FW: Health conditions that get into the support group plus tribunals nobbled?

[Guest guest]

From: Benefits and Work

[mailto:campaign@...]

Sent: 03 February 2011 18:27

sheilaturner@...

Subject: Health conditions that get into the support group plus

tribunals nobbled?

I am in shock

The post was on the mat when

we got home from a blood test. I am in shock, original decision of no

mobility or care been changed to Highest Rate Mobility & Highest Rate Care.

Backdated to July 2010, awarded for 1yr to Jan 2012.

Jellie

Read more feedback from the forum at the end of this newsletter

Health conditions that get

into the support group plus tribunals nobbled?

Dear

Subscriber,

The DWP have

released their latest collection of employment and support allowance (ESA)

statistics which show that success in getting into the support group can vary

from 56% down to 2%, depending on the type of health condition you have. We’ve

taken a closer look at which

conditions get into the support group. (Members

only)

Still with ESA, we have had further confirmation that the harsh

new work capability assessment is to be introduced at the end of March.

But the number of incapacity

benefit claimants being assessed in the first month has now been greatly

reduced. (Members

only)

Still, if things are looking grim for claimants, then they aren’t looking very

cheery for the companies hoping to make money from pushing them into work

either. Following warnings that the work

programme may not be financially viable, private sector bidders are

abandoning areas like the west midlands and, in one case, ditching the entire

project.

Things are also looking grim for the people who advise claimants. News

that 900

debt workers have been issued with redundancy notices following the axing

of government funding is making it even more of a certainty that many advice

agencies will face closure. Indeed, Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau is

just weeks away from closure following the withdrawal of local authority

funding.

Those advisors rights workers who do manage to keep their jobs may find that

success at ESA appeals becomes more of a struggle. Benefits and Work

can reveal that Teams of DWP decision makers and Atos doctors are being

surreptitiously shown into tribunals service (TS) back offices and being

allowed to go through employment and support allowance appeal files, hunting

for cases to either award benefits to or ask to have struck out. Find out

what

has happened to the independence of the tribunals service. (Members

only)

Claimants aren’t giving up without a fight, however. We’ve produced a round-up

of current campaigns from national marches to attend, petitions to sign, a

DLA early day motion to badger your MP about and . . . a mass visit to

Osborne’s house, apparently.

WIN A FREE SUBSCRIPTION

And just before we go to the traditional good news section: why not

follow us on Twitter and get the chance to win a year’s subscription? We have

three subscriptions for claimants and one for a professional agency (it will

need to be your agency following us) to give away. But don’t hang about,

you need to be following us by 6pm on Monday 7th February to be in with a

chance.

There’s more

details about why we’re using Twitter and links to get you started if you

don’t already use Twitter here. If you’re an old hand (which we

definitely aren’t, you’ll find us @benefitsandwork

GOOD NEWS FROM THE

BENEFITS AND WORK FORUMS

From

6 points to 21 points at ESA appeal

Incapacity

benefit appeal success

Remaining

in WRAG without a medical

Middle

rate care on top of higher mobility after asking for claim to be looked at

again

ESA renewed for ME/CFS without medical

DLA

renewed after just two weeks

Placed

in support group after visit from ESA manager

From

0 to 18 points for ESA appeal

You can also read

this newsletter online.

Good luck,

Steve Donnison

PLEASE NOTE: THE REPLY TO ADDRESS ON THIS NEWSLETTER JUST COLLECTS HUNDREDS OF

AUTOREPLIES.

You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter on your blog, website, forum or

newsletter.

If you have problems accessing the site or logging in, visit the Help

with the site page, where you can find possible solutions and contact

details for our technical support.

To unsubscribe or change your details, please use the Manage my subscription

link below.

© 2011 Steve Donnison

This message was sent to

sheilaturner@... from:

Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd | PO Box

4352 | Warminster, Wilts BA12 2AF, United Kingdom

Email Marketing by

Manage Your Subscription | Send To a Friend