What's ecpected at WRAG group interviews

Hi

I wanted to ask about WRAG group, work related interviews and being put on training courses.

My partner ( M ) went to her first interview a couple of weeks ago, and the interviewer was all very nice, and seemed sympathetic, but she kept on to M about how she must start helping; She asked loads of questions about M's education, and when M said that she hadn't finished school or her exams because of her difficulties, the interviewer suggested she do a course to up her skills, Then she said she was going to put M forward for a group to explain how DWP work program/ courses work, and then hopefully move her on to a training program after that, and although she, the interviewer was not going to put M forward for the group that day, she would do it at the next interview, which is this Thursday.

She suggested all kinds of voluntary things M could do to help with her Depression, Anxiety and Social Phobia problems, things like listening to the kids read at the local school, charity shops etc.

She made going to the DWP explanation group sound like it was just part of the interview set up, and what M was expected to do, and that M could lose benefits if she didn't comply, and take up the group, but did not say at any point whether the group was a mandatory thing, or something that M had a choice to do or not.

I just wanted to ask, are these "Work Program" group things mandatory, or does M just have to attend the interviews ?, as She really can't handle work at the moment, let alone much else, and I don't want to see her get Cajoled into doing something that could make her condition worse, and she ends up back at square one just to please the DWP.

Really I suppose we just need to know what she is expected to do under the law, and what she doesn't have to do.

Any help will be gratefully received.

Richard wrote: Hi

I wanted to ask about WRAG group, work related interviews and being put on training courses.

My partner ( M ) went to her first interview a couple of weeks ago, and the interviewer was all very nice, and seemed sympathetic, but she kept on to M about how she must start helping; She asked loads of questions about M's education, and when M said that she hadn't finished school or her exams because of her difficulties, the interviewer suggested she do a course to up her skills, Then she said she was going to put M forward for a group to explain how DWP work program/ courses work, and then hopefully move her on to a training program after that, and although she, the interviewer was not going to put M forward for the group that day, she would do it at the next interview, which is this Thursday.

She suggested all kinds of voluntary things M could do to help with her Depression, Anxiety and Social Phobia problems, things like listening to the kids read at the local school, charity shops etc.

She made going to the DWP explanation group sound like it was just part of the interview set up, and what M was expected to do, and that M could lose benefits if she didn't comply, and take up the group, but did not say at any point whether the group was a mandatory thing, or something that M had a choice to do or not.

I just wanted to ask, are these "Work Program" group things mandatory, or does M just have to attend the interviews ?, as She really can't handle work at the moment, let alone much else, and I don't want to see her get Cajoled into doing something that could make her condition worse, and she ends up back at square one just to please the DWP.

Really I suppose we just need to know what she is expected to do under the law, and what she doesn't have to do.

Any help will be gratefully received.

Hi R,

Referral to training courses, WP providers and voluntary work can be mandatory under the threat of sanctions.

However, M can not be compelled to actively seek or take up employment.

With respect to any activities mentioned in my first paragraph, the JCP Adviser, WPP, must take into account any limitations suffered by the claimant as a result of their medical conditions, and where necessary make any "Reasonable Adjustments" as covered under sections 20 to 22 of The Equality Act 2010.

odi.dwp.gov.uk/disabled-people-and-legis...010-and-dda-1995.php

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/par...for-disabled-persons

www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

It would therefore help M's cause, if she was to make a written record of any any such limitations, and any reasonable adjustments that M may need, and present them to The JCP Adviser.

See also :

Work Focused Interviews

Work Programme

Changes to ESA Sanctions

See also these documents :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/work-programme-memo-082.pdf

www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/what-we-buy...ramme-provider.shtml

bro58