AfME ESA survey results & DWP July ESA data (improving?)

[Simon]

New data on ESA from AfME
The latest issue of Interaction has results of its survey of members experiences of ESA.

OF 333 people who had received results:

• 31% denied ESA
• 49% in WRAG
• 20% in Support group

[note: in the original data 6% said they didn't know which group they were in so I pro-rated this between WRAG and Support group]

Of 42 people who said they were severely affected:

• 19% denied ESA
• 33% in WRAG
• 38% in Support Group

- which is better than all members, but still staggering that 19% were denied ESA.

AfME reported July statisitcs from DWP on ESA NEW claimants:

• 55% denied ESA (down from 69%)
• 56% in support group (presumably 56% of the 45% awarded ESA = 25% of applicants)
• - the 56% is up from 33%.

Just one month's data but it does look like succes rates are improving. However, these results might include those moving from IncapacityBenefit to ESA, which would probably account for at least some of the improvement.