ESA reassessment

pjgumna

Hi all, I'm posting on behalf of my brother. He was reassessed for ESA last December and has now been put into the Enhanced ESA support group, which is good news for him as he was in the standard support group.The question I'm asking is will he have any backdated payments. Thankyou

pjgumna

Sorry I meant he sent his reassessment form back last December and had his award letter today.

poppy123456

There’s only one Support Group. There’s no such thing as standard and Enhanced Support Group.

Are you sure this is for ESA and not PIP? Standard and Enhanced refer to PIP.

pjgumna

Hi there, he's had the higher rate awarded that's what I meant

poppy123456

If you mean he was in the WRAG previously then if it was a review started by DWP then the extra money is paid from when the decision was made. No money is owed.

If he reported changes to his health condition, which prompted the review then it will be from when he rang to report the changes.

pjgumna

Ok thank-you. He was in the support group not work related group. He was reassessed and has been awarded the higher rate. So no money owed?

poppy123456

You're not making any sense. There's no higher rate of the Support Group. There's only one Support Group and one rate. If he's remained in the Support Group then his money will remain the same.

Please check with your brother of this was definitely ESA or if if it was PIP.

pjgumna

He had a letter to say after his reassessment he now gets an extra £47.70 per week. So now I'm confused.

poppy123456

Ok so that's Support Group amount. This must mean that he wasn't previously in the Support Group, he was in the WRAG. (work related activity group) For ESA there's 2 groups, WRAG and Support Group. There's no standard or enhanced support group.

This means my advice here previously applies..

If it was a review started by DWP then the extra money is paid from when the decision was made. No money is owed. 

If he reported changes to his health condition, which prompted the review then it will be from when he rang to report the changes.

If the letter didn't mention being owed any money then no money is owed.

pjgumna

Sorry for confusion. Its all clear now. Thankyou