[holding answer 25 January 2010]: Employment and support allowance continues to be paid to customers who are in the work related activity group pending the outcome of an appeal against a decision not to award the support component of the benefit.
Employment and support allowance can also be paid pending the outcome of an appeal where a decision has been made that the customer does not have limited capability for work following a work capability assessment.
If an employment and support allowance claimant completes assessment they are placed in one of three groups:
Support group (for those with severe disabilities)—they receive a higher rate of benefit entitlement overall and exemption from mandatory involvement with Pathways to Work.
Work related activity group—they receive higher rate of benefit than those on jobseeker's allowance and are mandated to engage with Pathways to Work.
Fit for work—the employment and support allowance claim should cease although individuals can ask for a reconsideration or appeal if they disagree with the decision.
People in the support group are not assessed on the basis of points scored but on the basis of the nature and severity of their condition. Most people in the work related activity group claim employment and support allowance on the basis of scoring enough points against an assessment of their functional capability.
The latest data on the assessment of employment and support allowance claimants was published on 19 January 2010 and can be found:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_arc.asp
This shows that 12 per cent. of employment and support allowance claims are placed in the work related activity group (or 23 per cent. of those claims which complete assessment). Note that 9 per cent. of people in the work related activity group are placed there on the basis of their condition (e.g. uncontrollable diseases) or their work capability assessment is deferred (e.g. hospital in-patients) rather than points scored.