ESA renewed with Support Group

In Sept 2014 my Sister completed an ESA 50 renewal form and questionnaire, in order to continue with income based ESA WRAG for her 28 year old Aspergers son. He was placed in WRAG in early 2013. Our original application for placing in Support Group was rejected. The assessor he saw originally disagreed with our descriptions in a number of Descriptors. We chose not to appeal, just too exhausting!
For the renewal 18 months later we supplied a new Dr Letter, just re confirming the diagnosis and prognosis. We gave examples in all the descriptors and gave evidence of how he now lives Independantly but with significant family support
In Sept we submitted the renewal form. He was also invited for an interview with a Personal Adviser at his Job Centre which his mother attended with him. But she was told this was not an assessment for his renewal.
We heard no news about the renewal until a few weeks ago
A letter was received simply confirming his new ESA payment figures with effect from April.
To our complete surprise on top of ESA he has been awarded an extra £15.75 Pw for Disability Income Guarantee and Extra Money because " you are in the Support Group"
£36.20 Pw
Have they made a clerical mistake or maybe they are now convinced he should be in Support Group. Could they now write again saying they made a mistake?
No explanation or other letters no assessments or further interviews!
It's welcome but bizarre

We were of course using and following all the excellent guidance from BandW.
Grateful for your comments

Claude wrote: In Sept 2014 my Sister completed an ESA 50 renewal form and questionnaire, in order to continue with income based ESA WRAG for her 28 year old Aspergers son. He was placed in WRAG in early 2013. Our original application for placing in Support Group was rejected. The assessor he saw originally disagreed with our descriptions in a number of Descriptors. We chose not to appeal, just too exhausting!
For the renewal 18 months later we supplied a new Dr Letter, just re confirming the diagnosis and prognosis. We gave examples in all the descriptors and gave evidence of how he now lives Independantly but with significant family support
In Sept we submitted the renewal form. He was also invited for an interview with a Personal Adviser at his Job Centre which his mother attended with him. But she was told this was not an assessment for his renewal.
We heard no news about the renewal until a few weeks ago
A letter was received simply confirming his new ESA payment figures with effect from April.
To our complete surprise on top of ESA he has been awarded an extra £15.75 Pw for Disability Income Guarantee and Extra Money because " you are in the Support Group"
£36.20 Pw
Have they made a clerical mistake or maybe they are now convinced he should be in Support Group. Could they now write again saying they made a mistake?
No explanation or other letters no assessments or further interviews!
It's welcome but bizarre

We were of course using and following all the excellent guidance from BandW.
Grateful for your comments

Hi C,

The figures that you have quoted are the new ESA rates applicable from 06/04/15.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...=10&id=102458#127097

It would be usual for all benefits recipients to receive the annual benefits uprating letter this time of the year.

The amounts would be applicable for an ESA recipient who was in The SG entitled to payment of Income Related (IR) ESA.

The £36.20 is the new Support Group Component Addition, and the £15.75 is the Enhanced Disability Premium (Disability Income Guarantee ) that ESA claimants who are in The SG and also entitled to payments of : ESA Premiums in the form of IR ESA top-ups receive.

It is not beyond the realms that she has been placed into The SG without receiving an official written Decision Notice letter.

The only way to be sure would be to contact ESA where they should have clarification of which "Group" she is in on-screen :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

Or, you could write to the address of the Benefits Office/Centre on her most recent ESA letter : Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58