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Unsure about being in the support group ESA

Posted , 5 users are following.

pollmadoll64
pollmadoll64

Can anyone tell me what being in the support group means . It is 5 months since I had shoulder surgery but due to having had Fibromyalgia for over 9 years my recovery has been very slow

Much that I want to work and get out of the house and earn some money. I am worried what my rights are to benefit were I to accept a job from the job centre

As I seeing my work coach for the first time on Friday.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 pollmadoll64

    Posted

    There  used to be a Disasbled Resettlement Officer attached to each Job Centre.

    Not sure if that is the case now but it may be worth asking.

    Sarah

  • jordisonforbes
    jordisonforbes pollmadoll64

    Posted

    If your talking about the support group of ESA, if thats it, ESA is like sick pay from the government, there are two groups in it. One where they accept that you are not going to get better within the next 9 months, the other is the suport group, where they expect you to , with support, be able to return to work. The recent thing with the support group was they cut it by 30, to come into line with job seekers allowance. Think thats not successfull as so many said not able to live on it.  If your in the support group, they will be encourage you to find work your able to do, or assist you to go back to work on a gradual basis. If this is not what you wonted then sorry for waisting your time.
    • anthony97723
      anthony97723 jordisonforbes

      Posted

      Hi Jordison

      You are right but have got the two groups mixed up. The work related activity group is the one where the DWP would expect you to look for work after recovering from an illness, surgery or broken leg etc.

      The Support Group is for those who have been found to have limited capability for work such as MS suffers, severely disabled etc.

      In the Support Group you can look for work if you like but can't be sanctioned like in the WRAG. If you start work and fall ill again within 12 weeks then your claim is linked and you return to the Support Group at the same level of benefit.

    • hypercat
      hypercat jordisonforbes

      Posted

      Er that's not quite right actually and is back to front.  I don't think they have cut the money on the Work Related Group yet as there is such a hoo ha about it.   I don't know if they will be doing it. x
    • anthony97723
      anthony97723 hypercat

      Posted

      Oh they will eventually find a way of cutting ESA. There is 3 year freeze on benefits which amounts to a cut every year due to inflation. What they will probably do is protect those already in receipt but introduce the new rate for all new claims.

      I suspect the number making the SG will also go down in another attempt to cut the welfare bill.

    • hypercat
      hypercat anthony97723

      Posted

      I totally agree with you.  They are only holding it off until they can sneak it through,  the barstewards.  The Govt. have already cut subsidies to local councils which has resulted in councils (mainly Tory and Lib Dem) imposing on working age people less council tax rebate.   I have to pay £5 a week towards mine.  This is a cut in real terms.  

      I think we should all write to the big companies - Google,  Starbucks,  Amazon etc. and tell them because they aren't paying their proper taxes (also individuals like Wayne Rooney,  Jimmy Carr,  Gary Barlow) and using 'legal' loopholes then can they send us some of this money please.  There would be no need for austerity measures if they all paid their full whack would there?    But then it's not to do with money but idealogy... x

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