ESA - WRAG. Telephone Interviews

[WhyOhWhy13]

Hi, my advisor says I can not have telephone interviews anymore, which has really distressed me. I can not make physical appointments at all. I find it hard enough to even make it to my doctors (the only time I do out, with someone with me) Maybe 3 times a year or less.

 

So I was just asking for help if this is true or not? Because If I can't make appointments.... then I will lose my benefits?

 

Thank you.

Edited February 6, 2016 by WhyOhWhy13

[ripples]

Were you put in the ESA WRAG as the result of a fresh claim or were you migrated from another benefit? How long have you been on ESA for? Unfortunately being in the working group you can be sanctioned for not attending work focus interviews (WFI ) or for not taking part in work related activity Your benefit will be reduced rather than stopped completely and this can continue for up to four weeks after you have complied. Your best option may be to try and be reassessed for the support group which would mean you won't be sanctioned but you will need to see your doctor to keep him/her up to date with condition and get their advice

[Lapsed Workaholic]

WhyOhWhy

 

You say that you have been told that for you telephone interviews cannot be conducted anymore.

 

You do not say whether or not you will be expected to attend interviews physically, in person. If you are, please be aware that you can be accompanied at such interviews.

 

You have not mentioned either whether the adviser you are dealing with is JCP or some sort of Work Programme Provider.

 

For any and all interviews arranged for you a Mandatory Activity Notification (MAN) letter has to be sent or handed to you. Those letters must contain details that are specified by law. If they do not then, legally, any obligation that the letter is supposed to impose on you is nullified.

 

Another legal obligation is that you must be given time to ask for a reconsideration of your adviser's decision to refer you to whatever it is that the letter is asking/telling you to do.

 

In the meantime you could prepare yourself for the worst by considering the following:

 

If your doctors can confirm that you have a medical condition and that you are getting treatment for it, they might be able to give you some sort of letter, or send JCP or WPP a letter, explaining that what you are now expected to undertake would be difficult for you and could very well have a retrograde effect on the treatment you are getting and, thereby, your condition.

 

You could then prepare a letter to this adviser's manager asking for a reconsideration of the adviser's decision. Ask him/her to let you know if the adviser is aware of your circumstances and medical condition and the effect that this decision will have on you.

 

You could also insist on being told what medical qualification, or training, the adviser has that enables or entitles him/her to recommend this activity for you.

Once you have brought your current complaint/grievance to the attention of the powers that be, in writing, it could very well be advisable to consider asking for a reconsideration of your ESA assessment and all that jazz etc.