changes to sanctions for work focused interviews

Hi All,

Really desperate for some help. I am totally not well at all and have appointemnt for wfi soon. Rang to see if it could be done over phone or at home. The advisor said no, that they were not allowed and said had to go to do a work plan. I Explained to ill to attend.They threatened sanctions, which I know of. But then said if I do not attend the rules for sanctions have recently changed. Firstly they deduct wrag portions as explained in this website, but the new rules say now they can take the the whole on your benefit eventually if you do not attend.
This means that the whole of your benefit can be eventually taken away if you cannot comply with the work related group.

Please can you tell me if this is true and if new rules are in force.

Thankyou
So worried

jenny wrote:

Hi All,

Really desperate for some help. I am totally not well at all and have appointemnt for wfi soon. Rang to see if it could be done over phone or at home. The advisor said no, that they were not allowed and said had to go to do a work plan. I Explained to ill to attend.They threatened sanctions, which I know of. But then said if I do not attend the rules for sanctions have recently changed. Firstly they deduct wrag portions as explained in this website, but the new rules say now they can take the the whole on your benefit eventually if you do not attend.
This means that the whole of your benefit can be eventually taken away if you cannot comply with the work related group.

Please can you tell me if this is true and if new rules are in force.

Thankyou
So worried

Hi J,

I am sorry to hear of your problems.

The rules for sanctions are as follows from Regulation 60 of ESA Regs :

The sanction for failing to comply with work-related requirement provides for the reduction of the WRA component by 50% for four weeks and by 100% for continued failure thereafter.

It may help if you can gain the support of your G.P. also.

If you are not fit enough to attend WFI's at all, have you considered appealing to be placed into the Support Group ?

bro58

Thankyou so much Gordon for your quick reply. Wonder why they threatened this.

Hi J,

See these threads from rightsnet also :

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/3582/

&

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/3377/

See the decision makers guide link on the last post of the thread directly above, also.

You may need to get professional advice to help you here, see :

Where to get advice?

bro58

Thankyou so much bro58 for your quick reply. Have appealed but not heard anything yet.

J