ESA work-focused interview....

Everyday living
1

Hi there

I am not yet dx, so hope it’s ok for me to post on here.

I am currently under investigation by a Neurologist. I have been ill on and off for many years, but things became a lot worse in November 2012, eventually leading to me losing my job a year later. I subsequently applied for ESA and have been granted it for a year, pending the physical assessment thingy that I have yet to have.

I have today received an appointment for a Work-focused interview at my local Job Centre. I am a little confused by this, as if I were well enough to be looking for work I wouldn’t have lost the lovely job I had before and certainly wouldn’t be claiming ESA.

I was just wondering if any of you had been to one of these appointments and could give me an idea as to what it entails. From what I can glean from the letter, it’s going to be a complete waste of time, and even attending the interview will be a struggle for me at the moment. However, I suppose if I don’t go then they will hold it against me.

Any advice would be very much appreciated

2

There are two levels of ESA. The Support Group – for the most severely disabled who will never get back to work. The other group – The Work Related Activity Group are people the DWP deem may get back into employment in 12 months. Members of the WRAG are required to attend Work Focused interviews at the job centre.

It is a bone of contention for many (if not most) of the WRAG that there is an assumption that they will get better and run back to work in the next few months! The work-focused interviews are supposed to be about helping you to do this but since the advisors don’t have magic wands I suspect that they are largely useless.

However you assume correctly that not attending will have consequences. Failure to attend work focused interviews without a good reason will result in sanctions and a loss of benefit

Jane

3

Thank you so much for your reply, Jane.

I just assumed that they wouldn’t decide what group I was in until I’d had the physical assessment, but it seems they have already made up their minds! I only wish I was that confident in such a rapid and complete recovery!!

I don’t suppose you know whether this means I won’t be asked to attend the physical assessment??

4

It may be worth giving the DWP a call PD. It would be very naughty of them to put you in the work focused group without informing you (although not unheard of), as that takes away your right to appeal the decision (normally within 1 month of the decision).

As for the interviews, I had a few of these in my first year of ESA. The person I saw was very kind and actually helped me to start filling out my DLA form. She could obviously tell that I wasn’t fit to look for work and the issue was never even raised!

I hope you get one of the good ones hun, just make it clear to them how limited you are physically at the moment, as I believe they can actually arrange to do the sessions over the phone if you are not well enough to attend in person.

Having said all that, it really does sound as though you should be in the Support Group…

Mags xx

5

Hi It’s not unheard of to be in the wrag before an ATOS assessment. I obviously don’t know what your job was so whether you would be able to do any other role it would be wrong of me to guess. The dwp don’t judge that you will have a rapid and complete recovery. Just enough to do another type of job, not necessarily the one you had before. Without a dx it would be hard to place you in the support group as can they be sure that a recovery of some sort would not occur. Sorry if this disappoints you. Neil

6

Hi Purple,

At one time, I was in the work related activity group, and even then it was clear I was too ill to work. However, I attended just to keep my benefits going. The same lady saw me for every appointment, ( cant remember how often it was ) and we built up a lovely friendship. She was wonderful, warm, so understanding and helpful. She was such a good listener, I actually enjoyed going. It was never for long, just 30 mins. Even when I cancelled appointments due to increased pain/sickness, they worked around me, letting me either have talks over the phone or just moved my appointment dates around. They were very flexible and accommodating.

Like Mags said, my adviser never even questioned my health, and we did not discuss getting back to work at all, as there was no point. She could see I was too ill, and just used the appointments as therapy sessions really. Apparently alot of people were doing this. It was a chance to get things off my chest, talk about anything and everthing and even have a good cry ( I had just had to give up the job I loved).

Im not sure its the same for everyone, but I did know that alot of very ill/disabled people attended these sessions and did not even discuss anything work related.There was nothing the advisors could do to help, with regards to getting back to work. Basically, it was just to tick boxes and keep their benefits going, and from what I saw, the whole team were lovely to everyone.

At first though, like you I was very confused and it was not explained to me what WRAG was, and why I had even been put in this group. So I contacted my local Disability Advice Project ( also for people with illnesses) and they gave me plenty of help, reassurance and explained everything. I would be lost without this team. Ever since then, they have gone on to help me with DLA and DWP forms and tribunals. I understand the system much better now and still call them when ever I need them.

Try contacting your local Disability Advice centre/service. I found them much more informative than the DWP helplines. This way, you will stand a better ground and be sure that you are put in the correct group in the future.

Its definately worth a shot.

Almond xxx

7

Thank you to everyone for your replies.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the lady I see is one of the good guys!

My appointment is in a couple of weeks…I will let you know how I get on.