Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether claimants of employment support allowance (ESA) judged by a tribunal to be eligible to be in the support group after the expiry of their 365 days of contribution-based ESA, become eligible for indefinite contributions-based ESA.

People in the Support Group who are claiming Contributions based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will not have their benefit time limited.

Anyone who meets the criteria for Contributions based ESA, who appeals the outcome of their Work Capability Assessment, and is subsequently placed in the Support Group, will not be subject to a 365 day restriction. The decision of the tribunal applies back to the date of our original decision, hence any payments they are found to be entitled to will be awarded from that date.