I agree & this is my concern, particularly as I've had couple of threats after ringing them when to ill to attend previously

Thanks Mr P He entered the appointments in a 'Fortnightly Review & Progression Record' & though it does not refer to activities as Mandatory it does include the sentence 'If you do not undertake the activities in this notification, your benefits could be affected'. I'm therefore presuming it counts as a MAN? Just noticed the first appointment is to Attend Work Related Activity Session', he implied it was a further review As he told me of the changes, he DID NOT refer to the activities as mandatory, or advise failure could affect benefits. Though I'm within my rights to request a reconsideration, I'm worried that they may hit me with something worse if I do

Thanks again Reallymadwoman, you've raised some really good points for me to consider & raise. Wasn't sure whether I should first ring the advisor or speak to the centre manager. Why does the poo seem to hit the fan on a Fri & this time it was a bank holiday On the plus side I remembered this site & it being a great help & support

Hi Reallymadwoman I got 15 points for maintaining consciousness due to migraine which affects my brain stem, resulting in me needing to lie in darkened bedroom 3 to 4 days a week. I also get DLA-low for mobility & mid for care. Hi Mr P Thanks for your reply and the links. I realise subjective, which makes it all more difficult to know how best to deal with this. He told me the listed changes and gave the dates to attend in a Fortnightly Review & Progression Record, he said I'd get a letter about the work fair.

I am on ESA & in the WRAG group. I've been having monthly telephone reviews due to my condition, however my advisor rang to inform me I'd need to attend on Friday. He told me things had changed and that: 1. I would now have to attend reviews every two weeks 2. I will have to go to a Work Fair in Sept 3. In order to receive travel expenses I'll have to be in the office for a minimum of 1hr I've searched the net for any Govt. changes & have found nothing. I'm now thinking perhaps these changes are by Seetec & that I'm being being set up to fail! According to WP Provider Guidelines v9.00 updated 14/04/14, activities should be reasonable in participants circumstances & health conditions need to be considered. I also drew a blank when looking for information to challenge a WP provider's activities My questions are: Re 1 Going from a phone call a month to fornightly attendance does not seem reasonable, what can I do to challenge this? Re 2 Does attending a work fair amount to looking for employment? Re 3 Can they apply conditions to reimbursement? It seems like a huge jump to me, and will result in me being sanctioned. Advice will be greatly appreciated, as I've had very little sleep since worrying about it all.

Hi Mr.P unfortunately don't have anybody to go with, been pretty much isolated as my health issues began as I relocated to this region. Do have a digital recorder though I could try to use. Have an appointment at Ipswich on Tues, letter saying that activity forms part of WR activity plan. As far as I know I don't have a plan. Also got a threat of sanctions WP13 saying although I attended I refused to fully participate, engage or co-operate with the initial assessment.

Just a quick update of the situation, would have done it earlier but been really unwell. The following day a received an appointment letter from Seetec giving me a time and date, stating I'd failed to attend mandatory appointment. Silly lie, unless they destroy the log in & out book there's a record of attendance. Whatever he filled in on the PC prove I was there? Rang a couple of days later requesting to attend the closer office if I would be transferred there in any case. On Monday I sent a letter of complaint to the manager recorded delivery & a copy to my local JC+ office. As yet I've had no reply from either. Although I have received 'Your next mandatory appointment for the WP' from the new office. Does anybody know how they are supposed to work within your health/condition if they have no details of this? I'm really worried about this as I feel I'm being set up to fail here. It's totally mad, I've recently been awarded low rate DLA for mobility & middler rate for care yet it seems they can expect me to go every week or fortnight??

Hi Flumps thanks, since posting found Seetec's complaints procedure. Can't email as I don't have the address so i think I'll send a letter to the manager, registered of course as these things often get lost. Even before this I was concerned about what i would be expected to do, so I don't suppose you have any ideas or comments about the last paragraph of my post?

Thanks for your support Ruby_Tuesday, it's difficult to know where to go and who to ask about a situation like this. Could only think of CAG. Not only that, I've found very little about ESA claimants and WP providers in general, guess it early days.

I attended the WP initial interview on Thursday and to say it didn't go well would be an understatement. It all started going wrong pretty much from entering the building, they pointed out I should be at a closer office & that travel expenses would not be paid if I continued to go there. This was after explaining I'd been given the option by the DWP. On joining the advisor, he got narky from finding out that I hadn't signed the data protection waivers. He asked if I was going to comply and I told him that of course I was. I became ill at the time I relocated & have been socially isolated, my only friend in the region recently moved abroad, so I don't think he believed me when I said I had no relatives or friends to contact in the event of becoming unwell at their office. It got worse when he began creating a CV for me on his pc, I offered to see if I had a copy at home & if not create one for the next appointment. However he maintained it had to be done there and then, I pointed out that I thought I did not have to give them this. At which he shouted at me to leave right now as I wasn't complying, I said that I was complying he again told me to leave and that another appointment would be sent in the post. I left feeling confused, bullied, upset & tearful. Today I received a letter from the DWP informing me that sanctions were being considered as I had not attended the mandatory appointment. What should I do about this? I don't think they should get away with treating people like that and also lying that I had not attended. Also I understand that WP providers can only expect you to undertake activities that are reasonable under your circumstances. I've just read that restrictions faced by participants will be detailed in the referral, however this is just a very brief outline of my condition and how it affects me, for example spending an hour or so on a computer or in their office will result in a migraine. So how to get this and other important information over to a WP provider?

Did a search 'esa wrag work programme' didn't find many recent experiences, which why I'm a bit clueless. Though did get don't sign waivers and can't be forced to do anything you scored points on, as my 15 were on consciousness descriptor not sure it helps? Did make a couple of phone calls and found out you cannot be put on Work Programme before your WFI. Seetec sent me the wrong letter & made appointment at wrong office, great start filling me with confidence. An important point, the 2-3 hour appointment is not really an appointment, it's first come first served, so REQUEST a one to one appointment to avoid a possible long wait.

Hi debt4get Can they put you on a work programme before a WFI? Missed original WFI date as letter never arrived. Actual WFI took place Fri 11th Jan at end of the day. Got letter from Seetec dated 15/01 saying failed to attend initial appointment to Work Programme. Impossible? Also Seetec appointment in a different town to that on the action plan & too early cause of meds, can I get it in the town I want and at a different time?

Hi all. I'm a newbie, although I've read lots of posts this is my first, so hope I don't ramble & it's in the right place. I have about 3 migraines a wk, meaning I spend 3-4 days a wk in my darkened bedroom. due to pain, made worse by movement & light. Daily Auras cause visual disturbances. Other symptoms include: unsteady, drunk like gait, episodes of not being present about 1x wkly, loss of consciousness about 1x wkly, nausea/vomiting. All this started after relocating to a new area where I know nobody and I'm totally isolated. The condition itself results in depression, the constant DWP harassment (constant since Oct'11) is making this so much worse. I first claimed ESA in Sept'09 and have had 3 WCA's - 1st: zero points overturned at tribunal appeal a year later, 15pts consciousness. 2nd: waited for 3mths for the outcome of LCW only to receive an ESA50 the next day. 3rd: zero points, overturned by GL24 appea in Novl, with help from a local disability group. On Sat the 8/12 I got a sanction letter from JC+ for failing to attend WFI, which I never received a letter. After an horrendously anxious wkend, this was overturned after to the advisor and making another appointment, which was on Fri 11/01 at 4pm. I was mandated to Seetec work programme and told to expect to hear from them in a couple of weeks. Today I received a letter from Seetec saying I failed to attend initial appointment, again no letter received (How is it ESA50's & sanction letters Arrive?), with a new date & time and saying I'll be there for 2-3 hrs. However this is impossible as I didn't leave JC+ until 16:45 Fri, unless this was put in motion on the 8/12? Also it is in a different town to stated in Action Plan, due to Meds no way can get there for 9am, no contact tel number included in letter. I'm seriously at my wits end with all this, any help/advice would be appreciated.