WRAG to Support Group after Tribunal Hearing

This morning, my wife successfully appealed at tribunal to be placed in the Support group, having previously been placed in the WRAG group after both the initial decision and subsequent appeal.

The information provided by Benefits and Work has been invaluable in helping to prepare her case, which was predicated on the Mobility descriptor. The questioning of the Tribunal doctor was therefore based solely around mobility issues, despite the many other problems she still endures 30+ years after first receiving Incapacity benefit for a serious spinal injury. It certainly helped to be informed and prepared for presenting a convincing argument for her qualifying under the Mobility descriptor, as the Doctor’s questioning was probing and persistent – and rightly so.

At the hearing, I also voiced my concerns that, having been examined many times and found incapable of work for over 30 years, my wife’s case had been decided without anyone examining her. Both the initial assessment, and the appeal, had been a paper-based exercise by ATOS, without them ever having seen her. The judge said that this was “appalling” and that, even if she had been unsuccessful today, my wife’s case was to have been escalated to the Upper Tribunal because of the lack of an examination.

As things stand, she is now in the Support Group with no further review for 2 years, and I would again thank B & W, and fellow contributors, for the advice and information which helped us to prepare her case.

Thank you.