please read my post above. unfortunately work programme DOES exist for ESA.but not in this situation.(yet) ESA claimants are devided in two groups : either support group or work related activity group,those in support group will not be referred to wp,but those (majority) on work related activity group can be referred to WP. while a persons claim is being decided and they are receiving only the basic rate they Do not need to participate in WP.

you have been misled. you DEFINITELY do not need to attend ANY wp appoitment while you are on ASSESSMENT phase of ESA. the WP providers do not know this and might tell you otherwise but you can simply check with jobcentre plus. it does not matter whether you were on WP on your previous JSA claim or not. that being said;when your esa claim is finalized and if they put you on work related activity group,you can be referred to work programme,but it will be different than WP for people on JSA and you will not be asked to apply for a job.let alone asking you for attending mandatory work placements. if they put you on support group then you will not be referred to WP at all. I am %100 sure about what I said above. good luck.