ESA and work programme - Urgent help needed

[nono]

Hello, so the morale of the story is I claim ESA and have done for 7 months. I have not been to a medical yet to asses my illness as to why I am unable to work. Yesterday I got a letter from a company telling me I have to come in for a work programme.

 

So just wanted to know, should I go or not? How can they ask me to attend a work programme when they have not even done a medical yet? It states I could lose my ESA payments if I do not go.

 

All help appreciated.

[honeybee13]

Hello there and welcome to CAG.

 

Which company is the letter from please?

 

My best, HB

[nono]

Thanks, it is from maximus. it says I have a group work session "job search/Action planning" like eh?

[nono]

Is this the same as the work programme I got sent to on JSA in which they forced me to attend EVERY DAY?

[RaeUK]

7 months is a bit of a long time. Are you still on the assessment rate and completed an ESA50?

[nono]

7 months is a bit of a long time. Are you still on the assessment rate and completed an ESA50?

 

Since I started claiming up until now I have been gettting £67.50. What is an ESA50? I have only ever filled in one form and I send a medical cert every month.

[nono]

Btw my appointment is on tuesday morning.

[RaeUK]

That's the assessment rate, I know it well! The ESA50 is a form that most people complete as part of the assessment. It asks a lot of questions about what you can and can't do. Usually the precursor to the ATOSH WCA. Seems odd that you've been on the assessment rate for 7 months and not had either. I'd give your usual DWP BDC a ring and see what's happening. Coincidentally, I'm giving mine a ring tomorrow to see how things are going as I'm on week 12. The assessment phase is 13 weeks although there can be a backlog ...

[nono]

That's the assessment rate, I know it well! The ESA50 is a form that most people complete as part of the assessment. It asks a lot of questions about what you can and can't do. Usually the precursor to the ATOSH WCA. Seems odd that you've been on the assessment rate for 7 months and not had either. I'd give your usual DWP BDC a ring and see what's happening. Coincidentally, I'm giving mine a ring tomorrow to see how things are going as I'm on week 12. The assessment phase is 13 weeks although there can be a backlog ...

 

Hmm. So I have not had the form or the medical and yet I am being sent to the work programme? Do I go or?

[RaeUK]

It's not uncommon to be called in for a meeting before the 'medical' etc due to backlogs. It is best to go if you can. They cannot force you into work. However, 7 months seems odd to me. I would call the DWP to see what the status of your claim is. Also, if you're currently unable to go then you can rearrange the appointment. I've always found the meetings useful. But, that said, I'm in one of the few remaining areas that is run by the Jobcentre staff and not outsourced ...

[nono]

It's not uncommon to be called in for a meeting before the 'medical' etc due to backlogs. It is best to go if you can. They cannot force you into work. However, 7 months seems odd to me. I would call the DWP to see what the status of your claim is. Also, if you're currently unable to go then you can rearrange the appointment. I've always found the meetings useful. But, that said, I'm in one of the few remaining areas that is run by the Jobcentre staff and not outsourced ...

 

Well when I was on JSA my woork programme was out sourced to this exact same company in the exact same place and they made me come in every day while I read for other people it was every few weeks etc. I do not wanna go through that again. I have a medical cert, I dunno how they can force this on me.

[RaeUK]

The difference is you're not on JSA. ESA works differently...

[antone]

Well when I was on JSA my woork programme was out sourced to this exact same company in the exact same place and they made me come in every day while I read for other people it was every few weeks etc. I do not wanna go through that again. I have a medical cert, I dunno how they can force this on me.

 

The rules for ESA are very different from those for JSA. They can't force you to come in every day or force you into work, training or anything like that. I'd attend if you can, because if you are later placed in the work related activity group you would lose money if you didn't. However, your ESA can't be stopped if you fail to attend. Here's how it works:

 

• For the first part of your ESA claim, called the "Assessment Phase", you are paid at a basic rate
  
• After your medical, if you are found unfit for work, you would be placed in one of two groups
  
• If the group is the WRAG, you would be entitled to extra money subject to you attending several meetings with advisers
  
• If you don't attend these meetings, that extra money can be partially or fully withheld
  
• This is known as a "sanction"
  
• A sanction would be withdrawn once you start attending the meetings, but it can't be backdated
  

 

So it's in your best interests to attend. However, I agree with Kelcou here - it's surprising that you have been on ESA for seven months and have not been asked to complete an ESA50 medical questionnaire or attend an exam. I would second the advice to call the DWP for a status check on your claim.

[RaeUK]

Thank-you, Antone, as ever more eloquent ...

[Life-Goes-On]

I echo the advice to call them.

Explain how it can't be right to be expected to go to theses meetings when a decision hasn't been made on what group you are in.

[nono]

Thanks for help so far.

 

What is a WRAG? If I phone them tomorrow morning and ask them what is happening with my claim and they tell me I need to attend this interview as part of my work related activity what am I meant to say? This is all confusing.

[Nystagmite]

WRAG = work related activity group. It's the group for people who are considered unfit for work; but might be able to work in the future.

[antone]

Thanks for help so far.

 

What is a WRAG? If I phone them tomorrow morning and ask them what is happening with my claim and they tell me I need to attend this interview as part of my work related activity what am I meant to say? This is all confusing.

 

As Nystagmite said, the WRAG is the work related activity group.

 

If you call tomorrow, point out that it has been 7 months and you have had no WCA (that's the medical exam, the Work Capability Assessment) and can they tell you why it's been so long. It's likely they'll tell you that you should attend the interview, but at this moment in time it won't make any difference to your payments if you don't.

 

We're advising that you should attend because if, after your medical, you are placed in the WRAG, you would be due extra backdated payments. You won't get these if you haven't attended the interviews.

 

To find out about the status of your claim call the processing office, not the place where your interview is scheduled.

[nono]

As Nystagmite said, the WRAG is the work related activity group.

 

If you call tomorrow, point out that it has been 7 months and you have had no WCA (that's the medical exam, the Work Capability Assessment) and can they tell you why it's been so long. It's likely they'll tell you that you should attend the interview, but at this moment in time it won't make any difference to your payments if you don't.

 

We're advising that you should attend because if, after your medical, you are placed in the WRAG, you would be due extra backdated payments. You won't get these if you haven't attended the interviews.

 

To find out about the status of your claim call the processing office, not the place where your interview is scheduled.

 

Thank you, ill update you all tomorrow.

[RaeUK]

Good luck nono. When you call your DWP BDC and ask about the ESA50 you'll probably be told what I was today about mine. I called as it's 12 weeks since my third claim was fast tracked. I spoke to someone at the BDC who said they can see no request for an ESA50 or WCA on the system. However, as these are handled entirely by ATOSH, he offered to put me through. Typically, just as the ATOSH guy answered the phone, my phone died. Still none the wiser ...