Hi, my name is suejks! PIP & ESA advice for my sister

suejks

Hello I am looking for some advice regarding my 57 year old sister who has severe learning disabilities. With the support of a very good employer, she was able to work as a care assistant for more than 30 years. However, following a serious injury at work, she has been left unable to use her right arm (she is awaiting surgery, but this may not allow her to work in this field again). 
Following the death of our parents, I now am responsible for supporting her and have LPAs etc. 
I have recently applied and been awarded PIP. She has been getting ESA based on her previous contributions. She has just been assessed as being capable of work and will be put into a work related activity group with her ESA stopping in 2 weeks time. 
She went to a special school over 50 years ago. A recent educational assessment said that she has a reading age of a 6 year old and very very low verbal, visual and numerical reasoning. Although she lives semi-independently she is supported in all aspects of her life.
I want to appeal the decision. I want to know if she should have been entitled to have an assessment by a learning disabilities specialist - as the person we spoke to by telephone appeared to have no real interest in this aspect of her life. 

She would love to have a job - but realistically there is absolutely no chance of her being employed with one arm and a severe learning disability.

If anyone else has any experience of this, I would be really grateful to hear about it.

poppy123456

You can request the Mandatory Reconsideration, (MR) on the ESA decision. The reason her ESA is stopping is because New style ESA is only paid for 1 year unless placed into the Support Group.

Whem requesting the MR you should put this in writing stating why you think you should be placed into the Support Group. You can see the descriptors here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @suejks

Welcome to the community! It sounds like it's been a frustrating time navigating everything, you are a wonderful sibling  

The NHS has a webpage on Learning difficulties, with a section about a needs assessment which I think could be beneficial to read. 

suejks

Thanks I will take a look.

L_Volunteer

Have you managed to take a look yet @suejks? If so, I am just wondering if you would like to talk to us a little more about how you found this website and if there's anything else we can do to support you