First Work Focussed Interview At Jobcentre

I’m in the WRAG and have an appointment for a Work focused interview in a couple of weeks. This is the first time that I’ve had to attend the job centre for an interview as the others were done over the phone while I was waiting for my appeal to be heard.
During the phone appointments the job centre advisor asked me about my health condition and wanted to know what medications I was taking ect. so I told her. She also agreed with me when I told her that most doctors don’t know how to treat thyroid and adrenal problems properly and said other claimants had told her this too.
Unfortunately during the first phone appointment I had after my appeal failed the advisors attitude had changed completely, asking me for the name of the private Dr. I was about to see (I didn’t tell her the doctors name) and asking me if I was only seeing this Dr. because he agreed with everything I said. She also told me words to the effect that not going out much wasn’t doing me any good, as if my circumstances and lifestyle had caused my illness and not the other way round. In effect she took what she had learnt about me in previous interviews and used this against me to deliberately wind me up. I’ve since found out (from this website ) that job centre staff are trained to wind up claimants in this way. So I suppose my question is: how much must I tell the advisor or how little can I get away with telling her so she can’t use it against me? And any other tips for surviving work focussed interviews really. BTW I have memory problems (mostly short term) this makes spontaneous conversation difficult sometimes so defending myself against job centre staff who are being deliberately awkward is particularly difficult. This is also partly why my appeal failed

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Meconopsis wrote: I’m in the WRAG and have an appointment for a Work focused interview in a couple of weeks. This is the first time that I’ve had to attend the job centre for an interview as the others were done over the phone while I was waiting for my appeal to be heard.
During the phone appointments the job centre advisor asked me about my health condition and wanted to know what medications I was taking ect. so I told her. She also agreed with me when I told her that most doctors don’t know how to treat thyroid and adrenal problems properly and said other claimants had told her this too.
Unfortunately during the first phone appointment I had after my appeal failed the advisors attitude had changed completely, asking me for the name of the private Dr. I was about to see (I didn’t tell her the doctors name) and asking me if I was only seeing this Dr. because he agreed with everything I said. She also told me words to the effect that not going out much wasn’t doing me any good, as if my circumstances and lifestyle had caused my illness and not the other way round. In effect she took what she had learnt about me in previous interviews and used this against me to deliberately wind me up. I’ve since found out (from this website ) that job centre staff are trained to wind up claimants in this way. So I suppose my question is: how much must I tell the advisor or how little can I get away with telling her so she can’t use it against me? And any other tips for surviving work focussed interviews really. BTW I have memory problems (mostly short term) this makes spontaneous conversation difficult sometimes so defending myself against job centre staff who are being deliberately awkward is particularly difficult. This is also partly why my appeal failed

Sorry for the lengthy post.

Hi M,

I have just spotted your query hidden two thirds through your post :

"So I suppose my question is: how much must I tell the advisor or how little can I get away with telling her so she can’t use it against me?"

There are some tips which may be helpful under the heading : "Dealing with the DWP" on this page just under half way down :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/surviving-life-on-benefits#dwp

Even though you have not been placed into The SG, as you are in The WRAG, it has still been accepted that you have Limited Capability for Work. (LCW)

You are deemed unfit to actively seek or take up employment.

The JCP Adviser has to pay due regards to any "Limitations" that you do suffer as a result of your medical conditions, and should compile any action plan with these limitations in mind.

Under The Equality Act 2010, they have to make Reasonable Adjustments which is covered at : Section 20 of : EA2010

Further, as a Public Service Provider, they have a "Duty of Care" as at : Section 149.

They have to abide by the above, if you fulfill : The definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010

It may help if you provide written details of your limitations,and make them aware that you are informed with regards to the information provided above.

With the DWP or any potential employer, you do not have to volunteer information, you only have to respond to any particular questions that may be asked.

If you feel that the Adviser may try and bully or intimidate you as part of any WFI, you could covertly record any meetings.

You could also request that you are accompanied by a friend/relative, etc, especially as it seems that you have memory problems.

Any one who accompanies you could take notes, and the fact that you are accompanied may change the balance of power in that the JCP Adviser will be aware that you have a witness, taking notes.

Remember, these "Advisers" are not medically qualified, nor do they have the power to sanction you, only a DM can do that.

If you feel that you are being bullied, you should complain, and enlist the help of CAB or the like.

Any evidence that you have to substantiate the bullying should help.

Have you read the following ? :

Work Focused Interviews

Work Programme

Changes to ESA Sanctions

Good luck, and please keep us updated.

bro58

Er, yeah sorry for the rant before the query just that the advisor's attitude caught me off guard though I suppose that's the idea

Thanks for the links, I hadn't seen the legal stuff before. I don't have the equipment to record my interview but someone will be coming with me so I'll have a witness. I'll let you know what happens.

Update: I've been for my interview and the advisors attitude changed (almost ) completely, hopefully it was having a witness there that did the trick. I've been told I can have a phone appointment in about six months.

Thanks for the help

Meconopsis wrote: Update: I've been for my interview and the advisors attitude changed (almost ) completely, hopefully it was having a witness there that did the trick. I've been told I can have a phone appointment in about six months.

Thanks for the help

Hi M,

I am glad to hear that The JCP Adviser "changed their attitude" at the WFI, and that you can now have a "Telephone Interview" !!

As with all "bullies" they tend to pick on individuals who they think are vulnerable, and can't/won't fight back !!

Knowledge in empowering, and letting any potential bully know that you have said knowledge can be a deterrent.

Having a witness present may also have helped !!

Thanks for the update.

bro58