[Bub]

My sister and I have similar problems and she has been put in the WRAG group (she has agoraphobia and panic attacks, can't use public transport etc). She's been migrated from Income Support. She has asked them to look at the decision again. My question is, some people say that you can only be in the WRAG group for a maximum of 2 years. Is this right? If they are going to bully her and pressurise her in the WRAG, it will destroy her. If they're gentle and let her eg try things without pressure, say a small amount of voluntary work, then it may be tolerable. I am also scared for the same reasons, but I haven't been reassessed yet. Can anybody who's been put in the WRAG group advise? can they move you onto JSA? Some people seem to think they can, but if someone has long term health problems surely that is illegal.

Many thanks

[DeletedMember]

Bub, on 13 October 2011 - 09:51 PM, said:

My sister and I have similar problems and she has been put in the WRAG group (she has agoraphobia and panic attacks, can't use public transport etc). She's been migrated from Income Support. She has asked them to look at the decision again. My question is, some people say that you can only be in the WRAG group for a maximum of 2 years. Is this right? If they are going to bully her and pressurise her in the WRAG, it will destroy her. If they're gentle and let her eg try things without pressure, say a small amount of voluntary work, then it may be tolerable. I am also scared for the same reasons, but I haven't been reassessed yet. Can anybody who's been put in the WRAG group advise? can they move you onto JSA? Some people seem to think they can, but if someone has long term health problems surely that is illegal.

Many thanks

Hi Bub,

My understanding is the time limits on WRAG are dependant on NI contributions. There's more detail in this link...

http://benefits.tcel...se-work-related

Get as much supporting evidence from your GP/ psychiatrist/ psychologist and make sure you get someone from Citizens Advice to assist in filling out any forms for the DWP.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[lost32]

Basically if you haven't the NI contributions and your income falls below a certain level you will go into the esa income based group ,both WRAG and the support group have those groups. By income I mean savings or your partners income for instance.

If you are in the income based group for ESA currently there is no time limit providing you pass the medical.That however is providing your sister fufils all the conditions stated to be in the WRAG and passes all further assessments. It is also possible ,that if the people dealing with her in the WRAG feel she is in the wrong group they might move her into the support group,I have heard this happen to people.

Unfortunately there is some confusion on this issue that everyone on ESA is time limited,thanks to a 1 million pound letter campaign sent out by the DWP that was apparently sent to all ESA claiminants stating changes in all their entitlements when only a number would be affected ,those on ESA contribution based ,and a scaremongering article in the guardian done for cynical political purposes (yes it isn't only the tories doing it, labour and the socialists are also using disability claimants as political footballs) ,which unsuprisingly worried a lot of people.

[Bub]

Hi - many thanks for both your replies. I have only just seen them by returning to another thread. I wonder why this didn't come through my emails. I will have a search to see if I need to tick anything...

... ah, worked it out! I needed to click 'Watch This Topic'. I'll know in future.