What are the groups of ESA?
There are three decisions the DWP can make about your ESA claim, as they could decide:
- To give you ESA and put you into the work-related activity group (WRAG),
- To give you ESA and put you into the support group, or
- You are fit for work and should not get ESA.
There are three decisions the DWP can make about your ESA claim
Work-related activity group (WRAG)
- You will have to go to at least one work-focused interview.
- You may have to take part in the Work Programme.
- You will get less money than if you are in the support group.
- You can only get contribution-based ESA for one year.
Support Group
- You do not have to go to interviews or take part in the Work Programme.
- If you get contribution-based ESA, you can get it as long as you meet the criteria for the support group.
- You will get an additional amount of money on top of the basic ESA rate from the 14th week of your claim. If it takes the DWP longer than this to decide which group to put you in, they will backdate the money.
