Support Group Advice Please

Hi all, I had my latest WCA last August and I still have not had any communication from atos with their decision. However, when I received a letter from DWP in February advising about the new rates of benefit it would appear that I was put in the support group in September - thanks atos for not letting me know!!!

I was previously in the WRAG and had been enrolled on a waste of time 2 year work programme - however I was permitted to not attend any of the classes owing to my mental health problems (panic attacks/anxiety/claustrophobia) but have been called in every couple of months for a 10 minute face to face.

However, before finding out that I am in the support group I have had at least one face to face with Twin Training, and since finding out that I am in the support group I have been contacted twice more by Twin calling me in for a meeting; I received a letter today despite having told them a month ago that I was in the support group.

What I would like to know is - should I still have to attend these face to face meetings?

Also, apart from receiving extra money, what exactly is the "support" provided (if any)?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

k9feline wrote: Hi all, I had my latest WCA last August and I still have not had any communication from atos with their decision. However, when I received a letter from DWP in February advising about the new rates of benefit it would appear that I was put in the support group in September - thanks atos for not letting me know!!!

I was previously in the WRAG and had been enrolled on a waste of time 2 year work programme - however I was permitted to not attend any of the classes owing to my mental health problems (panic attacks/anxiety/claustrophobia) but have been called in every couple of months for a 10 minute face to face.

However, before finding out that I am in the support group I have had at least one face to face with Twin Training, and since finding out that I am in the support group I have been contacted twice more by Twin calling me in for a meeting; I received a letter today despite having told them a month ago that I was in the support group.

What I would like to know is - should I still have to attend these face to face meetings?

Also, apart from receiving extra money, what exactly is the "support" provided (if any)?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Hi k9f,

A belated congratulations on your SG award !!

You should have received an ESA SG Decision Notice letter from The DWP Decision Maker, (DM) not ATOS.

You could ring up and request one :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA. (Open 8AM-6PM. Mon-Fri.)

and/or request the documentation used in coming to the decision as advised in : This Post.

Once you are in The SG, you can no longer be compelled to take part in any WFI's or Work Related Activity.

You can take part voluntarily.

I would write a letter to Twin Training informing them that you are in The SG, provide a copy of any letters that you have stating that you are in The SG.

You can also cite the following to them :

DMG Chapter 53 53014. 2.

53014 The conditions referred to in DMG 53013 are that the claimant is

1.entitled to ESA or an advance award of ESA has been made (DMG 53200 et seq)

and

#2. not a member of the support group#

and

3. under the age at which a woman of the same age as the claimant attains pensionable age (see DMG Chapter 75)

and

4. not a person who is only entitled to ESA(Cont) payable at nil rate.

5. not a lone parent who is responsible for and a member of the same household
as a child aged under one.

From :

DM Guide CH 53.

See also ESA Regulation 54 (2) (b)

ESA Reg 54. (2) (b) : "is not a member of the support group;"

If you don’t have to comply with WFI’s you don’t have to comply with WRA either.

Make it clear that you no longer wish to take part in any form of Work Related Activity.

The threat of a complaint to your M.P. may also help :

Contacting your MP

As always, keep a copy :

Sending Documents to the DWP, etc.

They offer no support, other than help from JC Plus to move into work if you wish to try, and that is minimal.

Of course, you could volunteer for more WRA !!!

bro58

Hi bro58, thanks for all that advice, I will think about what I want to do next. I did not receive any decision notice letters from DWP and only realised in February when they wrote regarding the 15/16 benefits amounts.

I wonder why the support group is so named, if there is no "support" to people in the group other than the JC+ staff trying to find them a low paid unsuitable job???

Thanks again