Post by NiteawkPost by RobbiePost by NiteawkI attend my last WRAG appointment in less than 2 weeks time.
Rumour has it we are going to be put on JSA after 12 months, I don't
know if this is true or not.
Can anyone shed any light on this.
The intention is to time limit contributions based ESA in a similar
way to contributions based JSA, except the time limit will be 12
months rather than 6 months. This will only apply to people placed in
the WRAG group, those in the support group will be unaffected.
After 12 months in the WRAG then the person would have to qualify for
the income based equivalent. The legislation has yet to be introduced
but should apply from 2012 or 2013.
So this only relates to the contribution and income related side of
benefits, thats a relief. I thought people in WRAG were going to get
kicked off ESA after 12 mts. Only people in the support group were
exempt. It does make you wonder what the point of the WRAG is, anyone in
this group is considered fit for work so technically they should be on JSA.
The WRAG is for people with limited capacity for work and is intended as a
half way house between not being able to work at all and being fully fit
for full time work. It includes people who are normally in work but who
can't get SSP for whatever reason and therefore would be unable to claim
JSA. In fact a good % of people on ESA are not unemployed in the sense
that they have no job. In this case the WRAG acts as a way to help enable
them move back into work.
I see, so WRAG is for those who could work a few hours if they can find this
type of work, that is fairly useful. Its a pity the DWP and ATOS don't see
it like that. They think the system is for kicking people off ESA, declare
them 100% fit and put them on JSA, and then tell them they do not qualify
for JSA when they say they are not well or fit enough to do loading and
unloading warehouse work.
The wonderful world of benefits. Catch 22. ;)