Work focused interview access issues

Indeed! But, perversely, the fact that I am willing to protest, and put up a fight, despite it being such a chore whilst I am feeling so ill, and more than a little depressed by it all, could show that I do after all have some capacity to work, and ultimately disprove my claim that I should be in the support group!

PC wrote: Indeed! But, perversely, the fact that I am willing to protest, and put up a fight, despite it being such a chore whilst I am feeling so ill, and more than a little depressed by it all, could show that I do after all have some capacity to work, and ultimately disprove my claim that I should be in the support group!

Yes PC,

You should consider all the pros and cons. As you are appealing to be placed into the SG, you are in fact claiming that you have Limited Capability for Work Related Activity, (LCWRA) which obviously includes WFI's.

There is nothing to stop someone complaining to your M.P. on your behalf.

bro58

That's another job for the gofer (he thinks I call him the gaffer ) then. He isn't even entitled to carer benefit!

Cheers bro58, would be lost without B&W.

PC wrote: That's another job for the gofer (he thinks I call him the gaffer ) then. He isn't even entitled to carer benefit!

Cheers bro58, would be lost without B&W.

Keep us updated PC.

bro58

PC wrote: That's another job for the gofer (he thinks I call him the gaffer )

I went to my first wfi this week. Glad I did.

To recap, I had been offered the chance to defer the wfi for 3 months. This was mainly due to JC+ not being able to meet my access needs. I declined the offer to defer, as since starting the transfer from IB to ESA last summer, and starting an appeal after benig placed in WRAG I have not had any face to face contact with anyone from DWP or ATOS. I wanted someone from one of these agencies to look me in the eye and still tell me I should be inWRAG.

I did not take my wheelchair, as I had been informed of the lack of space. Luckily we managed to park the car nearby, (there is no car park at JC+) and my husband helped me into the building.
The DWP adviser was very apologetic for being unable to meet my access needs. Apparently I am not being discriminated against regarding toilet facilities because there are no toilets available to any of their 'customer' whether able bodied or disabled. The staff usually tell people to ask to use the toilets at the pub round the corner!

The adviser acknowledged that in her opinion I should be in support group. She checked that I had appealed, then sent a detailed email to the DWP office where Decision Maker works. She was shocked that the decision had been made to put me in WRAG without considering my responses to the ESA form, or anyone from Atos or DWP confirming my responses with the GP or other medical professionals I see regularly. She asked the DWP to contact me the same morning by phone, to explain why there had been an inadequate response to my SAR, why I had not been provided with all of the information used to reach the decision to put me in WRAG, and said she wanted them to prioritise my reconsideration, as she believed that my health is worsening due to the stress caused by the delay. She also gave me some very useful advice on what I should include in a letter of complaint to DWP including the fact that as they had told me they had used information from my GP when they hadn't contacted him, they should reimburse me the fee I paid to the GP to access my medical records.

Result? I received a call from DWP within the hour, Informing me that my claim had been prioritised and I would receive a letter within a week to let me know the outcome.

All in all a positive experience.

PC