Work Focused Interviews

feline wrote: Hello there,

Just thought I would post up an update to my previous posts about WRA at my local Jobcentre.

As I mentioned previously, I was suddenly called up to my local Jobcentre (Brixton) and asked to attend fortnightly interviews indefinitely until I was in work, despite having very serious medical conditions. My personal advisor told me it was obvious I shouldn't be in the WRAG but said there was nothing she could do. I wrote to the JC at the advice of Disability Rights UK with medical info from two health professionals, both advising that I was not well enough for work related activity. The JC called me up to say they would not change their minds or make 'exceptions' for me based on my health, because it would show favouritism. I was baffled. In the mean time I wrote to the DWP asking for my claim to be looked at again, and requesting entry to the support group (this was in December of last year).

In January I was sent a new ESA50 form, and shortly later, and letter from Atos for a medical. On the day of the medical itself, as I was about to set off in the taxi for the assessment, I received a letter from Atos saying I didn't need to attend because they had enough medical info to make a decision (I sent in 3 medical letters with my ESA50!).

Shortly afterwards I received another letter saying I had been moved from the WRAG to the Support Group!

My JC advisor at my next appointment told me I was no longer obliged to attend once the news was through, but that could I write a letter of positive feedback about her saying how helpful she had been (she was very pushy about this). It all sounded a bit dodgy to me and I have not done this (dealing with Brixton JC was like dealing with an office from a Kafka novel - inhumane and baffling).

I have been told I will be in the Support Group until spring 2015 until next reassessment - thank you to everyone here for their support and advice, and the great Benefits and Work guides which were invaluable in helping me fill out the forms. In total the whole process took 6 months - phew! Thanks again to everyone

Much love,

feline x

Hi f,

Thanks for the comprehensive update.

Well done on persevering, and gaining entry to The SG.

I certainly wouldn't write anything complimentary under the scenario that you have posed, either.

Hopefully, you will now have a period of peace for a couple of years.

bro58

^ Thanks bro58, and once again to the Benefits and Work website which was invaluable x

Your jc+ could not have been right expecting you to have gone for fortnightly interviews until you got work, this makes WRAG little more than JSA and is not the remit of the Work Group in any case.

Anyways, well done in getting into the SG on reconsideration