to wholeheartedly thank B&W for your invaluable assistance during my preparations.”


Success at ESA appeal, moved from WRAG to Support Group
“I'm not sure I would have felt the confidence to do this if it weren't for the B&W guides”

From IB to ESA Support Group without medical

“Thanks again for the very useful guides.”

Successful migration from IB to ESA Support Group, no medical assessment
“cannot thank you enough for the invaluable support you give with your guides and advice long may you continue”

0 to 28 points at ESA appeal
“Thanks to your succinct guides and quick helpful answers from Gordon”

DLA success, high rate mobility and low rate care awarded

“Just thought i would say a big thank you to this site”

Successful claims for DLA and ESA, high rates of both mobility and care awarded for DLA and placed in ESA Support Group
“Thank you to all here for helping me understand the questions on ESA and DLA.”

ESA Support Group without medical assessment, and DLA high rate mobility and middle rate care awarded indefinitely


Placed in ESA Support Group
"Thanks so much to Benefits and Work and the moderators on this forum"

IB to ESA Work-related Activity Group without medical
“Thank you for much for your great and very helpful website - £20 very well spent.”

Successful ESA appeal, moved from WRAG to Support Group
“The stress has been immense but we could not have managed without your wonderful site. Thank you.”

Kept in ESA Support Group after review, no medical
“Thanks again to B&W and all the Mods who provide an invaluable service – I have recently renewed my subscription, and I have no doubt that it is the best money that I have ever spent!”

Transferred to ESA Support Group without medical
“just like to thank this site and the folks that give their time and sound advice to us all”

Successful ESA appeal, 0 to 15 points

“Thanks to this site & it's members. Both have been very helpful”

Placed in ESA WRAG after medical assessment

“The guides on this site have been invaluable in helping with my claim”

Moved from IB to ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“I'm sure if this site didn't exist there would be a lot of us worse off. I thank you most sincerely.“

ESA tribunal success
“Thanks once again for the amount of advice and information this site has offered.”


Atos nurse stopped medical after 5 minutes and stated DWP would be advised to place claimant in ESA Support Group
“Could not of filled the ESA50 form in right if I hadn't of come across this site.”

Placed in ESA WRAG two weeks after medical
“Many thanks to B+W, the guides and advice were invaluable”

ESA successfully renewed after medical, placed in Support Group

“Thank you for the wonderful support of this site, the guides were the only way I could manage to get through the form filling”

Successful migration from IB to ESA Support Group without medical
“I just wanted to thank everyone here for the wonderful guides”

Severe ME - moved from WRAG to Support Group after reconsideration
“Big thanks to B&W and the B&W community which put me in an excellent position to obtain the correct outcome”

Successful migration from IS to ESA Support Group without medical
“I would have been lost without the b&w guides and support from the site.”

After 10 years on DLA lower rate mobility finally awarded higher rate
“I joined benefits & work about 6 months ago it was the best money I have ever spent.”

From ESA WRAG to Support Group on reconsideration on exceptional circumstance grounds
“Special thanks to B & W and help given, especially to Bro58 who pointed out some useful wording for me when my medical notes came”

Placed in ESA Support Group, no medical assessment
“I don’t think I could have done it without the help from this site.”

From IB to ESA WRAG, then Support Group on reconsideration without medical
“Thank you for the superb advice, B&W”

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical assessment
“A big, big thank you from me.”

From IB to ESA WRAG, then Support Group before appeal heard
“Big, big thank you to everyone on the boards and those compiling the guides”

Double appeal success: ESA 0 to 18 points; DLA middle rate care and low rate mobility
“A huge thank you to the B&W as if it wasn't for their wonderful advice I doubt very much I would have won.”

ESA Support Group without medical
“Another big ****THANK YOU**** has to go out to the folks at B&W, the guides, and the kind people who volunteer their time to help us out on this website.”

Migrated from IB to ESA Support Group
“I would like to thank the B & W team for all the excellent information they have provided”

IB to ESA WRAG without medical
“I just want to say thanks to Steve Donnison, all the Modulators and everybody else who helps to run the fantastic Benefitsandwork website.”

DLA successfully renewed and award made for 3 years

“Thank you to you all for your help.”

Moved from WRAG to Support Group on appeal

“I would like to thank everyone on here and b&w for the encouragement and information”

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